Felicity Leigh and Harvey Anderssen fear much of the Mayday Hills gardens at Beechworth, such as Kurume Corner, will be lost through neglect. Picture: MATTHEW SMITHWICK
THE beautiful gardens at the former La Trobe University campus at Beechworth — once a popular spot for wedding receptions — are wasting away.
Friends of Mayday Hills secretary Harvey Anderssen and committee members are appalled by the state of the gardens, which have not been maintained or watered as the site awaits a buyer.
Mr Anderssen said concerned residents had met on Tuesday night to voice their concerns.
“This is a popular place in spring with flowering azaleas and rhododendrons, but it won’t be soon if we don’t get water,” he said.
“At the meeting, we heard about 300 people a month travel here from all over the world to see the gardens.
“We moved at the meeting that we would get in touch with Indigo Shire about the gardens because it is the responsible authority for maintaining the gardens for Heritage Victoria as per council minutes.
“We will make sure it is aware of the situation.”
Friends of Mayday Hills member Felicity Leigh said the gardens had some of the rarest trees including a white oak — one of only two in Victoria.
“My biggest fear is that substantial amounts of the garden will die and, therefore, have to be removed,” she said.
“Whoever buys it, if they want to develop it, they won’t have a heritage significance because once they are gone, they are gone.”
It will be several weeks before the sale of the site is announced.