Burnley Gardens Wedding Photos
Nine hectares of teaching garden on Yarra Boulevard, growing since the 1860s
Burnley Gardens are the nine-hectare grounds of the University of Melbourne’s Burnley campus on Yarra Boulevard, beside the river next to Richmond. The Horticultural Society of Victoria took up the site in the late 1840s, the first plan was drawn in 1860, and the state’s School of Horticulture opened here in 1891. Nearly 1,000 plant species grow here, including some of the oldest trees in Melbourne, along with lily ponds, a pavilion and a wisteria walk. The gardens are heritage-listed and open around the clock.
Angela and Sean held their ceremony and reception in Burnley Gardens, then went across to Webb Bridge at Docklands for portraits. Note that the university is not currently taking bookings for large events such as weddings in the gardens, so couples who want the same setting should check the campus page before planning around it.
Photographing a wedding at Burnley Gardens
The old trees are the reason to come: a couple under one of the big canopies, with the lawn falling away, is the frame that says Burnley. The lily ponds work in the last hour of light, and the wisteria walk is short-lived but worth timing a spring session for. Parking is on Yarra Boulevard or FR Smith Drive, and the paths are level and wheelchair-friendly, which helps older guests. The gallery above is Angela and Sean’s Burnley Gardens wedding.