By Holly Mcguinness
Spring has sprung at Ziebell’s Farmhouse Museum and Heritage Garden, and as the roses begin to bloom, good news has come rolling in.
The museum has been shortlisted in the 2022 Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards for its Turning Back to Edgars Creek exhibition, showcasing the rich history of the surrounding suburbs.
Museum Director Gordon Johnston said the shortlisting is incredibly exciting and a credit to the hardworking team behind Friends of Westgarthtown and the exhibition’s curator, Kitty Owens.
“It shows that our approach of developing exhibitions and programs for our local communities is working and is being recognised,” Mr Johnston said.
The farmhouse is a historic dairy farming settlement, built in 1850 by German settlers, Christian and Sophia Ziebell.
Falling into disrepair by the 1990s, restorations began once the property was purchased by the City of Whittlesea; the project was funded in partnership with Friends of Westgarthtown.
The building was restored 20 years ago and with a plethora of flowers added throughout the years.
Seventy roses stand proud in the garden, many planted in the early 1860’s and a Queen Elizabeth rose stands centre stage.
“Visitors constantly say the site is tranquil and peaceful,” Mr Johnston said.
Entry to the gardens is free for City of Whittlesea residents and open days are Tuesdays from 11.30am to 2.pm and Sundays 11.30am to 3pm. The gardens are at 100 Gardenia Road, Thomastown.
The awards will be announced on Tuesday, October 4 at an awards ceremony at the State Library.
