W.A.G. Walker Rhododendron Reserve...

Although most spectacular during the Spring and early Summer flowering season (September to mid-December), this beautiful 12 hectare park has, in addition to the famous rhododendrons, many exotic and rare trees, and is a must for any visitor to the area.

Frank Walker emigrated from Kent (aptly named the "Garden of England") and established his fruit farm and nursery some years later. He propagated fruit trees for Tasmanian orchards and exported trees to the mainland, New Zealand and South America. Half a million trees went to Argentina alone to establish early apple orchards there.

After the first World War, the nursery was expanded for the mass propagation of trees and shrubs, particularly rhododendrons and azaleas. Many of the huge rhododendron bushes, which now delight visitors to the reserve, were planted more than 60 years ago as "mother plants" and produced thousands of layered rhododendrons for shipment to Sydney and Melbourne.

Frank's son, W.A.G. Walker, lived and worked at Lalla until 1925 and was responsible for much of the development of this remarkable historic property. The Walker family placed the Rhododendron Reserve in the care of the Tasmanian Government in 1982 in an assigned land agreement for public recreation. It is administered by the Lands Department who are progressively developing and opening up more of the remaining 25 hectares of the Reserve.

The Reserve is open 7 days a week during Spring and Autumn (1st September to 15th December and 1st April to 31st May), and weekends only from 16th December to 31st March. The Reserve is closed during the months of June, July and August. Admission to the Reserve is free.