Urrbrae House Gardens

This garden traces the history and evolution of roses from 1900 to the present day. With over 1,500 bushes from 200 cultivars and species, it showcases roses that hold significance to different periods in history, inviting visitors to enjoy their fragrance and beauty.

Whilst not the original designs from Peter Waite’s time, it incorporates many of the original features such as the rose arbour. The southern end features earlier varieties in a formal layout, while the other end features different varieties in a more informal, contemporary design. 

Roses are in full bloom from September until May.

History of the Rose Garden

The original rose garden was established by Peter Waite to the west of the present site. An arbour covered in pale yellow double roses stretched from Urrbrae House to Claremont Avenue. Roses would have also bordered the main lawn in front of Urrbrae House.

By 1956 the rose garden had deteriorated, overgrown with Kikuyu grass and infested with wilt and dieback. In 1959 a new trial rose garden was established by the South Australian Rose Society and Alex Ross to the northeast of Urrbrae House to replace these diseased original ones. Despite cuttings being taken many did not live. Two roses do survive from Peter Waite’s time: Polyantha rose Cécile Brünner hedge (cultivar introduced in Australia in 1911) and Noisette rose Madame Alfred Carriere (introduced in Australia in 1889), both of which are located near the house.

In 1972 the second rose garden had to be removed to make way for a new teaching wing. In 1991 as part of Urrbrae House's centenary plans, a new rose garden was established in its present site to the south of Urrbrae House. Again, the Ross family was involved, this time Alex's son, Deane Ross a famous Australian rose breeder agreed to design this new garden. All the roses for this garden were donated by Ross Roses.

Some of the roses which Deane wanted to include had now become commercially unavailable and had to be sourced from England, America and New Zealand. The C20th Rose Garden has become a historic collection of wide-ranging roses and attempts have been made to represent the most significant of each class; over 200 varieties are represented. The first stage of the garden was opened in 1993. The second stage, the more contemporary design, was developed by Viesturs Cielens in collaboration with Susan Phillips. It features low mounds and three ponds. It was opened in 1996.

Sponsors and volunteers have been, and continue to be, involved in the development and maintenance of the rose garden.

Sponsors include Ross Roses, Heritage Roses Australia -SA, Rose Society of South Australia and Neutrog Australia.

Special thanks to the Urrbrae House Garden Volunteers for their continuing work and support.

Design to awaken the senses, this garden features plants with different colours, textures, aromas and tastes, encouraging visitors to touch, taste and smell them. 

The Sensory Garden is one of a series of thematic gardens in the Urrbrae House Historic Precinct Gardens. Its purpose is to create a special garden that stimulates different senses and is designed to incorporate plants with captivating colours, textures, aromas and tastes. Within this garden are exciting artworks and plantings which provide a tranquil, informative, humorous and stimulating recreational space for everyone, particularly those with disabilities.

Like all gardens, this garden continues to evolve. It is a haven for birds, butterflies and for you! 

A panel of ceramic tiles made by people with a disability reflect the challenges and achievements in their own lives as well as reference being made to Peter Waite as an important immigrant and pastoralist. Artists Bryan Tingey and Andrew Noble worked with residents of the Julia Farr centre to create this artwork.

The Sensory Garden is enclosed by a stately olive hedge, which lined the original driveway to the coachhouse and screened the kitchen garden. The well to the house still remains.