Welcome to our web site
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We've created this web site to share some of the stories, the history and activities - both past and present - that make Bickleigh Vale village a unique and special place. It started with Edna Walling's vision back in the 1920s when she started building the original properties and creating the landscape and gardens that live on today in the place Edna named, "Bickleigh Vale."
Edna's legacy lives on in The Place, The Heritage and The Community that is Bickleigh Vale village today. Our About Us page will tell you more. If you visit us to stroll along the lanes, you can park your car in Pembroke Road but there is one thing we ask - please respect the privacy of the residents - THERE IS NO PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE GARDENS.
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Our Quick Find Index will show you at a glance what we have on our website and take you straight to the topic you are interested in.
Residents only:
Recently Updated Pages:
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Open Gardens
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Occasionally, some of the Bickleigh Vale gardens are open to the public, or to private tour groups.
We are currently planning to have eight of Bickleigh Vale’s private gardens open to the public in October this year in conjunction with Open Gardens Victoria.
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From time to time we also have requests by individuals or tour groups for garden visits but we're not accepting these for the time being. We love to share our beautiful village as much as we can but this year, we're putting all our efforts into the village Open Garden event in October. We're sure you'll understand that house, garden, roadside, community and website maintenance, and visitor management, all take commitment, time and money and we do it gladly because we appreciate the uniqueness of Bickleigh Vale and wish to see it continue to flourish into its second century.
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You're welcome to join our Facebook group which we regularly post info about public garden openings for individuals, small groups and further details of our Open Garden day with Open Gardens Victoria.
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Our Events page will tell you more about out open garden and other Bickleigh Vale related events - past, present & future
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The mysterious power pole.....
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Maintaining the gardens at Bickleigh Vale can sometimes feel like you are on an archeological dig. Stone paths can suddenly appear from beneath the growth (take a look at Whistlewood's blog for their latest discovery). Then there are the trees, structures or events around which the current residents are not aware of why they exist, who put them there or when. The history has been lost. For example, every day we walk past a seat and an old power pole. No-one knew who installed the seat or why the power pole remained after the power and telecom lines were placed under-ground. That was until we were provided with some minutes and correspondence from a resident's meeting in early 1990. The pole was left behind by Telecom after completion of the project. The residents at the time discussed raising it with Telecom, however, it was noted that, due to an 'invoicing problem', the Garden Scheme had never been invoiced by Telecom for their portion of the costs associated with the project - a sizeable sum in 1990. So they kept quiet! But, why the words 'Beauty in Australia is like pearls before the swine' has been painted on what is left of the pole remained a mystery until we had a story-telling evening with Brian and Brigitte McKeever recently. We'll retell the story here shortly! |
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The stone seat
The seat was installed by the Victoria's Garden Scheme in 1991 to commemorate the under-grounding of power and telephone services in 1990. It was meant to have a bronze plaque attached so future generations would know why it was placed there, however, it was removed after a spelling mistake was discovered and never replaced.
Over the years, time – and two construction material trucks crashing into it – had taken its toll. The timber benchtop was badly rotting at one end and had become completely detached from the stone pillars so it was not really safe any more. Using a couple of old hardwood railway sleepers and some brackets, landscaping glue, screws and mortar last week, the seat top was rebuilt in June 2022 ready for the next thirty years!
Over the years, time – and two construction material trucks crashing into it – had taken its toll. The timber benchtop was badly rotting at one end and had become completely detached from the stone pillars so it was not really safe any more. Using a couple of old hardwood railway sleepers and some brackets, landscaping glue, screws and mortar last week, the seat top was rebuilt in June 2022 ready for the next thirty years!
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How you can help us document the history of Bickleigh Vale Village
Do you have photos, a story, video or other material about the village? If you or your relatives have lived at Bickleigh Vale or spent time here, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us to be a part of capturing the history of this wonderful village for future generations.
Do you have photos, a story, video or other material about the village? If you or your relatives have lived at Bickleigh Vale or spent time here, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us to be a part of capturing the history of this wonderful village for future generations.
The PlaceRecognised by The National Trust and declared a “Classified” Landscape, Bickleigh Vale is also recognised as “an area of special significance” by the Yarra Ranges Shire.
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Image courtesy of State Library Victoria
Edna's VisionIn the 1920’s, still in her mid-twenties, one of Australia’s first landscape designers, the English born Edna Walling, created a village in the ‘English style’ of approximately 12 ha around her own residence ‘Sonning’.
Prospective owners were required to agree to Edna Walling’s involvement in the design of their cottages and gardens, with all plants supplied from her nursery at ‘Sonning’. Today, more than 90 years later, Edna's vision continues to be realised through a community of like-minded people. |
The CommunityWhen Edna Walling left Bickleigh Vale in 1967 and moved to Buderim, Queensland, property owners – now ‘Friends of Edna Walling’ – became caretakers of the village, including its roadside verges.
Bickleigh Vale today is a thriving village community within suburban Melbourne |