JUST OUTSIDE Molong, nestled between the cool mountain climate of Orange and the hot western plains around Wellington, there’s a very private garden. Owners Peter and Odette Morley agreed to Central West Lifestyle featuring their magnificent country property. Fondly known as “Paris in the Paddocks”, “Boomey Park” is very much an Australian garden and is a place that draws the whole family together. Working in real estate and property development in north western Sydney for more than 40 years, and keen for an escape from the stresses of city life, Peter and Odette settled on the 10,000-acre property “Boomey Park” around 14 years ago. Peter realised his desire to have a role in Australian agriculture, and for Odette, a descendent of the original John Macarthur family, farming and gardening is an integral part of her heritage. The country home and garden is a sanctuary away from work, meetings and the rigours of city life. An unexpected but rewarding benefit is that Boomey has become a magnet, drawing the whole family together in an environment conducive to relaxation and, for the grandchildren, an awesome place to play. Peter says: “Wherever we have made a home we have made a garden. My mother was a keen gardener who was always taking cuttings and growing plants.” And his mother’s love of gardening has influenced the plant selection, such as the golden Euonymus hedges within the parterre. But it is Odette, Peter says, who is the driving force. “Really she is the power in this family.” With a farm and garden of this scale, there’s also an on-site farm manager, Mr Shannon, gardener Trinny, and farm staff members including Jeff, who keep the garden well tended in conjunction with farm work. The farm and 30-acre garden have been developed steadily over the years, and the fact that many of those years were during drought is quite remarkable. Today the farm produces cattle, fine wool, Merino sheep breeding and has large areas of crops for haymaking. The garden benefits from on-site composting and regular applications of home-grown straw mulch, which aids soil moisture retention. > Previous page: A bird’s-eye view – the detailed design of the formal parterre garden. From top: A paved walkway leads to a wisteria-covered walk and the homestead; towering gums create patterned shadows on the lush lawns, and shade the “Bourke Seat”; a blend of the old and new – mature shade trees and new plantings along a serpentine rock wall and tree-lined laneways in the paddocks. Facing page: Viewed from in front of the homestead – elegant formality in a sunken garden, across the lawn to mature shade trees; immaculately maintained garden beds hug the curves along the driveway, expansive green lawns and large trees provide a park-like feel.
130 CWL