La Trobe at Beechworth welcomes visitors to its magnificent heritage gardens noted by the National Trust as Victorian Gardens of Significance.

The gardens cover 11 hectares and surround the historic buildings of the old Mayday Hills Hospital. Planted as a botanical garden of exotic trees and shrubs in the late 19th century, the lush green exotic plantings are set against a spectacular back drop of indigenous flora.

The original plantings were thought to have been donated by the Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens. They include Bunya Pines, a magnificent 55 metre tall Douglas Fir, Californian Coast Redwood, Cedars, Cypress and Sequoias.

Canary Pines overlooking the Mayday Hills Oval and an Avenue of Oaks were planted in the early 20th Century by the “Ornamental Gardener” Hugh Linaker. Plantings of Rhododendrum, Azaleas and Roses date from the 1970’s and offer a splendid colourful vista in early spring.

The gardens are open daily to the public from dawn to dusk.