Page 2 - Rhodudemdron Garden

A little History

The garden at Mount Pleasant is a legacy of love for Mr Stanton
whose father Don Stanton started it half a century ago. He was a
manager at Australian Iron and Steel (BHP Port Kembla) who
first experimented with growing rhododendrons in his home
garden in the 1950’s.

That became a passion and he travelled the globe to discover
more as his vision evolved to create a world-class rhododendron
garden for locals and visitors. He persuaded senior BHP
managers in Melbourne to make the land off Parrish Avenue
available under a lease in perpetuity.

David Stanton said the Mount Pleasant garden attracts interest
from Sydney as a wedding location and has no doubt it can be
become one of the best in the world.
Mr Stanton said Wollongong needed more attractions and this is
one he knows will appeal to cruise ship passengers and many
other travellers. “I think it can be one of the best gardens in the
world and be promoted as such. I see no reason why it should
attract visitors from Japan or America”. With that in mind Mr
Stanton asked consultant Dr Andrew Connery to prepare a
submission for a grant from the Building Better Regions Fund
(BBRF).

The Illawarra Rhododendron Garden (IRG) was incorporated in
1969 and has operated as a charity ever since without any
funding or financial support from any level of government.

AI&S (BHP) donated the land to the government with the
proviso that the lease continue. It is now renewed every 10 years
by the Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife.

The 13 hectare site overlays a number of old coal mines and is
largely covered in native tropical rainforest. But the lower
section immediately adjacent to Parrish Avenue was grassed and
relatively flat.

Volunteers with the help of in-kind contributions of local
contractors have created the Illawarra Rhododendron Garden
which is the setting for around 60 weddings a year.

The site also includes walking trail access to virgin rainforest.
There are also massive fig and cedar trees. And there are many
other flowering plants and trees in the lower section garden.

Along with poor access another big challenge is deer that roam
onto the site and cause damage at night.