In the baby footsteps of Rupert.

On 21 March we took a visiting friend to Cruden Farm near (a) Frankston and (b) McClelland Sculpture Park.   This property was a gift, in 1928 by Sir Keith Murdoch to his wife Dame Elisabeth Murdoch.  Some 3 years later she gave birth to a son Rupert - for which she probably can't be blamed.  So as we walked around we were following where he crawled/walked - probably explains the patches of bare earth in the lawns.  

The title of this post has been adapted from "In the footsteps of Mr Kurtz" by Michaela Wrong about Mobutu Sese Seko.  I am a little unsure about comparing Rupert with Mr Kurtz from Conrad's Heart of Darkness - "an ivory trader working on a trading station far up the river, who has "gone native" " - as it might make Kurtz look bad.  

I was surprised to find Rupe had three (female) siblings: all of whom have AO gongs so are presumably pretty successful.  When she died Dame Elisabeth left the farm as a pace for public recreation and it is now administered by a charitable trust.

This is the driveway, lined with 130 Lemon-scented Gums (Corymbia citriodora).  This was designed by Edna Walling.
The walled garden was also designed by Edna Walling with the sculpture by Leslie Bowles.  The rock for the wall was found on the farm.  The leaflet about the garden suggests that a fair bit of the garden has been changed as it didn't work due to heat.
This was installed in the 1930s because the Murdochs thought the kids would like it.  A different view of Rupe - although perhaps he had a cuddly side at that age?
This is the stables.  The rock here is apparently granite  from the Mooroolduc quarry, which is fairly close and has a colorful history.
This robot mower was being demonstrated by a couple of salesmen.  Apparently it can cover an area of  5000 sqm following a programmed map.  
This hedge was quite impressive.  It is made of Elaeagnus sp (Silverberry).  In conversation with a gardener he explained that the secret to getting dense growth is to keep trimming it!  Also they keep a sloping side so that the base gets sufficient light to promote growth.  (It might be thought that a shave and a haircut might be in order any time from now.)
A view of the hose and the picking garden.  We were a little surprised that what gets picked is flowers, rather than edibles!
There is also a lake in front of the house and a large farm dam.  These were well endowed with common fowl.



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