The Plinth of the Huntsman and Dogs Bronze Statue by Henri Alfred Jacquemart - the Forest Glade Gardens; Mount Macedon Road, Mount Macedon

            "Huntsman and Dogs" is a bronze statue created by French sculptor Henri Alfred Jacquemart, cast by the Val d' Osne foundry circa 1879.  It makes an impressive welcome to the Forest Glade Gardens in Mount Macedon.

The Forest Glade Gardens are well established European inspired landscaped gardens of six hectares that are to be found on the Mount Macedon Road in the hill station town of Mount Macedon.

The Forest Glade Gardens are just shy of one hundred years old.  The gardens were originally two adjoining properties that comprised orchards and lush grazing paddocks.  In 1941 local family the Newtons purchased and extended the property and set about creating one of Mount Macedon's most stunning gardens.

In 1971 the Forest Glade Gardens were acquired by Melbourne property developer Mr. Cyril Stokes who together with his partner Trevor Neil Bell, developed the gardens even further.  Cyril was a great collector of European antiques, and his love of European antiquity is reflected in the gardens, particularly in the many classical marble and bronze statues dotted about the grounds. 

Unfortunately the Forest Glade Gardens were partly destroyed by the tragic Ash Wednesday bushfires of 1983.  However, after many years of hard labour put in by Cyril and Trevor, The Forest Glade Gardens were reborn from the ashes.  The gardens are built on a sloping block and consist of a range of terraces all of which offer wonderful vistas.  A garden designed to give pleasure all year round, the Forest Glad Gardens contain several heritage listed trees and are made up of smaller themed gardens including; the Italian Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Daffodil Meadow, the Peony Walk, Hydrangea Hill, the Topiary Gardens, the Bluebell Meadow, the Fern Gully and the Laburnum Arch.

In 2011 the property was gifted to a registered charity - The Stokes Collection Limited - with the intention of keeping the Forest Glade Gardens maintained and open to the public.

Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart (1824 - 1896) was a French sculptor.  Henri studied under painter Paul Delaroche and sculptor Jean Baptiste Jules Klagmann.  He was admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts in 1845.  He exhibited his sculptures at the Paris Salon between 1847 and 1879, for which he received accolades, medals and commissions.  His work may be found around the world, but mostly in Paris, Cairo and Alexandria.  "Valet au chiens" ("Huntsman and Dogs") is one of his most popular works and many castings have been made.  One casting of this statue can be found in the Sydney Botanic Gardens.  Many of his works were cast in bronze by the Val d' Osne foundry.  He was best known for his large animal works. Henri died suddenly in 1896.

I spent a delightful Saturday with the Famous Flickr Five+ Group in Mount Macedon, where I have never been before.  Now I have, I would very much like to go back to such a picturesque place again.

The Mount Macedon township is located east of the Mount Macedon summit, which is approximately 60 km north-west of Melbourne.

The name of Mount Macedon is apparently derived from Philip II, who ruled Macedon between 359 and 336BC.   The mountain was named by Thomas Mitchell, the New South Wales Surveyor General. 

Settled in the 1850s by gold miners and timber cutters, the railway arrived at the Mount Macedon township in 1861, providing a vital connection to Melbourne, and sealing the town's future as a 'hill station' resort for wealthy Melburnians escaping the summer heat in the 1870s.  With the land deforested, large blocks were sold and beautiful and extensive gardens were planted around the newly built homes.  The rich soil and good rainfall also made the area suitable for large orchards and plant nurseries who could send fruit and flowers back to Melbourne.  Newspaper owner, David Syme, built a house, "Rosenheim" in 1869. It was acquired in 1886 for Victorian Governors to use as a country retreat, making Mount Macedon an attractive destination for the well heeled of Melbourne society.  A primary school was built in Mount Macedon in 1874, and as the decades progressed, hotels, guest houses, shops, a Presbyterian Church and Church of England were built.  In 1983, Mount Macedon was devastated by the Ash Wednesday Bush Fires.  A large portion of the town was raised, and a number of lives were lost.  However, like a phoenix from the ashes, Mount Macedon has risen and rebuilt.  Today it is still a popular holiday destination, particularly during spring time when the well established gardens flourish with flowers and in autumn when the exotic trees explode in a riot of reds and yellows.

Taken in: Australia / Victoria / Mount Macedon (show map)

Taken on: July 6, 2019

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Camera: Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS, f/2.8, 1/60 sec, 6.2mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon DIGITAL IXUS 80 IS
Aperture:	f/2.8
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	6.2mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
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Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
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