Ashby Family and Wittunga Botanic Garden photographs [B 70984] • Photograph
Wittunga farm's old Apple Store
A view of the surviving Apple Store in Wittunga Botanic Garden following the demolition of other farm buildings in the foreground. In the days of Wittunga farm the Ashby family had, over many years, packed thousands of cases of apples and pears for export in the Apple Store. Now (2007) this only surviving farm building is used to store Wittunga Botanic Garden equipment.
Housing estate development on former Wittunga farmland
South of the Adelaide to Melbourne railway line former Wittunga farmland, not bequeathed to the State in 1965, is developed as a housing estate.
Wittunga Botanic Garden car park
The car park was made in preparation for the official opening of Wittunga Botanic Garden in 1975. It is on the site of part of the former Wittunga farm known as the Bull Paddock. Beyond the car park is Blackwood Primary School where the Hay Paddocks used to be.
Three miles of walking paths are prepared in Wittunga Botanic Garden
Image from the Sunday Mail newspaper, page 10, 9 March 1975, depicting some of the three miles of walkways being prepared for the official opening of Wittunga Botanic Garden. A big old South Australian blue gum is in the foreground.
Bruce Grivell working in Wittunga Botanic Garden
Image from the Sunday Mail newspaper, page 10, 9 March 1975, showing Bruce Grivell, gardener-in-charge, working in the garden prior to the official opening.
Report of the official opening of Wittunga Botanic Garden
Image from The Coromandel Times newspaper, front page, 28 August 1975, announcing 'Uniquely fascinating Wittunga Botanic Garden: Official opening September 14th'. It continues, 'On Sunday 14 September at 2.30pm Wittunga Botanic Garden will be officially opened by His Excellency The Governor Sir Mark Oliphant and the public is cordially invited to the present at this function...'
Sir Mark Oliphant officially opens Wittunga Botanic Garden
Image from Hills Gazette newspaper 17 September 1975 reporting that 'Wittunga Botanic Garden off Shepherds Hill Road, Blackwood, was opened by Governor Sir Mark Oliphant last Sunday'. Sir Mark Oliphant is pictured unveiling a plaque. The Governor said 'Gardens such as Wittunga could help to strengthen interest in growing native plants and help the growing awareness of our priceless heritage'.
Elizabeth Ashby and Bruce Grivell beside the official plaque in Wittunga Botanic Garden
In December 1975 Elizabeth Ashby, widow of Keith Ashby, and Bruce Grivell, gardener-in-charge, stand beside the plaque which the Governor, Sir Mark Oliphant, had unveiled at the official opening of Wittunga Botanic Garden on 14 September that year. The lake is in the background.
The site where the vine trellis used to be in Wittunga Botanic Garden
A view of the lawn and pathway that replaced the former Wittunga farm Vine Trellis after it was bulldozed in 1974. The Vine Trellis had stood for more than half a century and contained twenty five named varieties of table grapes.
The Kangaroo Island mallee planted by Edwin Ashby in Wittunga
Wittunga Botanic Garden. The Kangaroo Island mallee (Eucalyptus cnoerifolia) growing on the border of the Kangaroo Island section of Wittunga Botanic Garden. The seed from which this tree grew was collected by Edwin Ashby when he was campaigning to have Flinders Chase preserved as a national reserve for native flora and fauna on Kangaroo Island.
Old persimmon tree in Wittunga Botanic Garden
The old persimmon tree which used to dominate the Home Orchard in the days of the Wittunga farm surrounded by shrubs of many species in one of the new terraced garden beds.
The Wild Part in Wittunga Botanic Garden
A view showing the modern management of the section of the former Wittunga farm garden known as the Wild Part. The locally indigenous understorey plants including lilies, ferns and orchids have been replaced by woodchip mulch and a clump of Agapanthus. The remnant upper storey species are largely replaced by non-indigenous trees and shrubs.
The South African Protea barbigera in bloom in Wittunga Botanic Garden
South African members of the family Proteaceae flourish in Wittunga. Protea barbigera featured here is a particularly spectacular species.
A South African Erica in bloom in Wittunga Botanic Garden
The magnificent Erica Aurora (a cultivar) is one of the many representatives of South African ericas growing in Wittunga Botanic Garden. Keith Ashby, who gifted Wittunga to the State, developed the largest collection of ericas (110 species and cultivars) in any one garden outside South Africa.
Banksia ashbyi, named after Edwin Ashby the founder of Wittunga garden
Banksia ashbyi commemorates Edwin Ashby, the founder of Wittunga garden, later Wittunga Botanic Garden. This photograph of the flower was taken by his son Keith on a visit to Perth, Western Australia.
Sir Robert George unveils the National Trust plaque on Watiparinga Reserve
Image from The Advertiser, page 2, 21 May 1959. The Governor of South Australia, Sir Robert George, unveils the National Trust plaque on Watiparinga Reserve at Dale Road, Eden Hills. He is watched by the donor of the property Miss Alison Ashby. Lady George is on the extreme right.
Salvation jane in full bloom on Watiparinga National Trust Reserve
A view of salvation jane in bloom on the hillside of the Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. A few remnant eucalypt trees are on the far hill.
Cattle grazing on a Salvation Jane covered hillside adjoining Watiparinga National Trust Reserve
A view from Watiparinga Reserve looking east over Mitcham Council Ashby Reserve towards Blackwood township showing salvation jane in full bloom. A group of shorthorn cattle with red and white coats are in the middle distance.
Rock formations and caves in Watiparinga National Trust Reserve, Rocky section, Eden Hills
A view looking south in Watiparinga Reserve's Rocky section showing some shallow caves and large-scale folding on the southern rocky cliff face. There is a remnant eucalypt tree on the skyline.
Rock formations on the southern side of Watiparinga National Trust Reserve, Rocky section, Eden Hills
A view looking south showing the white trunk of a river red gum in front of the rocky background in Watiparinga Reserve's Rocky section. Large-scale folding shows on the cliff on the southern side of the valley.
The Victor Harbor express crossing the viaduct at Eden Hills
The Victor Harbor express crossing the viaduct at Eden Hills. Forty years later the land on either side became the Watiparinga National Trust Reserve.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 19. 1963
A view from neighbour Don Ovenden's garden looking north across Watiparinga Reserve's Eurilpa section, Eden Hills to the Viaduct section, Belair. Cattle graze on cleared land covered with salvation jane. There is a group of remnant eucalypts in the foreground.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 19. 1998
A view from neighbour Don Ovenden's garden looking north across Watiparinga Reserve's Eurilpa section, Eden Hills to the Viaduct section, Belair. After 35 years of carefully managed restoration the woodland of eucalypts and sheoaks growing in the Eurilpa section block the view to most of the Viaduct section.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 4. 1963
A view from Don Ovenden's garden looking east-northeast across Watiparinga Reserve's Eurilpa and Baeckea sections, Eden Hills to Mitcham Council Ashby Reserve and beyond to wooded hills. The cleared Baeckea section is covered with flowering salvation jane. There is one remnant eucalypt tree on the skyline. Two old tracks made in the early 1880s when the railway line was constructed show clearly on Baeckea section hillside.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 4. 1998
A view from Don Ovenden's garden looking east-northeast across Watiparinga Reserve's Eurilpa and Baeckea sections, Eden Hills to Mitcham Council Ashby Reserve. After 35 years of carefully managed restoration both Eurilpa and Baeckea sections have a grassy woodland of eucalypt, sheoak and wattle trees. Only a small part of the tracks made during the construction of the railway line in the 1880s is now visible.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 9. 1974
A view from the fire track on Watiparinga Reserve's Viaduct section looking west to suburban housing at Seacombe Gardens and to Gulf St Vincent. A group of remnant grey box trees stand out beside the firetrack. The Viaduct section hillside is bare except for a scattering of low bushes.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 9. 1998
A view from the fire track on Watiparinga Reserve's Viaduct section looking west to suburban housing at Seacombe Gardens and to Gulf St Vincent. After 24 years of carefully managed restoration, the remnant grey box trees are part of the grassy woodland covering the Viaduct section hillside. Only a small portion of the housing at Seacombe Gardens is visible between the trees.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 21. 1961
Looking west from Dale Road, Eden Hills a bushfire has burnt Watiparinga Reserve on both sides of the railway line. The former National Pleasure Resort, now Shepherds Hill Recreation Park, is also burnt out. Gulf St Vincent is in the far distance.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 21. 1998
A view looking west from near Dale Road, Eden Hills in Baeckea section of Watiparinga Reserve. Thirty seven years later and much restoration work, the grassy woodland of eucalypts, sheoaks and wattles blocks out views of the Reserve on the other side of the railway line. Shepherds Hill Recreation Park is in the middle distance with suburban housing and Gulf St Vincent beyond.
Watiparinga National Trust Reserve. Photo point 17. 1975
A view from the open cleared Viaduct section of Watiparinga Reserve looking east over parts of Rocky and Baeckea sections. Beyond is Mitcham Council Ashby Reserve and Blackwood water tower on the skyline.