Moama Botanic Gardens
Take a leisurely stroll through the modern 21st century designed Moama Echuca Botanic Gardens.
Learn about unique arid and semi arid Australian landscapes with Indigenous plantings, explore the formal entrance garden, settlers' garden and dry billabong.
Take a break and enjoy the tranquillity, seated under the vine covered arbour or picnic on the lawns under shady iron bark trees.
David Maughan's Les Belle Helen II sculpture is located in the Moama Botanic Gardens.
Located adjacent to the Moama Adventure Playground with undercover barbecue facilities and toilets nearby.
History of Gardens
These Gardens were born in 2003 out of community interest in beautifying the Moama Recreation Reserve. Council allocated a portion of land for the Gardens and work began with the digging of a dam for water storage. Enthusiastic community members raised money to build a board walk, constructed by volunteer labour.
Because the project was developing in an ad hoc fashion, Murray Shire came on board in 2006 and took responsibility for employing a garden designer to work cooperatively with the Committee of Management. Mr Chris Dance, noted landscape architect, developed a staged plan which was unique, contemporary, water-wise and themed to our Riverina region.
It took four years for the first stage, the formal entrance garden, to be completed. A tiered island for Melaleucas was built in the enlarged dam. Raised mounds were created on each side of the area, bordered by large rectangular granite rocks. The mounds were planted with several varieties of Eremophila and grasses. A grove of Casuarinas form a windbreak on the west. A lawn area was planted in front of the boardwalk with a water garden feature and the attractive Eucalyptus sideroxylon and E. camaldulensis as shade trees. Brachychiton rupestris adds interest at the entrance and the graceful Acacia pendula defines the boundary on the east.
The formal opening took place in November 2011. Around this time, the volunteer group became known as the Friends of Moama Echuca Botanic Gardens.
Seven years later two more stages have been completed. The Settlers Garden is dedicated to local pioneers. Two features of pioneer homesteads define this stage: an arbour covered by ornamental grapevine, glorious in autumn, and a stone well. Plantings include Washington navel oranges; the early stations found oranges grew well in Riverina soils. Two Moreton Bay figs, common in early towns in the region, add interest. The Settlers Garden is bordered by a hedge of Callistemon 'Kings Park special'.
The Dry Billabong is the latest stage completed. It depicts the billabong as an integral part of the Murray system, filled with water occasionally by flood or rain, but usually dry. Our billabong is tiered with plantings of Lomandra, Dianella and Gahnia. The surrounds feature sweet Bursaria, Acacia implexa and Leptospermum. Red gum posts dominate the landscape and seating hewn from huge logs complete the picture. A statue, La Belle Helene, was donated by sculptor, David Maughan, and placed on the island, adding a significant artwork to the site.
There is a small group of older volunteers who meet for working bees every Monday morning. They work cooperatively with council staff and our Gardens always look immaculate.
Location
Perricoota Road, Moama 2731 Map
