HEIDE II. A LANDSCAPE CLASSIFIED BY THE NATIONAL TRUST IN THE CITY OF DONCASTER-TEMPLESTOWE.
On the East side of Banksia Park in Lower Templestowe, there is an eleven acre garden owned by ME. and Mrs. Reed. The land drops moderately from Templestowe Road to the Yarra River. The garden planting started in 1934, with mixed species random planted. During recent years, native species have been added. The result is a cultivated garden designed to capture the natural quality of bushland. There are many interesting varieties of exotic and native trees and shrubs with many fine specimens. In every vista, European and natives compliment each other, giving a harmonious variety of foliage, colour, texture and shape.In the centre of the area is a fine kitchen garden enclosed by a picket fence. A gate under a creeper twined arch opens onto a delightful old world area. Patches of vegetables grow amongst an incredible variety of herbs, scented-leaved geraniums, unusual lavender, fragrant roses, and many old world perennials.
Possibly the only remaining canoe tree in our district stands on this land. A two hundred year old red gum shows where aborigines cut bark from the trunk before white man came to Port Phillip. From the way the bark was cut from the curve of the trunk it was intended to float on water and the rough edges of the out show that a stone axe was used.
In 1843, Sidney Ricardo came to Bulleen. He bought 150 acres of land on the Yarra and became a successful farmer. Ricardo was elected to Parliament and was a member and chairman of the Templestowe Roads Board. In the 1870's he left the district. All that remains of Ricardo's time on this land, is the foundations of a pump on the river and a stone fire- place from his cottage.
James Lang, an Englishman, bought part of Ricardo's land and built a large house in the 1880's. Lang had a well run dairy farm and was elected to the Templestowe Shire Council in 1900. When the Reeds bought the property they made some alterations to the house. The wide verandahs with their cast iron lace were removed. At the front a slate-roofed porch was added between the bay windows, giving the house an English character.
In 1966 a new house was built further down the hill. This thirty square home was built of Mt. Gambier limestone. It is a remarkable structure that merges into the landscape. In 1969 the Architects Institute honoured it with its award for "House of the Year" in all categories. Over the years much money and time has been spent to produce an area that contributes to the heritage of Australia. It is fortunate that plans are being made for the State Government to take over the property. Then the garden will become a park to be enjoyed by all; and the house, with its many modern works of art, will become an art gallery.
1979 11 DTHS Newsletter
In 1966 a new house was built further down the hill. This thirty square home was built of Mt. Gambier limestone. It is a remarkable structure that merges into the landscape. In 1969 the Architects Institute honoured it with its award for "House of the Year" in all categories. Over the years much money and time has been spent to produce an area that contributes to the heritage of Australia. It is fortunate that plans are being made for the State Government to take over the property. Then the garden will become a park to be enjoyed by all; and the house, with its many modern works of art, will become an art gallery.
1979 11 DTHS Newsletter
Chapter 7 - Heide I and II
On part of the land once owned by Sidney Ricardo, an Englishman named James Lang, built a large home in the 1880's. Facing Templestowe Road, this weatherboard house was a typical Victorian home with wide verandahs trimmed with iron lace.
A small dairy farm was developed and run as a commune by John and Sunday and their friends. A contemporary photograph shows deer roaming in the garden of Heide I.
John Reed was a practising solicitor in Melbourne and his wife Sunday was a member of the prominent Baillieu family. They were cultured people, passionately interested in fostering "avant garde" paintings and supporters of Australian modernism.
The contribution of the Reeds to the cause of modem art was extraordinary and recognised world-wide. With their support and patronage, the work of artists such as Sydney Nolan and Joy Hester was exhibited, gradually helping to break down the barriers toward acceptance of modem art.
John and Sunday Reed offered many struggling artists a temporary home. They bought paints and canvasses for them, offering advice and introductions to interstate galleries.
Over the years, a fine art library was built up at Heide I. Artists could consult these books and many gave examples of their work to the Reeds, who amassed a wonderful collection to which they added, right up to the time of their deaths.
The important" Ned Kelly" series by Sydney Nolan, was painted on the kitchen table at Heide I reportedly during the midnight hours. On Sunday Reed's recommendation, Nolan used "Ripolian" a synthetic paint, an unusual choice for an artist. In 1976, Sunday Reed bequested the "Kelly" series to the Australian - Gallery in Canberra. "The Bathers" another canvas by Nolan, hung in the kitchen of the home for many years.
The creation of fine gardens was another facet of Sunday Reed"s personality. After her arrival in the area in the early thirties, the large garden was planted with a variety of mixed species of trees, many of them rare specimens. Placed randomly, and set off with sweeping lawns, the cultivated garden has since had native trees added, providing a harmonious blending of foliage, light and texture.
John Reed felt that the bushland park was the perfect background for the large sculptures which now reside in it.
These have been carefully placed, to give the art lover the correct atmosphere of colour and light, in which to appreciate the works of art.
Heide Park has a landscape classification awarded by the National Trust. An important part of this classification is the delightful kitchen garden in the area. The original herb garden was built by Sunday Reed nearer Heide 1. After disastrous floods which affected the dairy farm and spoilt the garden, another garden was planted. Mrs Reed was interested in cottage plants and herbs from English gardens and designed her garden on a formal style. Passing through a creeper covered arch, it is possible to see many varieties of old perennials, scented geraniums and old world roses in tangled profusion. Patches of herbs intermingle with pretty perfumed lavenders and there are rows of seasonal vegetables in one corner.
Within this attractive park is one of the few "scar tree” remaining in the Doncaster district. This ancient red gum shows where the aborigines cut a shield or canoe from the bark with a stone axe leaving rough edges on the cut. Perhaps two hundred years old, this fine old tree gives a link in the area with the Wurundjeri aboriginal tribe who fished and hunted along the Yarra River before the arrival of Europeans.
In keeping with the Reed's love of modernism in art, a new home within the park was planned. Built in 1966-68 of Mt Gambier stone on a Frank Lloyd Wright design, the house was based on modernistic principles. Named Heide II, the structure is a Zen design surrounded by open spaces with courtyards, having one tree enclosed as a focal point. The interior staircase has no outside balustrade in keeping with the uncluttered economical design.
The kitchen garden at Heide.
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