The Walled Garden of The Melbourne Club
You can sometimes hear little groups of Melburnians hurrying
down the top end of Little Collins Street, late for a show, bemoaning the
ugliness of the multi-storey carpark on the north side. Few notice the
Senegal Date Palm hanging over the high brick wall on the south side. Which
is a pity, because it is one of the few clues to the location of one of
Melbourne's hidden gems - the private walled garden of
The
Melbourne Club.
Walled gardens have a long tradition, gaining particular
popularity with cloistered orders, and as cities grew ever more bustling
they also provided a secluded oasis for contemplation, study or quiet
conversation. Organisations who placed value on providing the opportunity
for quiet (and sometimes solitary) contemplation have set about building
walled gardens and these have included religious organisations, university
colleges, private clubs, and in more recent times, corporate offices (Harry
Seidler's Shell Building, for instance, contains a small walled garden.)
The walled garden is the opposite end of the spectrum from the jostling bar
with amplified music, multiple large screens vying for our attention
together with shouted conversations.
The
Walled Garden of The Melbourne Club is mainly subdued green nestled back
against and up the walls, but these plants repay closer inspection. What
might initially be dismissed as 'all purpose shrubbery' reveals a remarkable
variety of styles and textures for those prepared to examine in detail. The
central area is made up of lawn suitable for formal occasions and creating a
feeling of space within limited confines. But the real glories of this
garden are three enormous London Plane (or Sycamore) Trees, each one worthy
of a public park in their own right. The largest was planted over a century
ago and has a canopy spread of over 30 metres It is the sort of tree
that can subtly persuade those entering the garden focussed on the small
issues of that day, that there is a larger picture and a longer time scale
that is worthy of attention.
Small groups of Melburnians ambling up Little Collins Street
late in the evening are often discussing the theatre or the restaurant they
attended. Occasionally an individual distracted by the muffled sound of a
clink of crystal from behind a high brick wall, will peel off and make a
brief detour down an adjoining lane. You should se the size of the tress
behind that wall." he says, but nobody else seems interested.
The Melbourne Club is a private club on private land, so the
garden is only open to members and their guests. However, on rare occasions
it is thrown open to the public. If you have the opportunity to be offered
an invitation to The Melbourne Club or to attend an open day, White Hat
urges you to accept the opportunity.
Some forthcoming public events at The Walled Garden of The Melbourne
Club:
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