Does anyone know if 'Australia Felix' is still in the Sangerhausen collection? If it is, would it be possible for someone in that region to please post some photos (and describe the scent if possible).
The earliest comments I've found about 'Australia Felix' were from the April 1922 Rose Show, where it was noted that the rose had not gained the popularity it deserved. Similar sentiments were repeated in the November 1922 Rose Show report.
I am a volunteer at the Alister Clark Memorial Garden at Bulla, Victoria, where the rose has been identified by a rosarian from WA as 'Mrs R M Finch'. I am trying to locate the real 'Australia Felix'. R G Elliott's The Australiasian Rose Book (of 1928 or earlier) describes 'Australia Felix' as HT, 'Soft pink, outer petals deep reddish pink. Vigorous, free flowering, good foliage.' The description is accompanied by a B&W photo of 8 individual blooms in what looks like a silver vase. The photo from Sangerhausen seems much closer to the above description than the others, which look like a polyantha rose. I will be checking early editions of the Australian Rose Annual for another description. Any help with identification & location of plants would be appreciated.
Geoff - I cannot help with location of the original 'Australia Felix', but have uploaded another old photo - from The 1929 Australian Rose Annual. There is no detail of foliage but the flowers are reasonably clear. The Australian Rose Annual 'Australia Felix' text references have already been added to HMF refs thanks to Patricia Routley. Also information from Susan Irvine's writings, telling of the origins of the rose in commerce under the name 'Australia Felix' today ("Plant came to us (without a name) from the Alstons and Eve Murray. Fits the description of ‘Australia Felix’ and distinctive shape of petals corresponds with old photographs. ‘Sweet Seventeen’ and ‘Fancy Free’ seem to be similar, and until our plant was identified I called it ‘Alister Clark’s Pink Floribunda’.")
