Lubra Bend Garden

Garden and Property

The Lubra Bend landscape, located at the heart of the Yarra Valley, features a glorious Guilford Bell house set amongst an established garden of camellias, magnolias, oaks and a Phillip Johnson designed dry garden, cascading 600m to the Yarra River, with expansive views over to the Great Dividing Range.

The garden itself covers 10 acres of sloping landscape down to the stunning Yarra River frontage lined by native and remnant vegetation.

History and Ethos

For 50,000 years the Wurundjeri people have lived and thrived in the Yarra Valley.

In the 1950s the Russell Stokes family came here and established a wonderful Guilford Bell house with an extensive garden. 

Rosemary Simpson and her husband came to Lubra Bend in 2000 and, in 2007, she engaged Philip Johnson to aid in the creation of a new dry garden and cascade descending 600 metres to the Yarra River. 

These days, the garden also boasts a significant Australian rose garden, an orchard, an olive grove, an acacia walk and a labyrinth. 

It is Rosemary's passion to convey the satisfactions and advantages of her environmentally sensitive gardening ethos.

Tours

The garden is open year-round and each season has it's own attributes.

Winter is an exciting time with 70 old camellias, all blossoming in June, July and August.

Spring brings wattles on the river, red tulips and an abundance of colour in September, October and November.

Summer has all natives in bloom and demonstrates the resilience of a dry garden in December, January and February

Autumn features reds, oranges, coppers in the European oaks in March, April and May.

Group and Family Bookings

Entry to the garden is strictly by appointment. No weekend visits.

Tours include a guided tour with the resident gardener and morning tea/coffee is provided.

Large or small groups welcome.