Many of the most beautiful gardens are kept under the veritable lock and key, safe from prying eyes. However, thanks to Australia’s Open Garden Scheme that’s all about to change.
All across Australia there are gardens that deserve to be shared, on such a scale or designed to a degree which would impress, inspire and amaze every green finger. Australia’s Open Garden Scheme is bringing magnificent private gardens into the public domain...
Australia’s Open Garden Scheme is a not-for-profit organisation which began over 20 years ago in Victoria. Its aim is to promote the knowledge and enjoyability of gardens across Australia, achieved by opening some of the most inspiring and private gardens to the public. Grand, small, city or outback, every style and size of garden is appreciated on its own merit.
Today they operate out of each state and every member, director and selector is a volunteer. In total, around 10,000 volunteers are involved in the Scheme each season. There is a huge amount of work that goes into opening a garden, from the regional coordinator who is responsible for administering the region and supporting the garden owners, to the actual garden owner along with relatives and friends who man the gate and provide refreshments. But the rewards are many and for visitors it is an inexpensive and enjoyable day out.
Visitors can benefit immensely from the knowledge and inspiration of other gardeners, talking to them about ideas and discussing designs.
A standard entry fee for the gardens is $5, sixty-five per cent of which is returned to the Scheme for recouping running costs. What’s left is then distributed to the community as grants for garden-related projects. Each year around 275,000 adults and countless thousands of children visit the open gardens. Visitors can benefit immensely from the knowledge and inspiration of other gardeners, talking to them about ideas and discussing designs. Whether a novice or an expert, garden visiting is the best way to discover new plants and rediscover old favourites.
Supported by ABC television since its inception in 1987, gardening has been recognised as one of Australia’s favourite pastimes and the ABC regularly broadcasts details of the Open Garden Scheme on local Saturday morning gardening talkback and ‘Gardening Australia’.
With a total of 8,000 gardens on their books, the Open Garden Scheme now opens around 650 private grounds to the public each season and is always discovering new ones. For a garden to be included in the scheme, it must be visited by an experienced selector and must fulfil criteria of being interesting, well-maintained and a good example of its type.
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