First established as a local park for residents by Council in 1972, Roxborough Park Rose Garden is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The garden is a cherished landmark within the Hills community.
The land the garden resides on was originally bought in 1799 by Scottish immigrants Andrew and Elizabeth McDougall. They named it Roxburgh Place, presumably after Roxburgh County in Scotland.
The estate passed through many hands over the years and had various uses, from subdivided orchards to a storage area for a hardware company, to a housing estate named Roxborough Park before it was acquired by Council.
In 1966, the NSW Association of Nurserymen and Garden Societies approached Council and asked for a rose garden to be planted within the Hills Shire, and the site was chosen. The original concept design for the garden was prepared by the Senior Landscape Designer of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Today, the garden is considered one of the largest of its kind in Sydney and is home to over 4,000 roses and 80 different species.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Peter Gangemi reflected on the importance of the garden as a place for residents to meet and enjoy nature.
"The Rose Garden has such an incredible history and is a truly iconic part of The Hills," Mayor Gangemi said.
"We are so lucky to have such a beautiful recreational area that's enriched with our Shire's history," he said.
"What started out as a family home is now a place for all residents and visitors to the area to admire the wide variety of roses."
The garden is currently undergoing refurbishment. Stage one of the works was recently completed and involved the instalment of a new rose arbour, main staircase, concrete pathways, steel edging, seating and a feature sandstone area. The upgraded garden was officially opened by Mayor Gangemi on 23 September 2022, exactly 50 years to the day after the original garden opened.
"It's so important to maintain our passive recreational areas within the Shire while also preserving a significant part of the Hills story," Mayor Gangemi said.
"I'm proud that Council has prioritised the rejuvenation of this much-loved rose garden, which is a truly special place to reflect and relax in beautiful surroundings," he said.
"This part of Baulkham Hills is now a meeting point for local residents. Hills families can visit the newly renovated Waves, the refurbished Rose Garden and grab a coffee at the new café".
Visitors can find Roxborough Park Rose Garden and Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre at the corner of Roxborough Park Road and Mileham Avenue in Baulkham Hills.
