The Riversdale plant nursery has come into spring with new vitality and a fresh new look. Situated under the trees at the side of the house, it has recently been revamped.
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The nursery serves to restock the garden and to preserve old plants no longer available or not readily available in commercial nurseries. It also helps the National Trust raise funds to provide the ongoing conservation, events and guided tours of Riversdale for visitors.
We have a new gardening volunteer and she has brought her horticultural skills to the nursery. As a result, we have an improved layout, expanding stock and all our plants are labelled. If you are looking for something a bit different to plant in your garden this spring, keep the Riversdale nursery in mind.
The nursery will also be one of the stalls at next month's Riversdale's Rare Plants and Grower's Garden Fair. We will have a range of older style cottage garden plants and a large selection of bulbs, including our signature flower - the Iris - on offer. Stocked with plants propagated from the Riversdale garden, all plants are acclimatised to local conditions and are almost never seen now except in old gardens.
Victorian Christmas exhibition
The Riversdale's Rare Plants and Grower's Garden Fair will also be the day we open Riversdale's Victorian Christmas Exhibition and decorate the house in Victorian style festive cheer, re-creating the atmosphere, life and times of the Twynam family during the late 19th century.
The cornerstone of the exhibition is a large Christmas tree decorated and this year it will be complemented by displays of Victorian/turn of the century toys on loan from Grossman and Brough Houses (National Trust properties - located in Maitland). Join in the Christmas festivities at Riversdale - the exhibition is open from November through to Christmas.
First convoy
On October 20, 1914, the troop transport ship HMAT Euripides left Sydney Harbour to join the ships of the First World War convoy. The convoy assembled in the Port of Albany, Princess Royal Harbour, in Western Australia before departing for overseas service. Twenty five nurses were part of the first convoy and of these, eight were from NSW.
Sister Alice Joan Twynam of Riversdale, Goulburn, had enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in September, 1914 and was attached to the Second Australian General Hospital. She was one of six nurses to embark on the Euripides. These nurses were the elite of the New South Wales nursing profession and Alice Joan, with her bush nursing experience, was part of this group.
These experienced nurses were under the leadership of principal matron, Ellen Gould. Several had a connection to Sydney Hospital; Ellen Gould had been matron there in the 1890s and two of the group had been deputy matrons at the same hospital. Matron Gould and two others had also been nurses in South Africa during the Boer War.
The first convoy, diverted from Britain, arrived in Egypt at the beginning of December, 1914 and the Second AGH went to Cairo and was assigned to Mena House. A tourist hotel, situated near the pyramids, Mena House was converted into a hospital for the Australian military.
Devonshire teas
The next Devonshire Tea will be held on Sunday, October 20 at Riversdale. If you are looking for something a bit different come and join us for a leisurely tea - or coffee - and a jam and cream scone in a heritage setting.
Stroll in our award-winning garden, which is at its glorious best in spring. Take a tour of the house with its colonial furniture and 19th century bric-a-brac. Come and browse our gift shop, located within the house and stocked with a unique range of giftware.
Coming up
Sunday, November 3, from 10am to 3pm: Riversdale Rare Plants and Grower's Garden Fair. This is Riversdale's big event for the year featuring plant and garden themed stalls, garden tours and talks by gardening experts.
Sunday, November 3 to December 19, from 10am to 2pm: Riversdale's Victorian Christmas Exhibition.
Opening times
National Trust (NSW)'s Riversdale house and garden is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am to 2 pm. 2 Twynam Drive, Goulburn, NSW. Telephone (02) 4821 7441.
For more information on Riversdale visit our website at nationaltrust.org.au/nsw/Riversdale or follow us on Facebook @RiversdaleHomesteadNSW
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