It was established on an old orchard site in 2017, with the help of $43,656 worth of government funding, and ongoing maintenance by volunteers from the Australian Garden History Society (AGHS).

Now, the AGHS have created a rose garden in the newly established airport roundabout on the New England Highway, to link with the magnificent display at the National Trust Saumarez Homestead.

Armidale Regional Council Mayor Cr Simon Murray said a sustainable drought resistant garden with 160 roses was planted in the centre of the roundabout with a local gardening group working for several weekends to establish it.

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"The garden was designed to showcase plants that thrive in our climate and survive in drought- conditions," said Cr Murray.

"The altitude, climate and soil of Armidale make it ideal for rose growing and the combination of decorative gravel mulch will contribute to efficient water saving techniques."

Rugosa roses will feature at the roundabout because of its low maintenance needs, toughness and glorious long-lasting flowers. They will be planted with scoria gravel mulch on top of their bed as it promotes moisture to move directly down into the soil.

The garden will be watered at the time of planting, but minimally afterwards and using raw water from a nearby catchment.

Cr Murray said there would be red roses planted around the centre, surrounded by a ring of white roses.

Cr Murray said he did not think the plants would create a future traffic hazard by impairing driver vision as they grew taller.

"There shouldn't be a danger because where they're located, in that ring, outside that, in the roundabout there is a raised section. So the traffic shouldn't be coming near that," he said.

"Traffic is separated and it is such a big roundabout."