National Trust Heritage Week Tours – 2022

The curious case of Sunshine’s missing lions…..

H V McKay Memorial Gardens in Sunshine once had two beautiful lions gracing the entrance to this historically significant Edwardian ‘oasis’. One night they disappeared! Find out more during this tour conducted by Friends of H V McKay Gardens.

Take a tour with the Friends and hear the fascinating story of the development of these heritage registered gardens, once part of the H V McKay Sunshine Harvester Complex.

Understand their associations with a key part of Australia’s labour history.

Find out about their changing role in the community and how this beautiful piece of Victorian heritage has become even more relevant in an age of climate instability, especially for the residents of the Western suburbs of Melbourne.

Finally, just enjoy being in this special place, renewed and once again, the Pride of Sunshine!

And what did happen to the lions?

Event Details

Address:: 120 Anderson Road, Sunshine, Victoria; Meet at Anderson Road entrance, next to the Sunshine Presbyterian Church Hall.
Times:: Saturday 23 April @ 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Saturday 30 April @ 11.00am -12.00pm
Sunday 1 May @ 11.00am – 12.00pm
Monday 2 May @ 11.00am – 12,00pm
Entry fees:: By donation
Attendance limit:: Less than 50

Other things you need to know:: Parking only in streets adjacent to property; Prebooking required

Australia ICOMOS National Conference – Nov 2015

Friends committee member Melinda Mockridge presented a paper at the 2015 Australia ICOMOS Conference about the future of the McKay Gardens.

Melinda has qualifications in Art History, History and English from the University of Melbourne and in Cultural Heritage from Deakin University. She is an associate member of ICOMOS Australia – International Council on Monuments and Sites and a member of the Professional Historians Association (Vic & Tas).

H V McKay Gardens – Does a significant ‘designed’ landscape in Melbourne’s inner west have a future?

Paper Abstract: When the heritage fabric of a significant ‘designed’ cultural landscape such as the H V McKay Gardens in the inner west of Melbourne deteriorates, how do you engage the community, Councils and individuals to understand its significance, and care and advocate for it, in order to create a relevant and sustainable future for the Gardens (and for its community)? This snapshot paper will provide a summary of the issues, what’s been done and a question about what is possible.

View “Does a significant ‘designed’ landscape in Melbourne’s inner west have a future?” PDF