Media Release - Hartley Hill opens its gate again for HMRI

Wednesday 29th September 2004

Garden enthusiasts will be casting their votes this election weekend and heading to the opening of Newcastle's beautiful Hartley Hill Homestead private garden. This is perhaps Newcastle's most secret garden, and consists of traditional cottage gardens and an extensive native Australian garden.

This two acre garden was established in 2000, over what used to be the 1880s Hartley Hill Colliery site. The owners are passionate about their garden and wish to share it with the public to support the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).

"We hope to open our garden every year on the second weekend in October, so people can come back, enjoy the garden and observe its progress" said Karen.

Despite being so close to Newcastle's city centre, the garden is beautifully set in natural bushland so the city is a world away. The garden features an extensive array of native plants and trees. Many plants in this garden are not grown elsewhere in Newcastle, and rarely grown in New South Wales. A variety of native fauna, including bird and possum nests, can be found throughout the sprawling gardens. The magnificent waterfall and ponds are home to native reptiles, frogs and water plants.

Hourly tours of the garden will be conducted, which include plant descriptions, the chance to view a native garden under construction and tips on how to make your native garden grow.

The garden is located at the Hartley Hill Homestead at Cardiff South and will be open on 9th and 10th of October from 10am till 3pm each day.

Entry to the garden is $5 per person or $15 per family and bus parking is available. Native plants can be purchased and Devonshire tea is available. All proceeds from the open garden will go towards HMRI.

Don't miss this excellent opportunity to view one of the regions most beautiful private gardens!

For further information please contact: Kristy Bryant (HMRI Communications Officer) on 02 4921 4841