Open Gardens Victoria - The Wattletree Garden

Next date: Saturday, 11 October 2025 | 10:00 AM to 04:30 PM

Open Gardens Victoria invites garden lovers, creative souls, and curious green thumbs to explore the richly artistic landscapes of The Wattletree Garden in Hurstbridge.

Planted, sculpted, and lovingly built over more than 40 years, Wattletree Garden is a magical 6.5 acre property with three acres of richly layered garden spaces. What began as an empty paddock has been transformed into an enchanting sanctuary where creativity meets sustainability.

Garden owner and artist Melissa Thomas has poured her imagination into every corner of this evolving space, which features her sculptures and whimsical installations alongside native and exotic plantings. Visitors can wander past a dam you can drive over, a mouse cinema, fairy village, Monet’s bridge, an owl sentinel, treehouse and more. There’s even a jellyfish tree and Excalibur in the stone!

Melissa’s artistic legacy includes contributions to show gardens at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, and her passion is evident throughout her garden, where family life and playfulness intersect with recycled materials and ecological awareness. The garden is also a haven for local wildlife including kangaroos, wombats and blue-tongue lizards.

“This garden has always been a place for experimentation, reflection, and play,” said Melissa. “It’s become a space where imagination and nature meet.”