St Ann’s is a large historic house in Stirling, with an established garden spread across the property. There are mature trees, lawns, paths, flowering plants and plenty of space to walk around.
Some of the trees on the property are also very old. A Lebanese cedar is believed to be around 180 years old, while a blue cedar is thought to be around 120 years old. I spent Saturday at St Ann’s in Stirling, which was open to visitors as part of Open Gardens South Australia.
The house dates back to an 1854 land grant. The first recorded structure was a stone shepherd’s cottage built around 1860. It was subsequently extended and transformed into the Victorian-era house that stands today.
I had discovered Open Gardens SA several months ago but just wasn’t able to manage a visit to any of the gardens, until St Ann’s. I feel that it was meant to be. It’s really quite generous of families to open up their private homes and gardens to strangers to visit and enjoy. St Ann’s also had lovely tea and snacks that were available for visitors to purchase and enjoy. The entire family was pressed into service and I thoroughly enjoyed giggling along with all the rose-cheeked children running around!
The weather was perfect for it. Sunshine, a big garden to walk around and, obviously, a camera in my hand.
There is a Japanese-inspired area with an old water tank converted into a pond and planted with water iris. There are also young trees being trained into cloud-pruned forms and a privet hedge clipped into a wave. These are probably some of the most-photographed features of the garden – I was more in the mood to photograph portraits of flowers, as you can tell!
From the upper lawn terrace, you can look back towards the house. There are two original Victorian Coalbrookdale cast-iron seats with a nasturtium design. Coalbrookdale also made the gates for Hyde Park in London! I am appreciative that one can actually sit on these benches in the garden, instead of them being walled away only for viewing!
Open Gardens South Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that opens private gardens to the public and promotes the enjoyment, knowledge and benefits of gardens and gardening in South Australia.
St Ann’s was open on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September 2026, with entry at $10.
Stephanie & Marcus Bastiaan also host events and other special gatherings at St Ann’s. The energy of the gardens & the house is peaceful, welcoming and gentle. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time there and hope to go back at some point!
