Grand Melbourne Gardens

Gardens have always occupied a special place in Melbourne’s communal heart. We are known for our vast, meandering Botanic Gardens and our generous green city spaces. We are also known for our tree-lined streets, which give tantalising glimpses of beautiful houses behind high fences. This book takes us behind these fences and into the very heart of these oh-so-private gardens.

Every garden in this book has its own atmosphere and soul – largely reflecting the passions of the person who has created or maintains it. There are vegetable gardens, clivia walks, ancient English oak trees, rose gardens, rambling exotic courtyards, city rooftop wonderlands and bold stepped garden beds. Many of these gardeners and home owners see themselves merely as the custodians of these treasured spaces, as they generously share their gardening experiences with the reader.

This is a celebration of gardens new and old, small-scale and enormous – all grand in their horticultural ambitions and inspiration.

About the Author

David Wilkinson is a practising architect with a Certificate in Gardening from The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London. He has been President of The Friends of The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne as well as the Victorian Committee Chair of Open Gardens Australia. He is the author of Leslie Wilkinson: A Practical Idealist.

Kimbal Baker is a Melbourne-based freelance photographer with over 30 years’ experience. His images have been published in many Australian and overseas publications, and he has worked for various Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Australian Consolidated Press (ACP) publications. His previous bestselling books include Australia’s Remarkable Trees and Great Properties of Country Victoria.