The Rose has long been a symbol of love, beauty, war and politics. Cultivated since 5,000 BCE in Asia, this much-loved flower has many uses beyond just looking good, such as in food, medicine and perfume.
Our Rose Garden is designed in the style of a walled, sunken European garden. The high brick wall is covered in Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila) and shelters the roses from strong winds. The garden beds are raised to allow better drainage and air circulation for the plants. This has been further improved in recent years with the installation of dripline irrigation to encourage better growth, reduce the amount of water used and reduce spread of pathogens.
The Rose Garden is comprised of around 1,000 rose plants in eight garden beds, representing more than 200 different hybrids, species and cultivars. We have many varieties of rose in this collection, including Hybrid Tea, Floribunda, Old Fashioned, Weeping, Miniature and Standard. We showcase a selection of Heritage Roses, Australian bred roses and some of the latest rose releases from around the world that are disease resistant and suit the Wollongong climate. Some of the roses on display include the ‘Peace’ rose which was smuggled to America from occupied France in 1945, and The Wollongong Gold Rose, developed to mark the 50th anniversary of Wollongong City in 1997.
The beautiful gazebo in the centre of the Rose Garden is a popular spot for wedding photos and ceremonies. The rear wall of the Rose Garden includes a poem dedicated to the Aboriginal stolen generation, and poems of love and love lost can be found on the central rotunda.
The Rose Garden is also home to the equatorial sundial, a gift from the Friends of Wollongong Botanic Garden.
Our Rose Garden's flowering period is from mid-October to April, with peaks in flowers October - November and February - March.
Collection opening hours
- 7am to 5pm weekdays
- 7am to 6pm weekends and public holidays
Location
The Rose Garden is a short walk from the south-eastern entry on Murphys Avenue, near the Duck Pond.
Map reference N-4 on our Garden Map PDF, 76 KB