Celebrate spring in Parramatta at ‘September in Wistaria Gardens’
Published: 30 August 2023 at 1:39 pm
Visitors to Parramatta’s much-loved Wistaria Gardens can enjoy a bigger and more colourful floral display this spring when the Gardens celebrates its annual bloom at ‘September in Wistaria Gardens’.
Over two weekends (16-17 and 23-24 September 2023), live music, food and beverages and guided tours will be available throughout the garden grounds which will be bursting with hanging wisteria, cherry, peach and almond blossoms and revived garden beds full of primulas, snapdragons, pansies and violas.
Visitors can also take part in First Nations cultural programs, nature connection, well-being and art making workshops for kids and adults and enter the spring photo competition to win a voucher for popular Parramatta Park restaurant, Misc.
It will be the second annual spring display since Wistaria Gardens officially became part of Parramatta Park in July 2022. Since then, Greater Sydney Parklands has undertaken significant horticultural work to improve the conditions of the Gardens including extensive clearing and weeding, regular maintenance, and planting over 1000 new annuals, perennials and spring bulbs in time for spring.
Built in 1906, Wistaria Gardens were the personal gardens of the Medical Superintendent of the Parramatta Lunatic Asylum, Dr William Cotter Williamson and were cared for by the patients as part of their treatment.
Member for Parramatta, Donna Davis, said:
“The spring display at Wistaria Gardens has been an important local tradition for almost 100 years. It is wonderful to see this place once again blossoming to life with fresh garden beds of floral colour for everyone to enjoy,” she said.
“We want to celebrate spring and a new era for Wistaria Gardens. Together with World Heritage-listed Parramatta Park and the North Parramatta Heritage Precinct including the national heritage-listed Female Factory, these places tell the story of not only Parramatta’s history but the nation’s history.”
Greater Sydney Parklands Chief Executive, Joshua French said:
“Planting this year has been inspired by historical images of Wistaria Gardens’ magnificent spring displays from the 1960s onwards. We’ve reinvigorated the rose garden border and memorial garden, and with 12 months of regular maintenance now under our belts, we are hopeful that this year the wisteria will be even healthier and more beautiful for the community to enjoy,” he said.
“Bring a picnic rug, your friends and family, and be ready to take lots of photos to celebrate spring.”
September in Wistaria Gardens
- Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September, 11am – 3pm.
- Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 September, 11am – 3pm.
- Live music, food and beverages, guided tours, kids and adults art workshops, First Nations cultural programs.
- Enter the spring photo competition to win a voucher to Parramatta Park restaurant, Misc.
- Celebrate World Rivers Day on Sunday 24 September with a special self-guided tour along Parramatta River about the river’s history and environment in collaboration with Old Government House and the Parramatta River Catchment Group.
- Access to Wistaria Gardens is via Parramatta Park (see map). Parking is available at the O’Connell Street carpark or inside the park.
For more information, visit www.parrapark.com.au/things-to-do/wistaria.
Images will be forwarded on Thursday 31st August 2023