UNIQUE EVENTS
The Garden at Grays Inn
Behind Grays Inn are the Gardens, which can be accessed from Wollombi Road through Grays Inn and from Negro Street at the rear. The origins of the Gardens date back to the 19th century, and the Police Barracks in Wollombi were located near the two large water tanks. Remnants of the stone foundations were found adjacent to the water tanks. A large block of sandstone nearly 2 metres long was found near the water tanks during the initial cleanup of the area in 2010. It is believed that this was cut by convicts and it is now sanding upright in the new garden with an old metal sundial in top.
The Gardens are available for guests staying at Grays Inn, diners at Panino Restaurant or for your next private function or wedding.
In late 2011 the gardens were basically rebuilt using local materials with all work being done by local artisans including stonemasons, landscapers and carpenters. The sandstone forming the beautiful ‘circle’ was cut from a local quarry, trucked in and then lowered into place with a crane and backhoe. There is extensive drainage under all the turf and much of the grass and all plants and trees are irrigated from water harvested at Grays Inn and stored in large tanks on each side of the building. The drainage system was severely tested during the continuous heavy rains in 2011 and really proved its worth. The sandstone forming the edges of the garden beds came from the Byora property in Milsons Arm, Wollombi that was selected and settled by James Milson in 1823. This sandstone was cut by convicts working for the Milson family on Byora. At night the gardens come alive. Spotlights highlight many of the trees, the stone wall and the slab hut at the back, with other low lights along the perimeter and the buxus and rosemary hedges.
Between the water tanks and the old orange tree is a really nice half circle constructed of sandstone blocks. This is our fire pit, which can also be used for relaxing and dining under the big umbrella. The sandstone ‘circle’ is a real sun trap in winter and it’s lovely to sit on the sandstone capping, enjoying a coffee from Panino Cafe while soaking up the sun on a cold, crisp Wollombi day. The pergola beyond the large orange tree has been there for many years and the stone base was added in 2011. Wisteria flows over and around the pergola and it’s a beautiful site in Spring when in flower. The giant chess board next to the pergola was built in 2011 and is already proving very popular with locals and visitors to Wollombi. Kids particularly love moving the giant pieces around the board. Although it certainly looks like it was built in colonial times the hut at the rear was only constructed in 2011. Most of the timber slabs from which the hut is built came from the floor of the old barn and hay shed at Byora, which dates from the mid to late 19th century.
The gardens are a living project and will be continually improved in the future. The gardens will really take on a new shape when the camellias and other shrubs and buxus and rosemary hedges are advanced and the last bit of construction finished. Post and rail fences will replace the wire fences around the carpark. More shrubs will be planted past the chess board near the timber shed and visitors will walk through a timber arbor from the carpark. The lighting can also then be finalised to display at night a truly beautiful place to be enjoyed by all.