Gardens and Grounds
The Gardens within Maroondah Federation Estate play a vital role in creating a peaceful, usable and interactive atmosphere for all visitors. Native and local flora has been incorporated as a major part of the Gardens. Through planting native trees, shrubs and bushes, the aim is to attract local fauna, aiding in the ever growing biodiversity of Maroondah.
Here at Maroondah Federation Estate the seasons are utilised through staggered planting and optimising a wide range of different trees, shrubs, grasses and bushes, all with different requirements. This means the grounds can look their best all year round. The flora used through out the facility also reflects the native theme, using such plants as the dwarf heath banksias, native guara and violets, as well as gravillea.
The gardens at the front of the building feature a stunning Weeping Cherry tree which has been dedicated to Betty Milton, a past member of the Maroondah community. Also at the front of the buildings, various fruit trees can be seen. These trees are a tribute and celebration of this site, which was once an orchard.
The gardens close to the lifestyle center are designed to complement the many different architectural designs incorporated at Maroondah Federation Estate. When walking the exterior of the building, different eras can be seen in both architectural design and the corresponding plants for each era. Typical plants for the 1900s, 1920s, 40s, 60s, 80s and even 2000 have been used.
Within the grounds of Maroondah Federation Estate a vast range of designs and flora can be seen when sitting in the millennium courtyard. The space utilises paving to create symbols and areas of interest. A combination of bricks and labyrinth paving has also been used to create a path adjoining the old heritage building to the new contemporary building - connecting old Maroondah to the new Maroondah.
Other focal points of the courtyard include a stunning spherical water feature and a Plane tree. Surrounding the Plane tree are historic red bricks, which were originally a component of the Ringwood Primary School at the entrance to the school. The bricks feature in this courtyard as a reminder of the local history of the site.
The paving surrounding the tree and water feature is called the ‘Footsteps of Federation’. Key milestones, events, icons and people during the past 100 years are captured in the centre plaques. Themes of the various plaques include
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Historic orchards
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Ringwood Primary School
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The local Indigenous community
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Native flora and fauna
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Antimony mining
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Dame Phyllis Frost for her role in establishing the Maroondah Hospital, and even the
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Ringwood Highland Games
The grounds and gardens are further enhanced by an ever growing sculpture park, which includes sculptures such as ‘small fractured figure’, created in molded steel by renowned South Australian artist, Rod Jones.