GUIDED HISTORY TOUR

Explore Montsalvat on a curated walking tour that brings its history and creative future to life. Led by our volunteer tour guide, the tour offers an engaging, insightful experience that showcases both the site’s heritage, architecture and its ongoing creative community.

SELF GUIDED ROSE WALKS

The roses at Montsalvat are an integral part of the landscape, complementing the rural French village architecture and adding colour, fragrance and character to the gardens. Many heritage and species roses thrive in Australia’s climate, growing more successfully here than in their native locations in the Northern Hemisphere.

Montsalvat’s collection celebrates the beauty and resilience of heritage and species roses. Often distinguished by their subtle colours, delicate forms and beautiful fragrance, these roses offer a glimpse into the history of rose cultivation. Heritage roses, also known as classic roses or old garden roses, are generally distinguished from modern hybrid teas and floribundas, although the boundaries between these categories are not always clear cut.

The three Rose Walks invite visitors to explore this eclectic collection throughout Montsalvat’s historic grounds, discovering the diversity, beauty and stories of these enduring plants.

A Living History of Rose Planting

Montsalvat’s rose collection has developed over many decades, shaped by successive generations of gardeners, changing availability of plants and the personal preferences of those who selected and planted them.

During the 1930s and 1940s, Mervyn Skipper was Montsalvat’s principal gardener, followed by his daughter, Helen. One of the most significant periods of rose planting came in the 1980s, initiated by Sigmund Jorgensen, Helen’s son. More recently, a renewed effort to document and identify the collection has been supported by Heritage Roses in Australia. We are deeply grateful for this support, which has helped us produce this guide and install labels to help visitors identify and learn more about the roses throughout the grounds.

Today, the collection reflects these different periods of planting, the sometimes limited availability of heritage and species roses, and the individual tastes of the people who have cared for Montsalvat’s gardens. The result is an eclectic assortment of beautiful, resilient plants that continues to evolve.

Explore the Rose Walks

The three Rose Walks offer different ways to experience Montsalvat’s collection, from the hilltop gardens to the terrace garden.

Walks A and B: Each take approximately 50 minutes to complete and are the most accessible of the three routes, although visitors should expect varied surfaces and a small step along the way.

Walk C: The Terrace Garden takes approximately 1.5 hours to explore, offering a longer opportunity to discover the roses and enjoy this distinctive part of Montsalvat’s landscape.

The roses featured across all three walks represent approximately two-thirds of the roses planted at Montsalvat. We encourage you to wander beyond the marked routes and explore other areas of the grounds, where more roses can be discovered.

When to Visit

The best time to experience the roses in bloom is generally from mid-October to mid-December. During this period, the gardens come alive with colour and fragrance, making it an ideal time to explore the walks and enjoy Montsalvat at its most floral.

Help Us Identify and Preserve the Collection

As you explore the Rose Walks, you may encounter a rose labelled unknown. Identifying heritage and species roses can be challenging, and we welcome contributions from visitors who may be able to help.

If you recognise a rose or have a suggestion about its identity, please email montsalvat@montsalvat.com.au, including the rose’s catalogue number and your suggested name. Our team will investigate the identification.

You can also help us preserve and share the collection by contributing towards the labelling of our remaining roses. A donation of $20 will fund a UV-resistant label, helping future visitors identify and learn about another rose in the gardens.

Donate a Rose or Support the Collection

We welcome enquiries from those interested in donating a rose to Montsalvat. To discuss a potential donation, please contact montsalvat@montsalvat.com.au.

Every contribution helps us care for this living collection and share its history with future generations.

Get Involved

Montsalvat welcomes volunteers who would like to contribute to the care and preservation of the rose collection. If you are interested in helping maintain the gardens and support this ongoing work, please complete the volunteer expression of interest form on our website.

For those wishing to learn more about the roses with a guide, group tours of the Rose Walks are available on Wednesday mornings. Please visit our website to enquire about availability and bookings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I allow for each Rose Walk? Walks A and B each take approximately 50 minutes. Walk C, through the terrace garden, takes approximately 1.5 hours.

When is the best time of year to visit the roses? The best time to visit is generally from mid-October to mid-December, when the roses are in bloom.

Can I donate a rose to Montsalvat? Yes. We welcome enquiries about rose donations. Please email montsalvat@montsalvat.com.au for further information.

Can my group book a guided tour of the Rose Walks? Yes. Guided group tours are available on Wednesday mornings. Please visit our website for booking information.

Are the Rose Walks accessible for wheelchair users? Hilltop Walks A and B are the most accessible routes, although surfaces vary and there is a small step. Visitors may wish to consider these conditions when planning their visit.

Can I volunteer to help care for the roses? Yes. We welcome volunteers who are interested in supporting the care of Montsalvat’s gardens. Please complete the volunteer expression of interest form on our website.

Can I help identify an unknown rose? Absolutely. If you have a suggestion about the identity of a rose labelled unknown, please email montsalvat@montsalvat.com.au with its catalogue number and your suggested name.

How can I support the rose labelling project? A donation of $20 will fund a UV-resistant label for one of Montsalvat’s remaining roses, helping visitors discover and learn about the collection.

Please note – All tours are largely outdoors, please wear appropriate footwear and dress for the weather!