Cees and Johanna Tesselaar left Holland in 1939, on their wedding day, mere weeks before the outbreak of World War II. They came to Australia, where they purchased a small farm near Silvan and planted their first crop of gladioli and tulips. Over the years, their small enterprise has grown into the largest family owned floricultural company in Australia.
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival was founded in 1954. Held on a farm near the Dandenong Ranges, it is one of Victoria’s most iconic tourist attractions. The festival lasts for four week and features more than 130 different varieties of tulips. Visitors have a unique opportunity to witness the beauty of almost a million tulips across 25 acres of farmland.
Although tulips are the stars of the show, you will also enjoy live entertainment, culinary delights, traditional costumes, market stalls, art demonstrations, tractor rides, picnics, the Clog Shop, and other attractions for visitors of all ages. Don’t hesitate to take photos because this is an experience you don’t want to forget!
To make things even more interesting, the Tesselaar Tulip Festival hosts themed days and weekends, such as Turkish, Dutch and Irish. Such weekends feature demonstrations of music, dance, art and cuisine of a particular country, giving the visitors the opportunity to learn and celebrate its rich culture and heritage. Besides, there’s the Food, Wine & Jazz Weekend that allows to indulge in life’s finer pleasures in the tulips.
The festival also hosts two Children’s Weeks packed with fun activities for the youngest attendees, such as stage shows, interactive workshops, sporting activities, contests and competitions, storytelling, balloon twisting, a petting zoo, face painting, craft workshops, games and rides, market stalls, and more.
Photo: Peter Abraham
