Australia's Open Garden Scheme
Encyclopedia
Australia's Open Garden Scheme is a non-profit organisation that began in Victoria
Australia
in 1987. Its aim is to promote the knowledge and pleasure of garden
s and gardening
across Australia. Under the scheme, private gardens are opened for public viewing for one or two weekends a year. About 650 gardens are opened annually across Australia, from a database of about 5000 gardens. Each year over 275,000 adults visit open gardens, together with accompanying children. A schedule for openings across Australia is published annually.
The scheme grew out of the practice in Victoria of "grand" private gardens in the hill country near Melbourne
opening occasionally for public viewing for the benefit of charities
. However the scheme does not limit itself to large gardens, with many normal-sized suburb
an gardens, and even tiny inner-city plots, included. Most openings in the southern, temperate
zone occur between October and May, while tropical gardens open during the winter months.
A nominal fee, usually $5 per adult, is charged for each viewing. This money is divided with 35% going to the garden owner or their nominated charity, and 65% going to the Open Garden Scheme. After funding the scheme operating costs, the remainder is given as grants to community garden projects, with over $800,000 in grants being made by the end of 2006. Additionally garden owners have passed on over $3.5 million to their nominated charities since the commencement of the scheme.
Tamie Fraser
is President of the Open Garden Scheme.
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1987. Its aim is to promote the knowledge and pleasure of garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s and gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
across Australia. Under the scheme, private gardens are opened for public viewing for one or two weekends a year. About 650 gardens are opened annually across Australia, from a database of about 5000 gardens. Each year over 275,000 adults visit open gardens, together with accompanying children. A schedule for openings across Australia is published annually.
The scheme grew out of the practice in Victoria of "grand" private gardens in the hill country near Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
opening occasionally for public viewing for the benefit of charities
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. However the scheme does not limit itself to large gardens, with many normal-sized suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an gardens, and even tiny inner-city plots, included. Most openings in the southern, temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
zone occur between October and May, while tropical gardens open during the winter months.
A nominal fee, usually $5 per adult, is charged for each viewing. This money is divided with 35% going to the garden owner or their nominated charity, and 65% going to the Open Garden Scheme. After funding the scheme operating costs, the remainder is given as grants to community garden projects, with over $800,000 in grants being made by the end of 2006. Additionally garden owners have passed on over $3.5 million to their nominated charities since the commencement of the scheme.
Tamie Fraser
Tamie Fraser
Tamie Fraser AO is the wife of Malcolm Fraser, who held office as Prime Minister of Australia between 1975 and 1983. -Early life:...
is President of the Open Garden Scheme.