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Five stunning private gardens will feature on a new set of stamps to be released by Australia Post on Tuesday, September 2.
The gardens have all been part of Open Gardens Australia’s regular opening program in previous seasons, with Cruden Farm in Victoria opening to the public in May 2015. Open Gardens Australia’s CEO Liz White said the stamp issue was a wonderful way to recognise the efforts of hard-working gardeners everywhere – and the important role of Open Gardens Australia in sharing their success story.
“We are thrilled to be featured in the next Australia Post stamp issue,” Ms White said. “Private gardens like those featured on these five stamps inspire garden-lovers to create something beautiful and unique in their own patch,” she said.
Open Gardens Australia (OGA) is a not-for-profit organisation that opens hundreds of Australia’s most inspiring private gardens to the public each year.
“The gardens featured on these stamps represent the quality and diversity of our program – and what people can enjoy right around the country during the opening season,” Ms White said.
The five gardens include a suburban garden, a water-wise garden featuring many natives, a unique cool-climate garden, and two ‘grand’ planned gardens:
- Cruden Farm in Victoria opens with OGA on Sunday 10 May next year. Established by the late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, the historic garden was created within a working farm more than 80 years ago, engaging, among others, Edna Walling. Cruden Farm is a founding garden with OGA.
- Mendel Garden in Western Australia opened with OGA in January this year and was created by award-winning landscape designer Janine Mendel. The urban garden comprises three courtyards, with the stamp showing the lush, subtropical entry courtyard.
- Niwajiri in South Australia was developed by Steve Hailstone in the Adelaide Hills in the late 1980s. Displaying European, Japanese and Australian influences, Niwajiri has been meticulously planned and planted. It last opened with OGA in May 2013.
- Walcott Garden in ACT, was first developed in 1926 and redesigned by Helen Cohen in 2003. The water-wise garden reflects the vision of its owners, focusing on native plant species, textured foliage and an informal landscape design. It last opened with OGA in October last year.
- Wychwood in Tasmania opened with OGA in April and is a cool-climate garden among the rolling hills of northern Tasmania. A focal point in the tranquil garden is a seven-ring classical labyrinth, created through careful grass mowing.
The stamps, designed by Simone Sakinofsky of Australia Post Design Studio, feature photographs taken by Ben Wrigley (Cruden Farm), Steve Hailstone (Niwajiri), Janine Mendel (Mendel Garden), Ben Walcott (Walcott Garden) and Simon Griffiths (Wychwood).
The issue includes five domestic-rate (70c) stamps, plus a first day cover, stamp pack, maxicard set of five, booklet of 20 stamps, postcard booklet and prestige cover. The Open Gardens Australia stamp issue is available from September 2 at participating post offices, via mail order on 1800 331 794 or at auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.
