SELF-GUIDED GARDEN TOURS

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A - Starting near the winery, and heading south. We pass the swing seat on the left under the trees planted over 25 years ago. There are glimpses of the main lagoon through the Western garden. We progress to the highest of four bridges crossing to a bromelia garden under the black wattle tree. 

 

B - Take time to enjoy the view in both directions. We are crossing the middle of seven lagoons. Do not miss the small sitting area down at the waters’ edge. Turn left and follow the walk through a 100m alley of Lagerstroemia (Nutchez) to the top lagoon. Immediately on your left notice the Strelitza Nicolai bearing several huge blue tinged blooms. At the far end cross by the stepping stones to the north side and proceed along the middle path. The hills that you are walking on were made from the fill excavated from the gully to make the lagoons. All these earth works have been done over the last 14 years by Malcolm Meier the farm manager using just a one meter front mounted bucket on a tractor. 

 

C - Turn now to climb to the crest to get a view over the farm and up the Mulgowie Valley. The pergola at the crest was a trial for the design of St Phillips that we will come to later. The white Bauhinia trees have just completed flowering. The “H” motive woven into most structures on the farm is almost ubiquitous and has become so numerous that we have lost count of them. Proceed down the crest, back to the top lagoon and travel down stream by the waters’ edge. All of the rocks were taken from the farm. 

 

D - Return to the top bridge but instead go straight down to “Mossel Beach”. Remember these whole excavations were done with a one metre bucket. The island on your left is the actual original land level. Continue past the second beach to the arched bridge. Crossing it, look behind you and see one of the complete transepts of the garden reflecting on Andre Le Notre’s contribution to landscaping. The lily lagoon below and the formal colour coordination around the “Petite Pavilions” is in recognition of Monet’s contribution to garden presentation. 

 

E - At the end of the Money garden note the “Allee des Pergolas” covered with Tracheospernum extending down to the end of the vineyards and a small mosaic. The vines are Shiraz and Viognier. Turn left and come back to the main lagoon. Follow along its edge to “Pembroke Island” bridge. (There is a memorial to our previous corgis. Lady Dianna was buried on Althorpe Island.) The bridge is canter levered to open so that model sailing boats can pass through. 

 

F - This scheduled seat is lovely in the afternoon for a moments reprieve from the world. Note the Corgi statue behind you. At the end of the garden area before you cross the bottom bridge note the art work by our resident artist Philif le Rrub called “Berlin”. The view from the bridge should also be enjoyed. 

 

G - Do follow the course and we will get back to St Phillips but instead proceed on track to enjoy the view down onto the sunken lawn. Inspired by the lawn in Hyde Park Sydney near the museum corner. The lawn is the size of a tennis court. The fountain “Strelitzias” designed by Pilif and commissioned by Ironic Art in Gatton. Follow the high path to “la Pavilion”. Note another transept from “The Three Graces” right through the garden to the end of St Phillips. 

 

H - Go down the main stair case to the Piazza. “The Great Unfinished Mosaic” which is a work in progress and depicts (around a big H of course) the facets of our family and life at Hilldale. Pick out the wine bottles, cheeses, corgis, limousin cattle, Madeleine’s Marvellous Eggs and the homestead. The main stair case is cloaked in lagerstromeas. Turn to the west and the vista of St Phillips which is slowly being covered in pleached Lagerstromeas (Tuscarora). The surrounding hills are in white Nutchez. You will immediately notice that Rome’s St Peters is a close copy. The same formula created by Michael Angelo was used in both buildings. The basilica has a circumpunct again designed by Pilif and called “Reincarnation”. The end of the western transept is closed by the “Abyssinian Gate” which is a copy of the cloister gate in St George’s of Lalibela in Exit by the north transept. 

 

I - The main garden of the homestead was mostly planted 25 years ago as was the main entry of Silky Oaks and Jacarandas. There were no gardens when we arrived. The property was subdivided in 1865 but the original homestead was lost. The current house dates to about 1945 but has been extensively extended and renovated in sympathy with the grounds. Walk up the lawn and return to the stair case overlooking the sunken lawn. The walk past the fountain and up the main corridor of the upper vineyard is flanked by Stralitzias and then by a rose avenue of “Just Joey”. We hope you enjoyed the tour and a view of our life. 

 

Phillip, Wendy, Penelope, Victoria and Madeleine