General News
4 November, 2025
The Roberts create a pretty place, their Coorumbene
AN OVERGROWN garden has become a pretty place for Taryn and Andrew Roberts and their son Addison.
To them and visitors during Sunday’s annual Wedderburn Open Gardens, it’s Coorumbene. The indigenous word for pretty place.
Taryn and Andrew were separately “surfing the internet” to find a name for their Logan Road property that epitomised what had been creating since 2016 and honoured Andrew’s Aboriginal ancestry.,
“We both found Coorumbene at the same time as we sat on the couch on our laptops,” said Taryn. “A pretty place ... that was our garden.”
Taryn and Andrew said the garden was dominated by natives and overgrown when they moved in, “so we ripped them all out”.
Bearded irises and rose bushes were retained and a cottage garden created in front of their home.
Andrew has since planted more than 50 trees and completed an estimated 70 metres of edging of pathways.
Gleditsia, ornamental pears, crab apples, crepe Myrtle, silver birch and golden elms among the trees in the cottage garden and adjoining block.
Dotted among the flowers, bushes and trees are metal garden art created by Andrew’s parents Gary and Jackie.
Andrew and Taryn’s garden is likely to be an evolving project. They have plans for the vast outdoor areas of the property.
More decking and even an outdoor shower are on the list.
“We enjoy the cottage garden feel at the front of our home. The style really does create a pretty place,” Taryn said.
Sunday’s open garden day was organised by Wedderburn Community House.
Six gardens were part of the day that saw more than 100 people register. House co-ordinator Louise Cook said people had come from across Victoria to view local gardens.
The open day also promoted the town’s Birds Eye View murals, Ted’s Garden and Kangaroo Chair, Coach House Gallery where Devonshire teas were served, Soldiers’ Memorial Park, Nardoo Creek Trail and the community house’s Peppercorn Op Shop. The 24 Karat Cafe was a popular stop between garden visits on Sunday.
Louise Cook and volunteer Michelle Hargreaves said early morning rain had not deterred garden enthusiasts from making the trip to Wedderburn.
“People enjoy coming to see the great gardens we have in the town,” Michelle said.
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