Clear Springs is the 1.5-acre home garden of landscape designer Matthew Henry, whose thoughtful approach to gardening beautifully balances ornamental planting with productive landscapes. Perched on a hilltop in the peaceful South Gippsland locality of Mirboo, amidst the rolling farmland of the Strzelecki Ranges, this rustic and romantic garden has evolved over more than twenty years into a richly layered, handmade landscape.
Built largely from locally sourced and recycled materials, Clear Springs celebrates the idea that beauty and sustainability can exist side by side. Productive areas—including orchards, vegetable gardens, poultry runs and beehives—are seamlessly woven through ornamental plantings, where hardy trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and self-seeding annuals combine in textural mixed borders designed to thrive with minimal intervention.
A series of generous pathways and carefully framed vistas invite visitors to wander through the garden. Discover the citrus grove with its unusual Buddha's Hand citron, stroll beneath old apple and plum trees, explore the productive potager, or continue through the olive grove to the welcoming fire circle nestled within a ring of swamp paperbarks. The distinctive Wombat Garden showcases Australian, New Zealand and South African plants, while the ornamental garden delights with maples, viburnums, camellias, roses and an ever-changing succession of flowering perennials.
Throughout the garden, Matthew's deep horticultural knowledge is evident, yet the atmosphere remains warm, relaxed and deeply personal. Every corner tells the story of careful observation, patient craftsmanship and a genuine love of plants.
With sweeping views down the Tarwin Valley, Clear Springs offers inspiration for gardeners interested in sustainable design, productive gardening and resilient plant combinations, all set within one of South Gippsland's most picturesque rural landscapes.
A coffee van will be onsite throughout the opening weekend, and visitors will also have the opportunity to purchase a selection of plants to take home.
Clear Springs is located on the lands of the Gunaikurnai People. Open Gardens Victoria wishes to acknowledge the Traditional custodians of this land and we pay respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
Extra activities in the area:
Have lunch in Mirboo North at Lamezleigh’s Cafe
Take a leisurely stroll along the Lyre Bird Walk
See the sculpture in the streets of Yinnar and visit the Artist Resource Collective (ARC) Art Gallery
Visit galleries, antique shops and food stores in picturesque towns such as Loch Village and Meeniyan
Picnic at the Mirboo Recreation Reserve and enjoy the views of countless specimen trees planted over the decades
Strictly only opening 10am to 4.30pm on the dates listed above. Please respect the garden owners' privacy and visit only during opening hours. There will be no early entries.
Entry: $10 Adults, $6 Students (with ID card), Free for visitors under 18 or students who have purchased an annual Student Pass (with ID).
Tickets can be booked and pre-paid online via TryBooking. You can also pay on the day.
Sustainable practices are important to OGV, therefore where possible please either print your own garden notes or save them for viewing on your mobile device.
If you’re a tertiary student, why not purchase our OGV Student Pass, providing you with entry to all our garden openings for the year for just $25. Find out more and purchase your pass via TryBooking.
Become a Friend of OGV and receive two x 2 for the price of 1 garden passes, plus a one off 10% discount to some of Victoria's best garden centres via Trybooking.
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