By Tanya Steele
A Victorian icon, well known in the Yarra Ranges, has been recognised in a state initiative that highlights women and gender diverse people who have shaped Victoria.
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins announced on 17 April that 15 new locations are being added to Her Place Women’s Museum’s Finding Her map, after more than 50 nominations from Victorians.
The Edna Walling cottage and garden commemorating Victoria’s first female landscape architect, Edna Walling in Sherbrooke, is among the 15 new spots on the map.
In other spots in the Yarra Ranges, a memorial stone commemorating beloved local historian Val Sheehan in Coldstream, a dreaming trail and history walk including a commemoration to Aboriginal rights activist, educator and artist Hyllus Maris in Healesville and the Beryl Phillips Reserve named for community leader and environmentalist Beryl Phillips in Mount Evelyn are also now on the map.
Edna Walling’s cottage owner, Dr. Alan Jager, who has been the owner of the heritage-listed property since 2010, said Edna Walling being inclusion is no surprise.
“You’d have to include Edna Walling, because she was such a star,” he said.
Dr Jager had had no prior knowledge of the famous landscape designer before he saw the property before buying it, and said he instantly fell in love with the place.
“I’m a custodian of it and the memory of Edna Walling and her amazing achievements – she was an inspirational vanguard of change,” he said.
Edna Walling was renowned for her contributions to garden design, conservation, writing, and photography.
A highly sought-after landscape designer, she completed numerous commissions across Australia.
Since her passing in 1973, she has been recognised as one of the nation’s most influential figures in landscape design.
Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins said they are bringing women’s stories out of the shadows into our streets – so every Victorian can see and celebrate the trailblazers who helped shape the state.
“Whether you explore the map online or visit the sites in person, you’ll be inspired by the women behind these stories – and how their legacies continue to shape Victoria today,” she said.
Her Place Women’s Museum Board Chair the Honourable Mary Delahunty said women have played a vital role in shaping Victoria, leading the law, schools and universities, creating businesses and scientific breakthroughs, becoming Premiers, ridden Melbourne Cup winners, won Logies and Oscars.
“Now through research and a public nominations process, Her Place Women’s Museum has discovered more stories and sites to celebrate. These additions to the Finding Her Project will make more Women visible and start to rebalance the history books,” she said.
Finding Her is Australia’s first interactive map spotlighting locations that commemorate women and gender-diverse people across Victoria.
The initiative launched in March 2023 and is part of Her Place Women’s Museum’s mapping of more than 60 women and gender diverse people who have shaped Victoria.
The Edna Walling ia a beautiful heritage-listed property and the large acreage site and now features a QR code so that when the general public strolls by the famous garden, they can look up the history of the famous woman who shaped the area.
Dr Jager said he has enjoyed working on the property, restoring the gardens and said it’s never truly going to be finished.
“I’ve been pleased to have done my little bit in restoring it,” he said.
The cottage now operates as an accommodation, and while the actual garden is not open to the public, Dr Yager said it’s an absolutely wonderful place.
“You can’t see the boundaries and it’s just every, every different colour, every different kind of rare plant,” he said.
