Beechworth - Mayday Hills Gardens Walk
The magnificent heritage gardens of Mayday Hills are open daily to the public from dawn to dusk.
They were started back in the mid-19th century with the building of the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum. The gardens cover over 11 hectares and are noted by the National Trust as Victorian Gardens of Significance. Original plantings thought to have been donated by the Royal Botanical gardens, Melbourne include the Bunya Pines and the magnificent 50 metre tall Douglas Fir.
One of the best way to experience this beautiful and peaceful heritage site is by taking the time to complete the self-guided walking tour. This fascinating tour takes visitors around the historic precinct and surrounds of the old Mayday Hills Hospital or Beechworth Lunatic Asylum as it was originally named. The historic walking tour has fifteen interpretive storyboards located around the site for your interest.
Eucalyptus Walk
This 1.9km circuit walk will take you around the precinct of the former Beechworth Lunatic Asylum, later Mayday Hills Hospital.
The main building dates back to 1867 and over time there were nearly 40 buildings. The Hospital was one of Victoria's three major country asylums for about 130 years until its closure in 1995. At its peak in the 1960s, the Hospital housed 1000 patients. Surrounded by nearly 290 acres of farmland, Mayday Hills was completely self-sufficient with a farm, piggery, orchards, kitchen gardens, tennis courts and its own theatre.
The gardens cover an area of 27 acres. They were planted in the late 19th century as a botanical setting of exotic trees and shrubs, donated by the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. The gardens are set against a backdrop of magni cent native trees, most notably Brittle Gums. National Trust (Victoria) has recently classified over 200 Mayday Hills trees as significant at a Regional or State level. The tallest tree in the gardens is a 50 metre high Douglas Fir, seen on the White Oak Walk.
Please wear comfortable shoes, as the walks include stretches of rough grass as well as paved sections.
Location
Oak Avenue, Beechworth 3747 Map
