Wartook Gardens is a large garden dedicated to showcasing a wide variety of Australian plants and providing a sanctuary for birds. It features well over 1,000 species of native plants, including Acacias, Eucalypts, Grevilleas, Hakeas, Banksias and other species, many of which have been propagated on-site from cuttings and seeds. The garden has become a haven for birdlife, with 135 bird species recorded, including colourful honey-eaters, parrots, and lorikeets.

Our aim is to create a garden that would show off plants to visitors, and particularly species not widely grown. In addition to the native garden, Wartook Gardens includes a large exotic section with bulbs, irises, roses, and other perennials, providing vibrant colour, especially in the spring. The garden also has a vegetable patch offering seasonal produce, as well as strawberries, black currants, boysenberries and raspberries.

The garden has earned recognition, winning "Best Mostly Australian Native Garden" at the Horsham Spring Garden Festival in 2003 and 2005. Wartook Gardens was also one of the original gardens in Australia's Open Garden Scheme and opened again in 2007 for the Scheme's 20th Anniversary.

Since then the garden has been opened a number of times to raise money for the Hospital, as well as for bus tours and groups as well as for individuals.

Efforts have been made to create well-drained garden beds using scoria mulch to retain moisture, prevent weed growth, and support plant health. The garden’s Hakea collection is now one of the largest in Australia, with over 95 species, and the garden is part of the Australian Plant Garden Network.

Visitor Information

Visitors are welcome to explore the garden, which is open by appointment, with guided tours available. The garden offers amenities including parking, toilets, and morning and afternoon teas by arrangement, and is ideal for group visits with lots of places to sit throughout.

Wildlife at Wartook Gardens

Explore the Diverse Wildlife

Wartook Gardens is home to a remarkable range of wildlife, with visitors often treated to views of the garden's inhabitants. The area is known for its prolific and varied wildlife, with over 135 bird species recorded so far.

In the early morning and evening, visitors can witness large mobs of kangaroos, with the Wartook Valley recognized as one of the best places to see many kangaroos at once.

Other frequent wildlife visitors include:

• Emus (less frequent sightings)
• Wallabies (occasional appearances)

The garden also hosts a variety of reptiles and amphibians. You might spot different species of skinks, stumpy tail lizards. The garden's pond, located just outside the dining room, is home to many frogs.

History of Wartook Gardens

• 1973: Land purchased; only about half a dozen large red gums on the block (Eucalyptus camaldulensis).
• 1974:
  • Royce & Jeanne built the house themselves.
  • Early 1974: Preparing the slab for the house.
  • Late 1974: Slab poured and steel-framed house construction begins.
  • 1974-1975: Completion of the house.
• 1977:
  • Beginning of garden landscaping on a 100m x 100m area.
  • Installation of drainage systems around garden beds.
  • Over the next few years, the garden expands to 5 acres with approximately 1000 species of Australian plants.
• 1982-1983:
  • 1982-1983 Drought: A nine-month period with no rain, resulting in significant plant losses.
  • 1984: Addition of a second dam to protect against future droughts.
• 2003:
  • Extensive 5-acre garden beds established, including native Australian species.
  • 8-feet high fence constructed to keep kangaroos out of the garden.
  • Establishment of a rose garden (150 roses) and other exotic plantings.
• 2002-2006:
  • Garden receives numerous awards at the Horsham Annual Spring Garden Festival:
  • "Best Country Garden 2002" and "Champion Garden 2002".
  • "Best Mostly Australian Plants Garden" in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.
• 2006:
  • Recognition of the garden’s dedication to Australian plants, with the award for "Best Mostly Australian Plants Garden" in 2006.
• 2007:
  • Autumn/Winter 2007: Plan to do more planting in deep sand areas of the property to add new species.
  • Experimenting with scoria for mulching due to its water retention properties and fire protection.
• 2010:
  • Opened the garden to raise money for the Hospital, and have continued to do so.
  • Maintenance and continued development of the garden, including the specialised Hakea collection.
  • Exotic garden expanded and the enclosed vegetable garden further developed.
  • The property continues to evolve, with ongoing renovations and replanting efforts, particularly focusing on regenerating older garden beds as many plants are over 40 years old.
  • Visitors to the garden can also purchase many unusual plants – both native and exotic.