The Stables at Ard Choille

Built in the late 1800’s and nestled in the Heritage listed botanical gardens of the Ard Choille hill station estate, The Stables provide wonderfully comfortable accommodation for a family or couples in a heritage style and freshly renovated two bedroom cottage with fully equipped kitchen, open plan lounge with fireplace, bathroom, TV, WIFI, with a small gated garden.
Ard Choille, a private Heritage-listed garden, is one of the best of the renowned Mt Macedon hill station estates. Sprawling over 12.5 acres with a finely detailed and elegant curved fernery, sweeping lawns, lakes, the arching frames of the original plantings of stately tree varieties including Rimus, Japanese Cedars, Tulips, Birches, Beeches, Elms, Oaks, Firs, Lindens, Rowans, Dogwoods, Conifers, and numerous tree ferns. There are also masses of rhododendrons, camellias, hydrangeas. In spring, the hills of the estate come alive with thousands of daffodil bulbs. The fernery is housed in a rare 19th Century metal shade house, the only in existence in the southern hemisphere.

The gardens of Ard Choille date back to the 1890s when Scotsman William McGregor (Chairman, BHP) found a piece of the Australian bush at Mount Macedon in Victoria that reminded him of his native Scottish highlands. The estate was designed in the Scottish manner with a chain of seven lakes.

During your stay, you can still wander to the spring fed top lake (Fern Loch), take in the history and admire the tranquility. The owners are happy to offer a tour if booked in advance.

The gardens flow through lawns and gullies. Secret pathways lined with bluestone edging weave in the shade of laurels and flow down to "House Lake" that was formed in the shape of Australia and is now edged by camellias, rhododendrons, cabbage trees and laurel.

For children, there is much to marvel at. A secret fairy garden with a hut and swing is hidden next to a stone-lined brook running through a sheltering grove of laurels. Through a holly hedge, there is a potager garden with ancient walnut trees, providing a stunning sunset view to Hanging Rock.

Ard Choille is in the perfect position to explore the entire Macedon Ranges. The restaurants, cafes and convenience of Woodend are a quick (7 min) drive and it is equally easy distance to the beauty of Hanging Rock (10 mins), Mount Macedon (10 mins), Kynton and Gisborne (15 mins). The Daylesford spa area is an easy 45 minute drive.