Tag Archives: roses

Coomber Homestead and Guest House – two classic Australian country gardens

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487 Cudgegong Road, Rylstone – 5 minutes south-west of Rylstone on the Cudgegong Road, between Rylstone and the Castlereagh Highway

Coomber2It’s no surprise the Homestead garden won The Sydney Morning Herald Garden Prize in 1967. Sweeping lawns dotted with well-established trees, such as golden elm and desert ash, are bordered with lush garden beds (planted five years ago) to provide a gentle, shady retreat. An edge of Elina roses – a subtle cream – frames the house.

This garden is being renewed in a grand style. One can imagine a table set with white linen and Royal Albert ‘country roses’. Across the paddock and past the shearers’ quarters, the Guest House garden sits beautifully in the farming landscape, providing 360° views of hills and fertile paddocks. Many of trees here were planted by Tim and Helen Evans in the 1960s: pin oaks, lindens, English elms, liquidambars and plane trees. 

Refreshments: Morning and afternoon teas by Rylstone Public School

Market stalls: Joan Schultz garden art; Grew Some Plants by Charlie and Lisa Page

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The Convent Gardens

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An early photo of the Convent gardens with formal hedges and garden beds.

Built in Spanish Mission style in the 1930s and home for many years to the Good Samaritan nuns, the Convent is a landmark in Kandos. The building was constructed with great care to detail and specifically built as a Convent with nun “cells”, a Chapel and Sacristy. A Grotto was added in the 1950’s. After the departure of the nuns in the 1970s, the building became a Presbytery for local priests until being privately sold in the last year.

A dated low maintenance canvas to build upon

A dated low maintenance canvas to build upon

The gardens, which were formal and well-tended by the nuns, became low maintenance over the last few decades and the new owner is now keen that the gardens do justice to the stately building and the Convent continues to play an important role in the community.

Whilst still finding its feet, the Convent gardens intend to balance productivity and industry with a relaxed country atmosphere and a long-standing heritage of roses. Very little of the original gardens are still in place, other than some old rose bushes. At the Kandos Gardens Fair, visitors will be able to view photos of the gardens throughout the Convent’s life. The new owner has inherited a blank canvas to build upon.

Baby steps to redesign the garden

Baby steps to redesign the garden

So far, raised vegetable beds have been incorporated to support a keen cook, herbs have been added, which are a passion for the new owner, and the rose garden has been substantially supplemented. The Grotto has also been restored.

All these activities are understandably very new and will take some time to reap rewards. And much more is planned for the future.

The new owner is excited to be part of the community and participate in the Kandos Gardens Fair. Please say “Hi” when you visit and feel free to give feedback on the gardens as they begin to evolve.

The owner has a blog that you are welcome to visit or follow

http://conventandchapel.com

The new raised veggie beds

The new raised veggie beds