Khancoban Rose Garden
In 1959 it was decided that Khancoban be established as a permanent township. Len McInnes, then in charge of Parks and Gardens for the (former) Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Authority was given the task of designing gardens and parks with a distinctive difference for each of the S.M.A townships.
Les’s choice for Khancoban was the establishment of a public rose garden. It would be one of the very few rose gardens in Australia at that time. This would be a unique amenity for local residents, as well as the many visitors to the Scheme staying overnight in an isolated township.
Planting of 1500 roses was carried out over two years and completed by 1961. According to Len, the gardens had to be large enough to create a visual impact, and to represent as many types of roses as possible. Roses were clumped together in groups of 5-7, and grouped for colour rather than for varieties.
The rose garden is named in honour of the S.M.A Commissioner’s wife, Lady Eileen Hudson. This was to acknowledge the encouragement she gave to gardening throughout the snowy mountains area. Today, the rose gardens are a popular site for weddings, and are a lovely spot to visit while in Khancoban.
Challenge yourself on some of the most spectacular and technical roads in Australia, before settling in to a weekend of relaxed entertainment at the Khancoban Motorcycle Festival.
The festival will kick off at 2.45pm on Saturday 3rd March with a special curtain raising performance by Khancoban Public School. This will be followed by music until midnight from “The Burners”, “The Wayne Ryder band” and “3 on the Tree”. All of the bands are well known around the live music scene, and will play from a wide range of rock and pop covers, from the 60’s through to today. A bar and food stalls will also be on site for the event.
The festival is being held in the parkland on the corner of Scammel Street and Mitchell Ave, adjacent to the Khancoban Pool. The Khancoban community bus will be in operation throughout the event to transport festival goers to and from their accommodation.
On Sunday morning a barbeque breakfast will be available from 8.00am at the festival site. Show n Shine entries will assemble at 8.30am, at the Khancoban shopping centre carpark, and the winner will be announced at 9.30am. Festival tickets are $20 and are available on the day. Children under 18 are free. A portion of the festival’s profits will be donated to the Corryong hospital.