Waite Arboretum - Urrbrae House Historic Precinct
The Waite Arboretum - What is it?
The Waite Arboretum, established in 1928, contains over 2,200 trees representing more than 850 native and exotic species growing under natural rainfall. Every tree is labelled with its scientific name, common name, family, place of origin and date of planting.
The Eucalypt collection is one of the most extensive and well documented in Australia containing over 340 species as well as a number of unique hybrids. Other special collections include ornamental pears (26 species and varieties), melaleucas (26 species), oaks (80 species), pines (25 species), banksias (40 species) araucarias (15 species), acacias (50 species) and hakeas (48 species).
There is a small watercourse and lake with aquatic vegetation, and a palm and cycad walk.
The Arboretum also provides a beautiful setting for some striking sculptures by Adelaide artists – Melissa Judge, Will Kuiper, Greg Johns and Douglas Bell.
Self Guided Walks:
A self-guided walk is in place, no charge, during daylight hours. A pamphlet with notes on the stations is available.
What You Will See:
The Arboretum contains a number of unusual specimens and special collections. For example the Dragon's Blood tree Dracaena draco, which is so named because of the dark red colour of the dried sap. This tree has a striking shape with a single trunk and swollen branches in whorls, giving it a characteristic flat topped appearance. The Firewheel tree Stenocarpus sinuatus as the name suggests, has bright red flowers arranged like spokes of a wheel.
The Arboretum also has an impressive avenue of 70 English Elm trees. It is listed on the National Trust Register of Significance Trees as are a number of individual specimens and collections in the Arboretum. The Arboretum as a whole is also listed on the State Heritage Register and the National Estate.
Taking a guided walk is an excellent introduction to the collection. Visitors learn about the purpose of the Arboretum, how it came to be established and how the collection is arranged, so that on subsequent visits at their leisure, they will feel more confident about finding their way around. The Waite Arboretum is also the home of TREENET.
Urrbrae House Historic Precinct:
The precinct is part of the Waite Campus of Adelaide University. The campus is located five kilometres from the centre of Adelaide in the suburb of Urrbrae, nestled in the city's foothills on 200 hectares of tree studded land that was originally the private estate of pastoral pioneer Peter Waite.
Waite's historic estate of grand house, outbuildings and beautiful gardens has been preserved with the campus, and is now known as the Urrbrae House Historic Precinct. This unique part of South Australia's history is now available to the public through a number of guided tours. Coach House:
Visitors to the Precinct's Coach House are imaginatively transported to different times and places. The Coach House, as the oldest surviving building on the campus, retains important evidence of its long and diverse history.
The Waite Institute's first laboratory has been recreated.
The Waite Agricultural Science Collection:
Visitors are now able to see how the 'lab' in the 1920's and 1930's would have looked, on its original site. Nearby, displays take up the story of the Waite in the interwar years. The adjoining stables - while still revealing features associated with their original use - now have a very different use.
TREENET:
The Coach House Science Centre also houses the office of TREENET, a not for profit research collaborative concerned with all aspects of street trees: selection, production, establishment and care.
Gardens:
The gardens of the Urrbrae House Historic Precinct feature:
Twentieth Century Rose Garden – hundreds of varieties important in rose breeding of the twentieth century in a beautiful setting with ponds, fountain and armillary sphere sundial.
The Sensory Garden – with plants to delight the eye and please the senses.
The Mallee – a path meanders through the mallee section of the Arboretum, includes ‘Towards the Land’ a suite of artworks by sculptors Greg John and Silvio Apponyi.
Garden of Discovery – celebrating 75 years of scientific achievement at the Waite Institute through pathways inlaid with images by Lynn Elzinger-Henry, sound scapes and interpretive elements.
Waite Conservation Reserve:
Also on the Waite Campus is the Waite Conservation Reserve, which comprises 150 hectares of remnant Grey Box grassy woodland. A self guided walk affords magnificent views overlooking the city of Adelaide and highlights natural features of special interest. Koalas, birds and skinks are plentiful. Parts of the terrain are steep.
Tour Prices:
Urrbrae House: AUD5.00
Coach House: AUD5.00
Science On Show: AUD5.00
Highlights of the Precinct: AUD5.00
(Available for group bookings or a regular tour held the first Sunday of the month from February to November).
A Tour Of Urrbrae House:
A tour of Peter Waite's bluestone mansion built in 1891. Visitors will see one of the most significant private houses built in South Australia, featuring beautiful timber and unique decorations. The house was the first to feature the latest technology of the time, electric light and a refrigeration plant (now restored) established in 1895.
Visitors will also learn about the history of Peter Waite and his family, one of the state's most successful pastoralists and most generous benefactors.
Duration - one and a half hours - group bookings only minimum 10 people.
Open dawn to dusk 7 days.
 |
Phone: 08 8303 7497 Fax: 08 8303 7110 |
Don't forget to mention about-australia.com when you call! |
The listing you are trying to contact hasn't supplied an email address.
Feel free to let them know you found them on about-australia.com. |
Facilities | |
|
|
Experiences | Activities |
|
|
