Australian Bred Roses

compiled by Doug and Glynis Hayne

Part 1 The Breeders

For many years Australian bred roses have played second fiddle to imports however that is starting to change.

South Australian nursery, Ross Roses, is at the forefront of this change commercially and have a large number of Australian bred roses in their most recent catalogues.

The Australian Rose Breeders Association formed in 1992 with the purpose of enabling amateur rose breeders to share information, ideas and experiences has been positive in creating an awareness of Australian bred rose industry and development of the same.

Recognised by many as the Australia’s first rose breeder of note Thomas Johnson bred a number of roses in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Named after various dignitaries of the day the list includes Lady Darling, Sir Charles Darwin and Earl of Hopetoun.

One of the most prolific of the early Australian rose breeders was Alister Clark, who between 1912 and 1949 released 122 varieties, most of which were given to charities for fund-raising or to friends after whom the roses were named. Three of Clark’s roses namely Lorraine Lee, Blackboy and Nancy Hayward remain popular and are still purchased today. Unfortunately only 66 of those bred remain available and 60 of these can be found in the Alister Clark Memorial Rose Garden situated in Bulla, Victoria and is well worth a visit.

For those interested in trivia, Alister Clark had a passion for horse racing as well as roses and was the inaugural chairman of the Mooney Valley Race Club. The Alister Clark Stakes named and conducted bythe Mooney Valley Race Club commenced in 1939 and is still run today.

Another well-known Australian rose breeder was George Dawson the breeder of the champion floribunda Imp. After retiring from market gardening at Ferntree Gully, Dawson moved to Bunyip where he began rose breeding in earnest putting down as many as 20,000 seeds in a year. Other well known roses bred by Dawson included City of Benalla, Headline and Rae Dungan.

In the last thirty odd years the name Ron Bell has become a household name among rosarians due to him being instrumental in the formation of the Australian Rose Breeders Association and breeding roses such as Marjorie Atherton, April Hamer, Our Rosamond, Janette Murray, The Australian Bi-centennial Rose and Mary Delahunty.

Of the NSW breeders Eric Welsh is best known and a number of his roses are very popular. One that springs readily to mind is Victoria Gold which celebrates the centenary of the Victorian Rose Society in 1999. Others roses bred by Welsh include Megan Louise, Tracey Wickham, Delicious, Wee Beth and Woman’s Day.

The Victorian equivalent of Eric Welch is Dr Bruce Chapman who breeds roses in his backyard at his residence in Beaumaris, Melbourne. Breeding strictly for enjoyment Chapman has bred a number of roses that have been extremely successful on the show bench. The most successful being the exquisite cerise floribunda Flemington Racecourse which was grand champion rose in last year’s NSW Championships conducted as part of the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Other Chapman roses which have starred on the show bench have been amazing Grace 07, Melbourne Town, Red Gem, and Joyce Abounding. This year a Chapman rose named Xavier Maguire is being released through Ross Roses to celebrate the sesquicentenary of the Sacred Heart School Geelong.

South Australian George Thomson is an Australian rose breeder who breeds strictly for commercial purposes. Having commenced breeding in 1959, George has registered 58 roses of which 54 are still available through Ross Roses. Of the roses he has bred, George has a high opinion of Howard Florey, Flinders, Onkaparinga, Marnie Louise, Society Bell and Crown Princess Mary.

The most recent Australian rose breeder to rise to prominence is Trevor Grant who bred Let’s Celebrate, a pink hybrid tea rose which is the South Australian centenary rose and Governor Macquarie, a yet to be released highly perfumed pink hybrid tea rose that celebrates the bi-centenary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Being released by Swane’s, the Governor Macquarie rose will be available as a bare-rooted rose in June. Those wishing to purchase this exciting new rose should get in early as supplies are limited.

A rosarian who has taken to breeding like a duck takes to water over the last couple of years is Queensland’s Paul Haines and big things are expected of him.

Other Australian Rose Breeders who have registered roses over the years include Bill Allender, Marguerite Parkes, Ian Spriggs, Bob Stibbard, Robert Hamilton, Harry Hazelwood, Heather Rumsey, Richard Walsh, Frank Riethmuller, Alllan Reid and Thomas Johnson.

The development of an Australian bred rose industry is important as it provides jobs for Australians, which in turn helps the economy. This is not to mention the fact Australian bred roses that get onto the market generally perform better in the harsh Australian climate. If you intend purchasing roses this season why not purchase some Australian bred roses. You will not regret your decision.

As nurseries rarely identify Australian bred roses an extensive list can be found on the Rose Society of NSW website.

Of the Australian nurseries Ross Roses, Reliable Roses and Thomas for Roses carry the biggest range of Australian bred roses.

Ross Roses:- 65 Roses, Alicia Courage, Amazing Grace, Australia Fair, Community Banquet, Crown Princess Mary, Deane Ross, Flemington Racecourse, Flinders, Heart Of Gold, Howard Florey, International Gold, Judy's Song, Just Brilliant,  Kilbreda, Lady Phelia, Loreto College, Loves Gift, Magic Moments, Mawson, Marnie Louise, Melbourne Town, Mrs Mary Thomson, Myrna Courage, Onkaparinga, Philadelphia, Pink Cavalier, Red Cavalier, Salvation, Society Belle, Soft Bouquet, Special Bond, St Francis Xaviour, St Johns Rose, Tapestry, Thankyou, The Archbishop, Valour, Wildfire.

Reliable Roses:- Alister Clark, Annie’s Song, April Hamer, Black Boy, “China Sunrise”, Cicely Lascelles, Cl. Helen Traubel, Cl. Shot Silk, Cl. White Maman Cochet, Claret Cup, Cousin Essie, Daydream, Gay Vista, Great Venture, Headline, Iced Parfait, Jenny Brown, Kitty Kininmonth, Lorraine Lee, Marjorie Atherton, Marjory Palmer, Mary Delahunty, Mary Guthrie, Minnie Watson, Mrs. Fred Danks, Nancy Hayward, Our Rosamond, Peter Benjamin, Rae Dungan, Ringlet, Shadow, Sunlit, Titian.

Thomas for Roses:- April Hamer, Brisbane Blush, Collegiate Pride, Country Women, Dawson’s Delight, Jeanette Murray, Karen Julie, La Stupenda, Megan Louise, Mrs Dunlop Best, Mrs Mary Thompson, Our Rosamond, Peter Benjamin, Pride of Mt Barker, Rae Dungan, Red Nella, Shadow, Shelly, Tania Verstak, Tapestry, Waltzing Matilda, Warrawee, Annies Song, Iced Parfait, Imp, In the Pink, Susan Irvine, Linda Thompson, Victoria Gold, Tracey Wickham and forty-one Alister Clark Roses.

For those rosarians who enjoy exhibiting Australian bred roses and have done well on the show bench in recent years:- April Hamer, Our Rosamond, Melbourne Town and Jeanette Murray (hybrid teas) Imp, Flemington Racecourse and Victoria Gold (floribundas) Delicious, Red Gem and Joyce Abounding (miniatures).

Laurie Newman of Victoria is the Australian Rose Registrar and has made a comprehensive list of Australian Bred Roses which can be found on the NSW Rose Society website.

The Rose Society of NSW in conjunction with AusRose is making an inventory of Australian Roses grown by members of rose societies. If you grow Australian bred roses it would be extremely helpful if you could indicate the number and types and email to:- africanqueen1@optusnet.com.au

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