Ursula was a keen rose grower, selecting many old-fashioned roses and new award-winning varieties for her stunning garden displays. Each year, she purchased the winning variety in the rose section at the Royal Adelaide Show. Rose beds can be seen along the entrance drive, around the tennis court and in the Alister Clark collection .
The Alister Clark Rose Garden was created at Carrick Hill in 1990 with support from the Heritage Roses in Australia Inc. Alister Clark (1864-1949) was one of Australia’s greatest rosarians and in 1936 was awarded the Dean Hole Medal by the National Rose Society (England), the highest international honour for a rose breeder.
Clark’s lifelong passion for breeding roses resulted in more than 140 new Australian varieties. Over 30 of these have been established at Carrick Hill, including: Australia Felix, Boarderer, Cicely Lascelles, Lady Mann, Princeps, Suitor, Sunlit and Zara Hore-Ruthven.
