Petty's Orchard in Templestowe, Victoria, Australia, is one of Melbourne’s oldest commercial orchards. It boasts the largest collection of heritage apple varieties on mainland Australia, including more than two hundred varieties of old and rare apples.[1]
In 1853 Thomas Petty arrived in Australia from England and selected land in the Doncaster and Templestowe area. It was Thomas Pettys' grandson, Thomas Henry, who, in 1911, first bought the property that is located at Homestead Road, nestled along the Yarra River.
Thomas Henry was the first of three generations of Pettys to work the Homestead Road orchard. The Petty Family managed the orchard until Parks Victoria purchased the property in 1981.
The orchards that once covered the Doncaster and Templestowe area are fast disappearing. The Heritage Fruits Society manages and maintains the heritage fruit collection in Petty's Orchard. The society is part of a world wide network which is conserving antique apple varieties and protecting them from extinction.
Petty's Orchard occupies 44 hectares of land. It uniquely encompasses two hectares of an antique apple orchard, known as the 'Demonstration Orchard', which is maintained by volunteers; 25 hectares of commercial orchard; wetlands and bird hide. The remaining area includes the wetlands, fruit and nut arboretum, Yarra River and surroundings.[2]