Broughton Vale: Gardens Between Forest and Camellias

Broughton Vale can be explored through two garden settings with different focal points. The Schoolhouse combines a former schoolyard clearing in the forest with former lawn areas connected by woodland paths; Oke’s Camellia Gardens is a large collector’s garden devoted to camellias and includes several other planting areas. For travellers who consider gardens part of their trip planning, this contrast reveals two distinct aspects of the area: a garden shaped by its landscape and design history, and a collection of individually labelled camellias. You can focus on whichever interests you more: the development of a garden or the diversity of a collection.

Two Distinct Garden Profiles

The Schoolhouse garden is set on a former schoolyard clearing in the forest dating from the 1870s. Since the 1940s, several successive owners have shaped the garden. Former lawn areas are connected by woodland paths. Its history is reflected in a clear spatial layout: the forest setting, the former schoolyard clearing and the paths between the lawn areas together define the garden’s character. This combination is particularly interesting to garden enthusiasts who look beyond individual plants to consider a garden’s development and layout.

Oke’s Camellia Gardens has a different focus. The four-acre collector’s garden features more than 800 individually labelled camellias. The labels make each camellia a point of reference within the collection, while the total number conveys its scale. The garden also includes preserved rainforest, original trees dating from the former dairy farm, bromeliads, succulents and a rose garden. Here, different plant groups sit alongside the original trees’ connection to the former dairy farm. The garden’s character comes from its focus on camellias and its additional garden areas.

What Sets the Gardens Apart

The main difference lies in the character of each garden. The Schoolhouse is best understood through its design history and the spatial connections between former lawn areas. At Oke’s Camellia Gardens, by contrast, a named plant collection takes centre stage, with other areas broadening the picture beyond camellias. These are two distinct ways of experiencing a cultivated landscape: one through a garden’s development and layout, the other through a botanical collection with diverse elements. As you plan your trip, consider whether you are more interested in a garden’s development or in a large, labelled collection.

For a group travelling together, the difference can be a useful way to discuss everyone’s interests: is the group more drawn to The Schoolhouse’s history and paths, or to the camellia collection and the diversity of its other garden areas? This helps you identify what interests you most about Broughton Vale, rather than grouping the two gardens under the general heading of gardens. This interest in gardens can be a starting point when looking for a holiday rental; you can then choose accommodation to suit your other travel plans. This keeps your plans connected to the destination while allowing you to choose accommodation based on what matters for your stay.

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Discover more destinations: Culburra Beach, Greenwell Point, Wattamolla, Bangalee, Sussex Inlet, Nowra, Currarong, Ulladulla

For the broader travel overview: Shoalhaven City Council.