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Category: Collections

Home > Blog > Collections
Collections / Como House & Garden / Featured

Discovering Hidden Treasures: A Behind-the-Scenes look at the National Trust Collection

Congratulations to the National Trust Victoria team at Rippon Lea Estate who have been announced

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This Spring, support the places you love to Bloom. This Spring, support the places you love to Bloom. 🌸 Across Victoria, the National Trust cares for 17 historic gardens, 4 natural landscapes, and more than 1,800 hectares of living heritage. These places are sanctuaries for biodiversity and spaces where people find health, calm, and renewal. Every tree, every path, every hidden corner of these landscapes tells a story, and every visitor finds a moment of connection, grounding, and joy. This year, our small team of professional horticulturalists, supported by 161 dedicated volunteers, contributed over 8,900 hours. Their hands keep our gardens thriving, but their tools and resources urgently need renewal. Donate today via the link in our bio and help us care for the gardens, landscapes and habitats that make Victoria such a special place to live, visit and explore. Thank you 💚
Join renowned artist echo.brushpainting to discove Join renowned artist echo.brushpainting to discover the ancient art of Chinese brush painting, inspired by the gardens of Rippon Lea. Learn to capture the energy and beauty of plants and landscapes through brush and ink. 📍Elsternwick 🗓️ Fri 11 Sept 10am-1pm 🎟️ Secure your spot via link in bio
Nominate your favourite tree for 2026 Victorian Tr Nominate your favourite tree for 2026 Victorian Tree of the Year! Entries close midnight 30 August. Some trees are more than just beautiful. They’re irreplaceable. We joined royalbotanicgardensvic arborist Jim Shugg to take a closer look at some of the significant trees in the gardens. First on the Significant Tree Register is the Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum) ‘Lion’s Head Tree’, located between Bridge Gate and The Terrace. Its unusual trunk growth gives the tree its name, and photographic evidence from the late 19th century suggests it may be a pre-settlement eucalypt and estimated to be around 300 years old. Then there’s the Taxodium mucronatum (Montezuma Cypress), located opposite the Sensory Garden. At more than 170 years old and over 40 metres tall, it is the largest tree at the Melbourne gardens. And near The Terrace, the Sydney Blue Gum is another of the remarkable trees Jim highlights for the care and protection they receive. As Jim explains, these significant trees are effectively irreplaceable, providing important habitat and carrying cultural and environmental significance. Do you have a favourite tree? Now’s your chance to give it the recognition it deserves. Nominate it for the nationaltrustvic 2026 Victorian Tree of the Year by 30 August. Head to the link in our bio to have your say. Thank you to royalbotanicgardensvic and Jim Shugg for sharing the stories behind these extraordinary trees.
Some trees are more than just beautiful. They’re i Some trees are more than just beautiful. They’re irreplaceable. We joined royalbotanicgardensvic arborist Jim Shugg to take a closer look at some of the significant trees in the gardens as nominations for this year’s nationaltrustvic 2026 Victorian Tree of the Year come to a close on 30 August. First on the Significant Tree Register is the Eucalyptus camaldulensis (River Red Gum) ‘Lion’s Head Tree’, located between Bridge Gate and The Terrace. Its unusual trunk growth gives the tree its name, and photographic evidence from the late 19th century suggests it may be a pre-settlement eucalypt and estimated to be around 300 years old. Then there’s the Taxodium mucronatum (Montezuma Cypress), located opposite the Sensory Garden. At more than 170 years old and over 40 metres tall, it is the largest tree at the Melbourne gardens. And near The Terrace, the Sydney Blue Gum is another of the remarkable trees Jim highlights for the care and protection they receive. As Jim explains, these significant trees are effectively irreplaceable, providing important habitat and carrying cultural and environmental significance. Do you have a favourite tree? Now’s your chance to give it the recognition it deserves. Nominate it for the nationaltrustvic 2026 Victorian Tree of the Year by 30 August. Head to the link in our bio to have your say. Thank you to royalbotanicgardensvic and Jim Shugg for sharing the stories behind these extraordinary trees.
So many heritage places are open! Swipe to find so So many heritage places are open! Swipe to find somewhere you might like to visit in Victoria. Plus, there’s Dogs Day Out at Rippon Lea Estate and the CWA Bake Sale in the Como House ballroom on Saturday. Save or share with a friend and make plans to come along.
Have you got a favourite tree that deserves to be Have you got a favourite tree that deserves to be recognised? 🌳 Nominate it for the 2026 Victorian Tree of the Year and help us celebrate the remarkable trees that make Victoria special. Nominations close Sunday 30 August. Nominate now via the link in our bio.
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National Trust of Australia (Victoria),
Tasma Terrace, 6 Parliament Place
East Melbourne Vic 3002

email: [email protected]
tel: +61 3 9656 9800
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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Victoria and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.

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