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A fruity winter festival

One of Australia’s largest gatherings of fruit tree lovers is just around the corner!

Sunday, August 10 is the date for this year’s Winter Heritage Fruit Tree Festival at Werribee Park Heritage Orchard. The festival is set to delight gardeners, history buffs, and curious visitors of all ages.

Held between 10am to 3pm in the heart of the historic Werribee Park precinct, this unique one-day event offers a rare chance to explore the orchard’s rich past, learn practical gardening skills, and take home your own piece of heritage.

The orchard dates back to the 1870s, when pastoralist Thomas Chirnside planted an extensive array of fruit trees including apples, quinces, pears, plums, grapes, peaches, walnuts, olives, and the area’s first figs.

Thanks to the dedication of local volunteers and WPHO (Werribee Park Heritage Orchard) — a community group formed in 2010 in partnership with Parks Victoria — the orchard has been lovingly restored and is once again thriving.

Enjoy live music, grab a bite to eat and browse the stalls selling all things gardening.

All activities are free, with a gold coin donation for parking.

The festival is a ’must-attend’ event for all gardeners, from novice to seasoned green thumbs.

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