Built in the 1853, Clifton is a bluestone homestead set in a traditional English garden with many established trees and an extensive spread of manicured lawns.
The garden
Jock and Jill Whiting began work on the two acre garden in the late 1980s and have created a beautiful garden amongst the rolling hills and grazing land of the Victorian Grampians region. Some of the plants in the garden include:
Established wisteria plants around the homestead that are about 120 years old, covering the entire front verandah.
Masses of pink Hydrangeas, indicating a limey soil.
A thick Grevillea hedge which has been trimmed as a hedge and is kept healthy and lives longer because of the regular pruning.
White Banksia rose (Rosa banksiae) and other climbing roses used extensively throughout the garden.
Interesting feature
The surrounding property is fossil country. There are fossil beds along the creek with fossils formed millions of years ago. Situated 80km from the coast amazingly there are fossils of shells and shark teeth embedded in the clayey soil material.
Further information
Clifton Garden is open by appointment from September to May 1998. Phone: (03) 5572 3218.