Longbush Cottage is a modern cottage garden located in the beautiful Longbush Valley in Gladstone. At the garden’s heart is a small cottage built in the 1890s and moved to the property in 1998. When the current owners arrived five years ago, the one-hectare property was a blank canvas waiting to be planted!
Luke has been working ever since to implement his vision for the garden, and visitors will be in the unique position to see the garden progress and develop as new areas are created. Already, the garden has developed an atmosphere of its own. Planting around the large pond (or mere) and the island is adding to this atmosphere, and is creating a diverse environment that is encouraging native birds, bees, and frogs to make their home.
The garden is divided into several areas including a white garden, cottage garden, shade garden, potager, cutting garden, and a nursery area where a small selection of our favourite plants are available to purchase.
Longbush Cottage opened to the public for the first time as part of the Pukaha Mt Bruce Garden tour in November 2020, and is open by appointment, at $10 per person.