hours

For information on Garden Closures or Public Events visit Parks Victoria

Monday 9:30am - 6.30pm

Tuesday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Wednesday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Thursday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Friday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Saturday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Sunday 9:30am – 6.30pm

direction

By Car: Address: Gate 2, K Road, Werribee South 3030

From Melbourne: Victoria State Rose Garden is located 35 kilometres west of Melbourne’s city centre, on the Princes Freeway. It is a short 30-minute drive from the city over the Westgate Bridge or via the Geelong Road. Take the Werribee / Werribee South exit to K Road.( Exit 19, C108 )

Enter via Gate 2 off K Road onto Main Drive. (also the address of Werribee Mansion & the Zoo)

From Geelong: It is a 40 minute drive along the M1. Take the C109 exit towards Werribee from the M1 Freeway. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Princess Highway. Turn right at T intersection (Synnot St) Turn right onto Duncans Rd (C108) Turn right onto K Road. Take first right at Gate 2, Main Dr.

By Public Transport:

Step 1. From Melbourne:

Catch a train from the Melbourne CBD to Werribee station (travelling on the Werribee Line).

Step 2. From Werribee station:

Catch bus 439 (Werribee South) from Werribee station to the Rose Garden, Werribee Mansion & Zoo.

From Geelong:

Step 1: Catch a train from Geelong to Wyndham Vale Station (travelling on the Melbourne train).

Step 2: From Wyndham Vale Station catch the Bus 190 Werribee Station to Werribee station.

Step 3: From Werribee Station catch Bus 439 Werribee South to the Rose Garden, Werribee Mansion & Zoo.

Activities

The Rose Garden has been the perfect gathering spot for family and friends for generations. Whether for a stroll through the garden or idyllic family picnic.

Picnic with friends

Family gatherings

Rose enthusiasts

Bird watching, and

Just read & relax

hours

For information on Garden Closures or Public Events visit Parks Victoria

Monday 9:30am - 6.30pm

Tuesday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Wednesday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Thursday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Friday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Saturday 9:30am – 6.30pm

Sunday 9:30am – 6.30pm

direction

By Car: Address: Gate 2, K Road, Werribee South 3030

From Melbourne: Victoria State Rose Garden is located 35 kilometres west of Melbourne’s city centre, on the Princes Freeway. It is a short 30-minute drive from the city over the Westgate Bridge or via the Geelong Road. Take the Werribee / Werribee South exit to K Road.( Exit 19, C108 )

Enter via Gate 2 off K Road onto Main Drive. (also the address of Werribee Mansion & the Zoo)

From Geelong: It is a 40 minute drive along the M1. Take the C109 exit towards Werribee from the M1 Freeway. At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Princess Highway. Turn right at T intersection (Synnot St) Turn right onto Duncans Rd (C108) Turn right onto K Road. Take first right at Gate 2, Main Dr.

By Public Transport:

Step 1. From Melbourne:

Catch a train from the Melbourne CBD to Werribee station (travelling on the Werribee Line).

Step 2. From Werribee station:

Catch bus 439 (Werribee South) from Werribee station to the Rose Garden, Werribee Mansion & Zoo.

From Geelong:

Step 1: Catch a train from Geelong to Wyndham Vale Station (travelling on the Melbourne train).

Step 2: From Wyndham Vale Station catch the Bus 190 Werribee Station to Werribee station.

Step 3: From Werribee Station catch Bus 439 Werribee South to the Rose Garden, Werribee Mansion & Zoo.

Activities

The Rose Garden has been the perfect gathering spot for family and friends for generations. Whether for a stroll through the garden or idyllic family picnic.

Picnic with friends

Family gatherings

Rose enthusiasts

Bird watching, and

Just read & relax

The Rose Explosion

Each year we replace at least five beds of roses. Our Selection Committee has the glorious job of selecting the new varieties that will go in. They have the choice from the Trial Beds and they have read all the literature (most of which is sales pitch, and bears no resemblance to the final result) and make a choice. The choice is based on height, vigour, colour and best mass display. They then sell their choices to Council and we get to enjoy the result.

Imagine if you are in Europe in 1596. A French nurseryman, Gerard, produces a catalogue for your selection. It lists 16 roses (and 225 carnations and 437 tulips).

By 1800, catalogues have increased to 100 varieties, because of the start of importation of China roses and crossbreeding from them. In 1814 Empress Josephine claims to have a complete collection of 250 roses in her garden at Malmaison. Du Pont, a famous Belgian rose breeder, offered his collection of rose hybrids to the Palais Luxembourg, and by the 1850s they had 1800 different species and varieties.

Then there was an explosion. Botanica Encyclopedia of Roses., published in 1998 lists 7000 varieties. Modern Roses 12 of 2010 lists over 30,000 roses by registered names, with about 3000 new registrations each year.

Doesn’t our Selection Committee have an easy choice?

However, let us not get too excited by all this European stuff. When Gerard produced his famous catalogue in 1596, the Chinese had been growing roses for centuries. About 500 BC, Confucius wrote that the Emperor of China had over 600 BOOKS about roses.