Hepburn Permaculture Gardens

Melliodora

"Melliodora" is one of the best documented and well known permaculture demonstration sites in the world.

It is a 8700m² (2¼ acre) property situated on the edge of Hepburn Springs, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in Central Victoria.

from $14.95

Get your copy

Melliodora: A Case Study in Cool Climate Permaculture:
1985 – 2005 eBook

Visit Melliodora

See permaculture in action on a whole day guided tour at Melliodora.

The passive solar house, mixed food gardens and orchards, dams and livestock, and creek revegetation in the nearby public land show how permaculture design can help restore and improve land, provide for residents' needs and enjoyment in a cool continental inland climate.

Previous slide
Next slide

Following purchase in 1985, the one hectare property has been developed from a blackberry covered wasteland into a model of small scale intensive permaculture, relevant to both large town blocks and small rural allotments.

Melliodora has been featured on ABC television; Gardening Australia (1998, 2007) and Landline (2004)

It was one of 12 case studies in sustainable agriculture featured Museum of Victoria’s Future Harvest Exhibition in 1998.

Melliodora was also filmed for the premiere episode of Channel 31's The Eco Show:

Open house and garden tours provide insight into permaculture design to inspire those moving to a more wholistic and sustainable way of life and lots of practical information to help make the change.

The book, Melliodora: Ten Years of Sustainable Living, and the eBook update, Melliodora 1985 to 2005, provide the complete design and story.

Melliodora is named after the Yellow Box trees which grow around the fringe of the property.

Eucalyptus melliodora is famous for the honey made from its nectar and is indigenous to the extensive slopes of the Murray Darling Basin from western Victoria to southern Queensland. At Hepburn Springs it is at the “cool summer” extreme of its climate range and grows as a tall timber tree.

During the warmer months between September and May, we run a monthly guided tours at Melliodora. You can see upcoming tour dates here.

Spring Creek Community Forest

Spring Creek is located along side Melliodora and is actively run by locals.

Read more here.

Scroll to Top
Give the gift of Su!

Make 2024 your most frugal yet. Learn homesteading tips and tricks from permaculture elder Su Dennett.