By Mikayla van Loon
Now hidden in a pocket of suburban Mooroolbark, Edna Walling’s vision for Bickleigh Vale Village remains a cherished feature of the town a century on from its creation.
Despite the urban sprawl surrounding it, the haven of woodland trees and cottage gardens provides a sheltered and whimsical escape from the concrete streets just below.
In celebration and honour of the visionary landscape designer, eight of Bickleigh Vale Village’s homes will be opening to the public to explore the unique estate for Open Gardens Victoria on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October.
While the over 20 acre site is home to more than 30 cottages each tucked away down secret lanes and under canopies of mature trees, the eight gardens will provide a taste of Walling’s childhood village in Devon, England and give a glimpse into the influential design features of her landscape style.
Of the eight, Downderry and The Barn will be two the community can wander through.
Although adjoining properties, the pair couldn’t be more different, reflecting Walling’s ability to diversify.
Downderry owner for more than 30 years, Maryann Sporon-Fiedler said she’d always been fascinated by the Walling style and design but never thought it possible to live where she did.
“My mother and my grandfather always gardened, and grandpa had an Edna Walling book, which he used all the time, and he did stone work and walls and so forth,” she said.
“So I’d always gardened and I felt I really needed a Edna Walling garden, not ever thinking that I’d ever be able to live in Bickleigh but when I started to look for a house [after selling in Mount Dandenong], there happened to be three for sale.”
The pale pink cottage was one of the first built in around 1924 for Walling’s mother and became the perfect fit for Ms Sporon-Fiedler.
“They’re such interesting houses. They’ve got funny roof lines rather like what would have been a thatched cottage in Devon and of course, everywhere in the houses that you look, if you’re inside, you get a view of the garden,” she said.
“That’s a really Edna Walling thing. You had to always have a view of the garden, or have French doors into the garden.”
While there are specific plans per se for the gardens or the houses, Ms Sporon-Fiedler said Walling “did the most beautiful garden plans and watercolours, they were exquisite”.
She would then bring that to life by planting and constructing many of the stonewalls and pathways herself, which created pockets and vistas, hidden curvatures and flowing gardens.
“She didn’t like neat and tidy. I like it to look how I think she would have, a bit messy, spilling out everywhere. Nothing regimented and I try to keep it that way,” Ms Sporon-Fiedler said.
“It’s typical of Edna, because she loved shades of green. So it will be all different shades of green, that lurid, bright European Green and the soft grey Australian green, because towards the end of her life, she became very much orientated to the Australian landscape as opposed to the English landscape.”
Every garden is connected via a gate, creating a continuous feel to the estate and Ms Sporon-Fiedler said “everywhere you look in these gardens, there’s a view of something, there’s little rooms of various plants”.
Through the gate and into The Barn, the contrast is initially subtle but with the large grassed area and section of roses, as well as the darker facade of the house, it really is entirely different.
Owners Jen and Paul Vardy moved into what was once Walling’s own home from 1951 until 1967 about 15 years ago.
Coming from a country property, Ms Vardy said it was like stumbling on the best of both worlds, having suburbia so close and yet being separated by acreage.
“So this was like giving us that little bit of country in the city and giving our kids that experience,” she said.
“I’ve spoken to the kids a bit lately about living and growing up in this environment, and I think now that they’re older teenagers, except for my little one, they’re appreciative of living in this environment.
“They can see that it does give creativity or that sense of space and freedom, they’re quite independent young adults.”
The Barn is one of the more central properties among the collective, nestled and secluded by the foliage of the trees, sitting on just over an acre.
“She oversaw not just the gardens, but the houses as well and the idea was that the houses would sit lightly on the landscape and that you wouldn’t notice the other houses when you’re in one property,” Ms Vardy said.
The use of silver birch trees as shade are very much a feature of The Barn, surrounding the main grassed area.
“She has little stone pathways [that lead] into another garden room. She used a lot of silver birch. Some of the old birch and crab apple trees are getting to be 100 years old.”
Aside from just opening the gardens, visitors will be able to hear from owners with garden talks, as well as gaze at market stalls with plants and antiques.
“The open weekend will showcase spring in the Village, with talks by residents on Edna’s life
and legacy; our work in partnership with both Heritage Victoria and local council to maintain the
roadside plantings and landscape as well as highlighting our local birds and wildlife,” Ms Vardy said.
Open Gardens Victoria’s head of selectors Louise Brown said it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to be able to open Bickleigh Vale for the 100 year anniversary.
“We are so fortunate to be opening this wonderful landscape that celebrates a remarkable woman and her extraordinary vision,” she said.
“We encourage visitors to take their time, to wander the quiet laneways and enjoy the peace and beauty of the interconnected and richly planted gardens.”
Visitors will begin their Bickleigh Vale journey on foot at the entrance to Bickleigh Vale Road before making their way through Badgers Wood, Devon Cottage, Downderry, Lynton Lee, Mistover, Sonningfield, The Barn and Whistlewood.
To manage numbers, parking, and foot traffic, this opening will have timed-entry tickets available
for purchase via TryBooking commencing hourly at 10am through to 2pm. Visit trybooking.com/events/landing/1252401 to book.
To read more about Bickleigh Vale Village, visit bickleighvale.com.au or opengardensvictoria.org.au/Bickleigh-Vale-Village
