- 10 to 11 Jan 202610:00am - 4:30pm
Situated on Taungurung Country beside the Broken River, this remarkable three-acre garden is celebrated as one of Australia's most evocative naturalistic landscapes.
Previously opened only in autumn, the summer event invites visitors to experience the garden at its most vibrant. Thousands of perennials, grasses, shrubs, succulents and trees surge into full colour and movement, creating what Ralph describes as a wild orchestra of plants, insects, and birds. Planted in sweeping curved beds that echo the surrounding hills, the garden blurs boundaries between cultivated design and the wider landscape, offering an immersive experience that shifts with light, temperature and season.
Developed over seven years by Ralph and his partner, artist Nicky Sanders, the garden reflects both artistic expression and ecological intent. Its diverse plantings from drought-tolerant species in an experimental dry garden to layered habitats supporting birds and pollinators respond to Barwite's dramatic climate and mineral-rich soils.
Ralph brings more than 30 years' experience to the project, drawing inspiration from leading international and Australian horticulturists while shaping a distinctly local, place-responsive vision.