Riverside Begonias

15/03/2026

Our 2026 open weekend has just concluded.
Many thanks to all who attended and made all the effort worth it.
Visitors who travelled from as far as South Australia, Geelong and surrounding areas, were very impressed with the quality of the begonias.
Thanks again to the Allansford CWA for their wonderful catering.
We look forward to next years display.

06/03/2026

Our Annual Open Day/s 2026.
Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th March,
Open from 10 am both days.
All Welcome.
10140 Princes Hwy, Allansford, Vic.
Any queries, please phone 0417 959 210.
This years display whilst smaller in numbers, excels in quality.
Once again, the event will be supported by the Allansford CWA ladies who will serve morning and afternoon tea on the lawn.

27/02/2026

Our annual display of colourful tuberous begonias is getting closer.
This years display will be slightly smaller in numbers but the quality is excellent.
Our open for viewing weekend is Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th of March 2026.
Open from 10am both days - at 10140 Princes Highway, Allansford, Vic.
Once again, the day is supported by the Allansford CWA ladies, who will provide morning and afternoon tea on the lawn.

10/03/2025

Our open weekend at 10140 Princes Highway, Allansford next weekend (Sat 15/3 & Sun 16/3) is going ahead as previously advertised, however, due to a disappointing season, our usual high standard begonias will be sold at a reduced price this year.

28/02/2025

It’s Begonia season again.
Everyone welcome to the third annual open weekend of Riverside Begonias at 10140 Princes Highway, Allansford.
Open from 10 am Saturday & Sunday, 15th & 16th March 2025 for viewing and sales.
We are fortunate to once again have the Allansford CWA ladies again this year, serving morning and afternoon tea in the gardens.

06/06/2024

Hello all Tuberous Begonia growers, just an update from Riverside Begonias.

Our begonia plants are dying down in readiness for their resting period.

Our opening to the public in March has been a very successful event over the past 2 years.

Visitors from a wide area came along to view the colourful display, with the option to purchase if they wished.

We feel the event was a great way to show people that begonias can give a very colourful display and be a wonderful hobby.

Our large collection of plants is the result of some 15+ years experience of growing tuberous begonias, and shows how a collection can be expanded from cuttings.

Our collection has been referred to as a commercial enterprise by another grower - this is incorrect !! ,
it is simply an enjoyable hobby with good results from growing them successfully over a period of years.

It has been reported that tubers will be in short supply this year.
In our case this is not so. If anyone would like tubers, they will be available at a later date.

Due to the harvest of a good number of cuttings, we expect to have a large range of colourful plants again next March.

With our hobby of growing begonias here at Riverside, our wishes are for other people to get the same pleasure from these wonderful plants.

We hope you all have a successful growing season.

Regards,
Clarrie.

17/03/2024

Riverside Begonias of Allansford, Victoria.
It’s been a fantastic 2 day event this weekend attracting both viewers and buyers.
The colour in the shed has been a huge success, thanks to the hard work done by Clarrie over the past year.
Visitors were able to visit the shed, then enjoy Devonshire tea supplied by the Allansford CWA ladies in the tranquil garden setting.
Thank you to all who attended.

13/03/2024

After the terrible heatwave last weekend, we are pleased to say the begonias have survived and our public viewing weekend will go ahead this
Sat 16/3 & Sun 17/3/24.
10am onwards.
10140 Princes Hwy Allansford.

27/02/2024

We are inviting flower lovers along to our open weekend on Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th of March 2024, to our display of approx 500 colourful Tuberous Begonias.

Last year was the first time that the shed was opened to the public and there was a very favourable response to both viewing the plants and sales.

Foundation tubers were obtained mainly from the UK and NZ and top Australian breeders.

To anyone who has not had any experience growing Tuberous Begonias, they are a very satisfying plant to be involved with.

With basic care, tubers can last up to 10 years, and by taking cuttings along the way it is possible to grow your collection without expense.

The majority of the display that is for sale, is only 1 year old which gives you a chance to purchase young tubers , with years of growing ahead of them.

On Saturday 16/3 the Allansford CWA will be holding a market stall and serving refreshments.

Everyone welcome, 10140 Princes Highway, Allansford. 3277

24/01/2024

Taken from an article printed by the Warrnambool Standard early 2023 regarding the demise of his entire collection by fire. Since then the Victorian Begonia Society has folded, hence this year Clarrie will display his begonias at his own property in Allansford 16-17 March 2024

When the St Patrick's Day fires swept through Scotts Creek Clarrie Matthews lost his prized begonia collection which...

16/01/2024

Hello Begonia Fanciers.
Last year we opened our display of tuberous begonias to the public with great response during March.
To the people who don’t know the history of Riverside Begonias, I started growing them approximately 15 years ago.
During that time a mixture of things have taken place, fortunately a lot of pleasure also.
In March 2018, a fire came through the property, destroying my collection of approximately 400 plants and cuttings.
After trying to obtain replacement tubers from growers in the country (apart from a small amount from friends), I thought my hobby may be over.
After talking to a friend in New Zealand, who was also a keen begonia grower, Kae offered to help me. Kae also enlisted the help of another grower to help with the shipment.
It was a lot of work and cost but finally 2 shipments of approximately 70 tubers arrived in a 12 month period.
At a later date, Wilma and myself visited our friends in New Zealand.
One thing that stood out to us was their propogating method. They told me their success rate was approximately 90%. Growers in Australia were obtaining very low rates.
On returning home I passed that valuable information on to growers here some 4-5 years ago.
The collection here at Riverside in Allansford is a very extensive quality range.
This year, Wilma, who is also growing them successfully, will be adding to the display.
We hope that anyone who is interested in viewing the begonias, comes along on the weekend of 16-17th of March.(no obligation to purchase)
- Clarrie.