Yarra Junction’s spectacular Blue Lotus Water Garden is celebrating 21 years of huge lotus flowers, giant waterlilies and plenty of family fun this summer.
Since 2005, the Cochrane family have welcomed thousands of visitors each summer to see the stunning display of lotus and waterlily flowers spread across 14 acres of tropically themed water gardens.
From Boxing Day, the gardens will open their gates for the 21st Lotus Flower Season and over the summer period, thousands of magnificent lotus flowers along with a kaleidoscope of waterlily flowers cover the garden’s extensive waterways, creating one of the most spectacular floral displays in Australia.
The lotus flowers are just part of the visitor experience. The garden also contains an incredible array of rare and unique tropical plants sourced from all over the world, such as the amazing Giant Amazon Waterlilies. These prehistoric looking giants (Victoria cruziana and Victoria amazonica) produce massive lily pads up to 6ft (1.8m) in diameter, so big they can hold the weight of a child or even a small adult without sinking. The gardens are the only place in Victoria nature lovers can see these magnificent plants, made famous by David Attenborough in his documentary series, Secret Life of Plants.
For more than two decades, the Cochrane family and their team of dedicated workers have toiled for countless hours to turn what once was a cabbage farm, into the world class attraction the Blue Lotus Water Garden is today.
The Blue Lotus Water Garden was established by Geoff and Yvonne Cochrane as a seasonal display garden and plant nursery in 2005. The couple have owned the property for over 50 years, which employs three generations of the extended family along with a small team of dedicated local people. The journey began back in the late 1960s when dairy farmer Colin Cochrane (Geoff’s father) purchased the property from the Ottrey family to graze dairy cows that had stopped producing milk. A few years later, the young Geoff, who was more interested in growing plants than dairy farming, convinced his father to sell him the property to start a vegetable farm. Geoff experimented growing a range of different vegetables, eventually concentrating on Chinese cabbage (wonbok). At the time, there was a shortage of Asian vegetables available in Melbourne. Geoff capitalised on this opportunity and continued to use the property to produce Chinese Cabbage until 1990. In 1991, Cochrane Lake was constructed to provide recreational opportunities for his young family. Geoff and his sons were passionate anglers and stocked the lake with trout and native fish. Witnessing how much his family and friends enjoyed fishing, the idea was hatched to turn the property into a recreational fishing venue. Work began to construct a second lake (Lotus Lake), but there was a problem. The fish were being eaten by cormorants (water birds) and other predators. So, it was decided that waterlilies and some lotus needed to be planted in the lakes to help provide shelter for the fish, oxygenate the water, and improve the look. Within a few years ,the waterlilies and lotus plants had flourished. Geoff and his wife Yvonne fell in love with the beautiful flowers they produced, and more varieties were added. Over time, Geoff became a master at growing both species and decided to turn the property into a display garden and plant nursery, instead of a fishing venue. Years of construction began in 2001, additional ponds were added, walking tracks and bridges installed, a plant nursery and basic facilities built. The entire 14 acres was also extensively landscaped with tens of thousands of flowering plants, trees and shrubs. Every year since opening in 2005, more and more beautiful plants have been added, displays and exhibits improved, and facilities expanded.
Mr Cochrane said it’s been a labour of love of his for many years.
“I’m really pleased with the way the garden looks this year, especially considering all the extra effort we’ve put in,” he said.
“I really hope everyone gets a chance to come and see the beautiful flowers this summer”.
Containing three kilometres of trails and spanning 14 acres, the garden highlights include the Giant Amazon Waterlily, Cochrane Lake which contains a prized collection of Claude Monet’s original waterlilies from his famous garden in Giverny (France), a 350m bridge walk, Tropical World and Kakadu Lagoon, the Golden Lotus exhibit, Lotus Lake, the Lotus Wetlands, Frog Hollow, the Dragon Trail and the Flower Fairy Garden.
The garden will be open from 10am to 5pm (though this may change due to weather conditions or season, check website for updates) from Boxing Day to 20 March.
During these dates, tickets for adults are $26.50, pensioners/seniors are $23.50 and children under aged 15 and under enter free.
Prices and times for the Autumn Flower Season between 21 March and 19 April are to be announced.
Tickets can be purchased through the website from 1 December at bluelotus.com.au
