Friday 27 May 2011

What is a parterre garden?


On the corner of Ocean Street & Queen Street Woollahra stands this handsome old cottage which now operates as an antique/collectable/landscape gardening store, known as Parterre. A parterre-garden is a very formal, heavily designed garden layout. Compare this with the devil-may-care country garden. Fine examples of parterre gardens can be seen at Versailles and out at Parc Bagatelle in the Bois de Bologne.


Woollahra is socially advantaged. On the Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic assessment, Woollahra ranks 10th in Australia and 3rd in the state of New South Wales. Queen Street reeks of advantage, littered as it is with antique stores, coffee shops and designer clothing stores. Although the Westfields at Bondi Junction, having decimated Double Bay, is now making inroads into Queen Street.

11 comments:

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Hi Julie, so a Parterre garden would be the exact opposite of an Edna Walling designed garden, both amazing in their own ways. Have to say my garden is definitely more the Edna Walling type haha!!
Best wishes
Grace

Kay L. Davies said...

Sigh.
I've often thought how nice it would be to be socially advantaged, to shop in antique stores and designer clothing stores.
Now I don't care any more. I am no longer the right shape or size for designer clothes, and I just want to rest, but it looks like I'm going to be dragged around the world again, this time to Russia
One could argue for world travel being a social advantage, I suppose.
Meanwhile, I always enjoy your photos, my dear friend. You have such a very good eye.
— K

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel

Jim said...

I've learnt something new. :) I remember the clock on this building from many times I've driven by.

Julie said...

I suspect it has only ever been FoR show Jim. I am sitting waiting on Wollongong station. Yawn. Where IS that Godot??

Unknown said...

I really love the clock...

Ann said...

What a beautiful building.

nart said...

Beautiful building with the lovely clock-and the leaves of trees become yellow and red nice fall you have in Au.

Mark said...

Yes it is a rich area but the streetscape is so much more inviting than BJ Mall from yesterday.

Joan Elizabeth said...

I lie that "reeks of advantage" I guess that is what makes it an interesting part of the city to visit but only occasionally.

Mo said...

Not like the designs at the Chelsea Flower show then.

Julie said...

Mo - Possibly not, but I do not know much about the CFS. I followed the story about the 'Australia garden' which is modelled on the Cranbourne Garden just south-east of Melbourne which I have visited and is spectacular. I will go online today and have a virtual walkthrough of the CFS. It is something which is right up my alley-way. I will get back to you over at your place.