The Australian Rhododendron Society - Victorian Branch
2010 Conference
Rhododendrons in Australia
Sunday 17th - Wednesday 20th, October, 2010
The members of the Australian Rhododendron Society welcome you to the Golden Jubilee of the Australian Rhododendron Society and the Magnificent National Rhododendron Gardens.
In 1960 the members of the Australian Rhododendron Society were granted 100 acres in Olinda in the Dandenong Ranges by the State Government of Victoria to design, manage and maintain a garden for the people of Melbourne. It was named the National Rhododendron Gardens. In 1995 Parks Victoria took over the management and the Rhododendron Society’s Volunteer Group still helps with the maintenance. The beautiful landscaped garden has over 13,000 rhododendrons of all groups growing in the ground amongst thousands of exotic trees and shrubs.
This Golden Jubilee Conference will be held just one hour from Melbourne’s CBD in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, home of the world’s tallest flowering trees, Eucalyptus regnans (Mountain Ash), which tower over the cool temperate rain forest. The Dandenong Ranges are one of Victoria’s top tourist attractions and are dominated by vast tracts of National Parks with well defined walking tracks, fern glades, extensive views, scenery and wildlife. Nestling in this tranquil setting are quaint villages, picnic areas, a unique sculpture park, galleries, extensive public and private gardens, wineries and many more attractions. The conference programme will include visits to many of these places.
Noted plantsman and author, Kenneth Cox, from ‘Glendoick Nursery’ Scotland will be the keynote speaker. Ken has written several prestigious books about rhododendrons and his plant hunting adventures. He is a talented speaker and this will be his first visit to Australia. Well known Australian speakers will entertain and inform delegates also.
A wide variety of comfortable accommodation is available in the vicinity ranging from motels and apartments to luxury Bed and Breakfast's which are scattered throughout the Dandenong Ranges. For those without private transport buses will transport delegates to the conference venue.
There will be three pick up points.
- Ferntree Gully Motel, Burwood Highway, Upper Ferntree Gully
- Lifestyle Apartments, Station Street, Ferntree Gully
- Olinda shops for delegates staying at Bed and Breakfast’s in Olinda.
Delegates staying elsewhere will need private transport. There is no public transport to the conference venues.
Registration details will be available in the near future.
Enquiries:
- email: secretary@vicrhodo.org.au or mnbegg@gmail.com
- phone: 0418 340 240
Other Local Attractions
- The Dandenong Ranges Garden Festival: Flower Shows, open gardens, art shows, and other activities.
- The Ferny Creek Horticultural Society Flower Festival, 23rd - 24th October, 2010
- Yarra Valley and local wineries.
- Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary
- Puffing Billy Steam Train
- Antique and craft shops
- Restaurants
- Art galleries
- Hot air ballooning
- Forest walks and wildlife including the famous lyrebirds, cockatoos and parrots.
- Shopping centres
- Tesselaars Tulip Festival
Please refer to the contact page for further information: Contact Page