A Royal Garden Party will be the height of glamour this month in Geelong

It's the garden tea party of dreams, but with a bonus charitable arm.

Geelong is set to don its finest for a spectacular ‘Royal’ Garden Party, raising funds for Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Saturday 23 May 2026.

‘Royal’ Garden Party to Support Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

The event will be held at The Heights, one of Victoria’s most enchanting National Trust properties, known for its nineteenth-century charm and flourishing gardens. Imported from Germany in 1854 for businessman Charles Ibbotson, the prefabricated villa was modernised in the 1930s by architect Harold Bartlett and retains an intact period kitchen, formal garden beds, a rose arbour, and a carriage drive. Guests will also have the opportunity to explore unique nineteenth-century outbuildings, including stables, a water tower, a groom’s cottage, and a dovecote.

The morning promises elegance and community spirit, with Lady Sharon Ann Cavendish-Bentinck, granddaughter of the 9th Duke of Portland and second cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II, hosting. Lady Sharon’s remarkable story is featured in SBS On Demand’s The Secret DNA of Us, Episode 3: Geelong.

Guests will be welcomed with bubbles on arrival and can enjoy bottomless tea and coffee alongside an array of sweet and savoury finger foods. Gift bags, photo opportunities, and door prizes—including exclusive items from Buckingham Palace—add to the charm, while live music provides a delightful soundtrack to the morning. Special guests include Lord Mayor Cr. Dr. Stretch Kontelj OAM and Lady Mayoress Paula Kontelj OAM, and the dress code invites attendees to embrace garden chic with a royal twist.

Every ticket contributes directly to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), funding cutting-edge research and innovative treatments in the fight against cancer. Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea goes beyond being a fundraiser as a celebration of community and resilience, bringing together locals in support of a future free from cancer.

To attend this esteemed event, tickets can be purchased here.