The Gardens and surrounds
The Mont De Lancey homestead is set in lawns graced by advanced trees including a magnificent spreading oak planted in 1880. The peppercorn shading the small dairy was brought from Shepparton by Thomas Sebire and planted in 1902. The date palms were planted in the 1940's. Liquidamber, cherries and a growing plantation of deciduous trees in Mont De Lancey Park bring the rich russet colours of autumn to the garden. Come spring it's blossom time, the white and pink of the flowering cherries and the purple of the lilacs. In summer white and blue agapanthus line the driveway.
The Cottage Garden
Photographs taken in 1900 were studied to recreate the homestead's cottage garden. A large evergreen magnolia and grafted camellias either side of the front steps were identified as original plants and preserved. The remainder of the overgrown area was cleared and replanted to the original layout in the summer of 1992-93. Tiny box trees edging the garden beds and the path circling the central cabbage palm have grown into low hedges. Fuschias, windflowers, daisies and other old-fashioned plants provide colour year round against a backdrop of camellias, rhododendrons and birch.
Beyond the picket fence are the fruit trees... quince, orange, lemon, fig and pomegranate... and a new planting of French and David Austin roses.
New plantings
'The Liberty Tree', a linden, was planted by the Consul General of France M Rollon Mouchel Blaisot to mark Bastille Day 2000.
'The Chanticleer Tree', or Manchurian pear, planted in 2002 by the Honorary Consul General for France Patricia Polites, and assisted by the great great grandchildren, commemorates the centenary of the death of Henry Sebire.
A white cherry, Mt Fuji, planted in March 2003 by the garden volunteers marks a decade of gardening at Mont De Lancey.
Register of historicaly important trees
We are presently compiling a 'Register' of the many historical trees and plantings on the Mont De Lancey property which will soon be available online. Any members of the community that have a particular interest in tree species identification are invited to assist in this undertaking.
Please contact the office on 5964 2088.
Photography Competition and Exhibition 2012
Watch this space for more information.
Gallery Openings
Gallery Open 10am - 4:30pm. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays unless otherwise advised.
Free entry to gallery only.
Eastern Woodturners Inc
Meetings at Mont De Lancey on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, starting at 7:00pm. Visitors and New members are most welcome.
# 9 - SETTLING
After the settler had pegged out his selection, a site had to be chosen for a tent to be pitched for temporary use till it could be supplemented by a more substantial and commodious home, in the shape of a rude log hut with bark roof, the materials for which were found close at hand. Then the selector would return to the then sparsely populated metropolis for his wife and family, and after the long drive of 30 miles, probably in a bullock dray minus springs, they would arrive at their destination to be introduced to their future humble home and rural surroundings.
MONT DE LANCEY
71 Wellington Road, Wandin
PO Box 316, Wandin,
Victoria, 3139
Tel: +61 3 5964 2088
Fax: +61 3 5964 3855
Opening Hours
Wednesday to Sunday
10:00am to 4:30pm
Last tour - 3:30pm
Group Tours also available Monday & Tuesday by appointment
Open Public Holidays
Closed Good Friday
Christmas Hours
Closed December 24th, re-open Wednesday 2nd January 2013.