17-20 September 2015 – registration form 2015 Congress Registration
The NSW Camellia Research Society is hosting the 2015 Congress for Camellias Australia.
The event will be based at the Sebel Resort and Spa on Hawkesbury Valley Way at Windsor – 50 km north west of Sydney on the Hawkesbury River.
Windsor was settled in the early years of the Sydney Colony, about 1791. It still has many historic buildings such as St Matthew’s Church (1817), Tebbutt’s Observatory (1844), and the Macquarie Arms Hotel (1815). There are lots of cafes and restaurants, markets and shops as well, so there is plenty to see and do in the area.
Accommodation at special rates is available at the Sebel. Complimentary onsite
activities are tennis, volley ball, bocce, croquet, billiards, gym, heated swimming pool, spa & sauna. Other on site activities are yoga, tai chi and golf. Trains on the western line travel to Windsor, Clarendon and Richmond from Central Station Sydney.
THURSDAY 17th September: After Registration from 2 pm, a welcome dinner will be held in the evening at the Sebel.
FRIDAY 18th September: We plan a coach trip to some interesting gardens west of Windsor at Bilpin and Mt Tomah.
First stop will be “Sakui Maze and Garden” at Bilpin. This 8 ha (20 acre) garden has been a labour of love for Chloe and On for 25 years. They previously owned “Q Gardens” at Dural and “Hedged” at Annangrove, nurseries specialising in topiary and hedges. The Camellia sasanqua maze is amazing, the Japanese stroll garden is delightful and there are thousands of camellias planted in the garden.
Then, just over the road, we will visit “Wildwood”. Sue and Wayne Tapping were owners of Wayne’s Home and Garden Nursery at North Richmond and this beautiful garden has over 600 camellias, including many reticulatas. We will have morning tea here, and there are plants for sale.
We head further west to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Mt Tomah for lunch and a 
visit to these spectacular gardens.
Following this we will visit Don Schofield’s exciting collector’s garden “Winterwood” nearby at Mt Tomah. If you visit the Collectors’ Plant Fair at Clarendon in April, 2015 there will be a display of Don’s nerines. In 2014 he displayed hydrangeas.
In the evening the National Council Meeting for Camellias Australia will be held at the Sebel – observers are welcome. Dinner for councillors is provided. Observers are invited to dinner at their own expense. Others have a free evening, and can DIY at restaurants and cafes in Windsor or Richmond.
SATURDAY 19th September: We travel west again by coach, this time to Mt Wilson. We will visit three favourite gardens where camellias are grown.
The first, “Nooroo” is world renowned for its wisterias, and we will enjoy morning tea on the terrace. We will then visit “Windyridge”, where we will have lunch. This garden is owned by Wai and Roger Davidson, past members of NSW Camellia Research Society. They owned Davidson’s Nursery which specialized in azaleas and camellias.
In the afternoon, “Merry Garth” is the next stop. Libby Raines has often made her delightful painted floral cards available to be sold at our shows at Ravenswood School.
All these gardens usually have plants for sale.
We will head back through Bilpin and maybe there will be time to stop at an apple stall.
There will be a presentation dinner at the Sebel on Saturday night. Our special guest speaker will be Andrew Waterhouse, now owner of Gordon Waterhouse’s property at Kurrajong.
SUNDAY 20th September: There will be a Seminar with guest speakers in the morning, followed by a farewell lunch. Tony Curry and George Orel will be two of the speakers. We have really enjoyed their talks on yellow camellias and plant exploration in Vietnam at monthly meetings.
The National Show will not be held at the same time as the Congress, but will be the NSWCRS Annual Show at Ravenswood School, Gordon on 11th and 12th July, 2015.
We look forward to seeing you all at the Congress.
Enquiries and contacts:
Email: nswcamellias@hotmail.com
Richie Griffiths, President: 0418 200 139 or
Pam Watson, Vice-President: (02) 9653 1036
