Heritage Border

Heritage Border

In August 1997 it was decided to utilise the fenceline between the Mansion at Werribee Park and the Victoria State Rose Garden by creating a 'Heritage' Border.  With the help of Werribee Park staff and a grant from Parks Victoria, 44 varieties of climbing species and Old Roses were planted to form a hedge on the cyclone fence.  In 1998 a front row of bush Old Roses was planted consisting of 49 varieties.  Many of these plantings were species roses with historical ties to the modern rose.  The Border would more correctly be called a 'Historical' Border, in that many of the roses are not a true Heritage cultivar.  They do, however have very strong historical links to modern roses.  For example, there are many of Alistair Clark's roses; there is Constance Spry, David Austin's first rose; and there are many hybrid roses from crosses with Old Roses.

In 2000, with the realigning of the fenceline to allow for Stage Two of the overall Garden, a further 400 metres of Border was planted, The Heritage Border is now about 450 metres long, 3 metres wide and contains about 500 plants with 250 varities of beautiful and historic roses. Whilst roses are mainly placed in family groups, the main priority is visual effectiveness and appeal. Cultivars from Australia, America, China, Denmark, England,France, Germany,  Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand and Scotalnd may be found.  The rose names are engraved on bricks within the garden edging, together with the rose variety, breeder, country of origin and date of discovery or introduction.