Over 60 embassies grace the Embassy Gardens in Tasmania, dedicated to over 40 countries. And not just countries, there is even a building dedicated to intergalactic worlds and time travel.
Visitors from overseas are most likely to be found locating “their” embassy and having a photo taken with it, and of course, the Australian embassy.
The Aussie embassy is a typical outback house with its wide verandahs. Out in the yard is the typical outdoor dunny (toilet) water tank and windmill.
The embassies are also educational. The Denmark embassy has a picture of a lego character on it, as lego was invented in that country. Mary Donaldson from Tasmania is married to Frederik, the Crown Prince of Denmark and a picture of her is also on the building.
Look out for the Principality of the Hobbits. This makes a stunning photograph with the hedge behind it and the spectacular Mount Roland in the background.
Our South Pacific neighbours, New Zealand, have a Long House as their embassy.
The embassy of the Congo Pygmy peoples is… well, smaller than the rest.
The Embassy of Italy is based on the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I have been to Pisa and battling the crowds for that perfect picture is almost impossible. Here, it is easy to get your photo taken with this gravity challenged building.
One of two French buildings in the gardens is the Eiffel Tower, an iconic French landmark.
The other is the Statue of Liberty. The real statue was given to the Americans by the French. Standing atop a tea chest representing the Boston Tea Party. In 2017 the Great Wall of Trump was built, after the then US President Donald Trump demanded a wall be built to separate the USA from Mexico.
How to build an embassy that iconically represents the country so that it could be identified even without a name tag can be a challenge. Tasmazia has nailed it in every building, but none more so that the Great Britain embassy of Stonehenge. Brian ribbed GB with this structure, symbolizing the friendly rivalry between our two countries, and placing them back in the Stone Age.
Poland is quirky, and is an embassy of poles.
The Cambodian embassy is represented by an ancient Cambodian Temple, one of the most sacred buildings in the country. The building here is covered in untamed growth, just like the real thing. An exchange student to Sheffield helped Brian with the idea for this.
The Egyptian Embassy had to be a pyramid, one of the most recognised icons on the planet.
The Turkish embassy represents the unusual rock formations found in the country. The original contained rooms and apartments that could be better defended against invaders.
The Indian embassy is a re-creation of the Taj Mahal. This symbolises both the old and new India.
The Greek Embassy is represented by Diogneses, housed in a barrel and holding a lamp. He searched ancient Athens looking for an honest man.
The whimsical embassies are fun to discover. The embassy of the Invisible Forces that control the world, just cannot be found, no matter how hard one looks.
The spy embassy is topped by an all seeing eye, with lots of capers going on underneath its gaze.
The intergalactic embassies are surrounded by a fence. Is this to keep them in, or to keep us out? Perhaps they travel through time and space in the nearby Doctor Who TARDIS.
Located in these gardens are two special memorials. One to whistle blowers and one to boat people lost at sea.
Built of stainless steel, the whistle blower monument is likened to the people themselves…bright, shining and incorruptible. Laura told me a story of a man who stood there reading the inscription and staring at the statue. He then started to cry. Why? Because he was a whistle blower and felt victimized. Standing here he felt empowered and proud. To be able to change someone’s outlook on life is a powerful gift.
For the boat people, within a circular maze, is their memorial.
Also in the garden is a tribute to the Tasmanian Medical Services. The Royal Hobart Hospital, Launceston General Hospital, Burnie Hospital and the Royal Flying Doctor Service are represented here. These organisations do an amazing job. Both Brian and Linda Inder have reason to be grateful for their services, as do I.
I was diagnosed with cancer only two months after arriving in Tasmania, which meant I spent time in several of these hospitals. So, seeing this tribute to them, truly touched my heart. In my experience, the doctors, nurses, volunteers and all hospital staff are so caring and absolutely amazing. Thank you for including these buildings here. I am sure they mean a lot to so many people.
The Embassy of Romney Nations is also a tribute to the many caravanning tourists who travel Tasmania. This is for the travelling people who live nowhere and everywhere. Maybe it is for all of us, especially those who wander and have gypsy feet, like me.
I cannot include all 60 embassies in this story, as much as I would like to. If you have the opportunity to visit here for yourself, you can see them all. Each one is fun, informative, quirky, educational, and inspirational. It is a heartwarming joy to discover. Suitable for all ages, it brings out the curious child in everyone.
For those who dream of travelling to some of these destinations, it can ignite desire. For those who have been to the various countries, it brings back memories of previous experiences. This is a garden of past, present and future.
Located at Tasmazia
500 Staverton Road, Promised Land, Tasmania, Australia
Happy Travels!
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