Open garden favourite

A CUBBY hole in Coombe Cottage’s imposing cypress hedge was voted the ‘favourite spot’ when students from Yering Primary School who visited the former home of Dame Nellie Melba in Coldstream last week.
For Pamela Lady Vestey, the granddaughter of Melba, the wild park, down by the frog pond, is a favourite place, and the rose garden.
The five acre garden, which is hidden by the tall rock wall and hedge for most of the time, will be open to the public as a fund-raiser for Yering Primary School on Sunday, 20 November.
Lady Vestey, who grew up and has lived on the property all her life, said her grandmother ‘who worked in theatre’ loved the garden and enjoyed working in it as a relaxation away from her work. “The first thing she wanted to have here was a rose garden,” she said, adding that some of the original plants are among the many different roses which remain a feature of the garden.
The collection of large trees, other small structured gardens and the wild area are also features.
The Concordia Mandolin and Guitar Ensemble, Singing For Your Souls Sake, Lilydale Heights College Stage Band and students of Yering Primary will provide entertainment and Devonshire Teas and refreshments will also be available.
There is no smoking, and no alcohol allowed on the property which will be open from 10am to 4pm.
For further information contact Yering Primary School on 9739 1451.