Moorabool News The
EMAIL: news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Tuesday 16 November, 2021
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Serving Ballan and district since 1872
Phone 5368 1966
Vol 15 No 45
John Swinnerton owns ‘Gurra’ with his wife Jennie and stands in a small part of the landscaped gardens that will be open to the public this Saturday. Photo – Helen Tatchell
Garden opens for charity
By Lachlan Ellis An historic property will open their garden to the public this Saturday, for charity. The over 500 metre cypress canopy driveway is just a small taste of what awaits as you emerge into a plethora of colour and uniqueness that will leave you gasping with delight. ‘Gurra’, the century old property, is located at Mt Wallace and is the site for an ‘Open Garden’ day to raise funds for the local Red Cross unit. The event is being generously hosted by Gurra’s owners, John and Jennie Swinnerton, who have been hard at work getting the garden looking immaculate since moving in six years ago.
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Photos don’t do the garden justice, and Mr Swinnerton said he was eager to open the property for the community to explore. “It goes back well and truly over a hundred years, we understand. The house we live in is historic, even though it’s been rebuilt…it’s still on a historic footprint,” he told the Moorabool News. “We’ve been here for six years. There was a reasonably established garden, but it was in a rather bad shape, so we’ve completely redeveloped it. Ever since we’ve been here, we’ve had the idea of having an open garden. “The Red Cross showed interest, they came and had a look at it, and took it upon themselves to organise the Open Garden, despite the COVID issues we’ve all faced.”
The property in its entirety is over 140 acres, with stunning views to the west of the undulating hills– including Mount Warrenheip and Mount Buninyong. From 10:30am–3:30pm on Saturday 20 November, visitors can enjoy not only the sights and smells of the rose gardens but the abundant bird life, on-site stalls, a sausage sizzle and a raffle, as well as tea, coffee, and the famous Ballan Red Cross cakes and slices, will be on offer. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $10 per head, with entry for school children free. All money raised will go to the Red Cross, to help those in need in Australia and abroad. ‘Gurra’ is located just 15 kilometres south of Ballan at 2081 Ballan/Meredith Road, Mt Wallace.
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