Portland Botanic Gardens
Portland Botanic Gardens have native and exotic plants including over 13,000 dahlias planted annually which peak in late summer and autumn. The dahlia's are used in the annual floral ANZAC tribute.
The gardens feature over 300 varieties of roses and 130 varieties of dahlias.
Curator's Cottage
You can also visit the cottage in the gardens (check with the Portland Visitor Information Centre for opening times - typically 10:30am-3pm most days October to April). There is a small admission charge for the cottage.
The Cottage was developed in two stages. The first stage was built in 1858 and occupied by 9th February 1859 as a residence for the Curator of the Portland Botanical Gardens, Glenelg Street; the second stage was added in 1885.
William Allitt was the first Curator, appointed on 2nd June 1858, to commence work and lay out the gardens.
The cottage was occupied by six curators from 1859-1959, when Mr. Gilbert Pritchard moved in 1959 to the residence near the front gate.
The cottage was refurbished by the Town Council and made available to the Portland Historical Society, who developed it as a 19th Century Cottage Museum.
The building consists of a kitchen and a parlour downstairs, a nursery and bedroom upstairs and an annex, displaying a wide variety of tools and implements from yesteryear. The cottage has been open to the public since 1965.
Review:
A very pleasant area with lots of lovely garden beds and a big range of interesting trees. Shaded and unshaded tables and seats and BBQ facilities are provided.
Photos:
Location
Cnr Glenelg St and Cliff St, Portland 3305 Map
