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The orchard is open free to the public every day that the historic Werribee Mansion is open.
VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU, WE WANT YOU!
It's fun, it's sociable, it's worthwhile - give us a helping hand at our fund-raiser. Even a measly hour or two would help, and we'd love you for it!
Where? Bunnings @ Hoppers Crossing
What? Sausage Sizzle
When? Sunday 19 May 2013
Is it easy? Yes! All you do is a simple 2 hour shift some time between 9am and 4pm.
Is it worthwhile? Yes! Meet friendly people, have a good time and help raise funds for Werribee Park Heritage Orchard!
Contact Scott, Richard
or Craig,
or call Richard on 0428 329 450
Thanks in advance and happy fruit-growing!
The WPHO Committee
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About us
Werribee Park Heritage Orchard, situated near Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) is a beautiful antique orchard
dating from the 1870s. It was renowned for its peaches, grapes, apples, quinces, pears, a variety of plums and several other fruits, as well as walnuts and olives. Over the past few decades the orchard was forgotten and - through neglect - fell into ruin. Recently this historic treasure was rediscovered. Some of the old heritage fruit varieties survive - mainly quince, pear and apple.
In partnership with Parks Victoria, our community group was formed in 2010 to look after the orchard (see below).
The aims of Werribee Park Heritage
Orchard include:
(a) To provide support for and to foster public awareness of the orchard.
(b) To replant the orchard's stone fruit
(c) To assist with the preservation and enhancement of the orchard and with special projects selected by the group in consultation with Parks Victoria and other major stakeholders.
(d) To involve people with an interest in the orchard.
(e) To educate and inform the community about the role and values of the Werribee Park Heritage Orchard, including its potential as a site for reflection and harmony.
(f) To provide horticultural training to people interested in heritage gardening.
(g) To establish and maintain a public fund to be called the Heritage Community Orchard Public Fund for the specific purpose of supporting the environmental objectives and purposes of Werribee Park Heritage Orchard.
Proposed activities include
• Workshops for members and the public such as:
• Identification
• Propagation
• Pruning
• Harvesting
• Working Bees for orchard maintenance and enhancement
• Community Events (e.g. Heritage Fruit Harvest)
The origin of WPHO group -
In 2008, Adam Smith and another staff member of Parks Victoria paid a visit to the Heritage Fruits Society to request advice about the old orchard at Werribee Park, which had been left untended for many years due to lack of resources. Peter and Silvia Allen, of Telopea Mountain Permaculture Farm - who are core members of HFS - formed a great rapport with Adam. All were enthusiastic about re-invigorating and preserving the orchard.
In 2009 Pete and Silvia supplied a number of heritage fruit trees to the old orchard, to replace some of the ones that had died. Peter suggested that a local community group could be formed to care for the orchard, and helped Parks Victoria contact gardeners and permaculture adherents in the Werribee area. As the newly formed group began to flourish, Peter and Silvia continued contributing fruit tree varieties, their time and their experience on numerous occasions, and WPHO is grateful to them for all that they have done for the group.
Follow us on Facebook:
We are now on Facebook if you want to catch up on the latest news from the orchard or check future events.
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