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Each year the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) celebrates excellence with annual awards. Twelve garden centres were finalists for this year's awards in three categories. As a judge for this year's awards, my job was to whittle them down to one winner for each category.
The 12 finalists grouped under the three categories of Best Lifestyle Garden Centre, Best Speciality Garden Centre and Best Group Garden Centre. All are very worthy finalists and worth visiting to buy plants or other garden-related products.
Finalist Stoneman's Garden Centre, Glenorchy, Tas
Hard times
It's a tough gig running a garden centre in Australia. Years of drought and water restrictions on top of the Global Financial Crisis and the rise and rise of big box hardware stores, have taken their toll. The number of garden centres has declined in the past decade as owners close shop, some selling their land for far more than the business ever earned while operating, while others have simply closed the gate and hung up the secateurs.
But it is not all doom and gloom for garden centres. Those who remain in business have lifted their game and become exciting and inspirational places to shop. These awards help to recognised and celebrate Australia's top quality garden centres.
I was lucky enough to be the onsite judge for this year's awards. I visited the 12 finalists selected from entries from around Australia. I spent a hectic two weeks visiting every part of Australia to track them down.
Finalist Eden Gardens
From the very first nursery I visited (Eden Gardens in Sydney), I knew I had taken on a tough job. All of the garden centres were excellent, and ticked all the boxes on the assessment form I'd been given. They had signage, clean accessible trolleys, healthy plants, well-stocked shelves of garden products as well as ornaments and gift lines and inspiring display gardens. Most also had coffee shops and seats where customers could relax and drink in the atmosphere.
For anyone into plants and gardening the modern nursery or ‘garden centre' is a wonderful place to visit.
All were run professionally, employed friendly and knowledgeable staff and put a focus on plants. Many grew a lot of their stock themselves and all sourced plants from top suppliers. Their plants were well maintained, correctly labelled and well displayed. It was very hard to not grab a trolley and start filling it with plants as I wandered the garden centre paths.
So, how do you judge the best of the best? Part of the decision was out of my hands as, for these awards, the original entry counted for a portion of the marks. I awarded my marks based on how things looked on the day of my visit. As not all the garden centres had the same offerings these results were then worked out as a percentage. Hopefully it is a fair system but really any of the businesses could have been winners.
And the winners are…
Rivers Garden Centre
Best Lifestyle Garden Centre – River's Garden & Home, Yarrambat, Vic
Not just a garden centre but part of a well-planned lifestyle centre
Best Specialty Garden Centre – Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale, WA
Nothing out of place, beautifully maintained display gardens and stock, and a happy, helpful staff.
Barossa Nursery from the road
Best Group Garden Centre – Barossa Nursery, Nuriootpa, SA
Barossa Garden Centre at Nuriootpa in country SA is a welcoming site along the road. It provided excellent plants, products and advice for local gardeners in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere.
However all 12 finalists in the 3 different categories are very worthy finalists and worth visiting to buy plants or other garden-related products.
Lifestyle Garden Centre
Allora Gardens Nursery, Berrimah, NT
Brookfield Garden Centre, Brookfield, Qld
Eden Gardens, North Ryde, NSW
River's Garden & Home, Yarrambat, Vic
Stoneman's Garden Centre, Glenorchy, Tas
Best Specialty Garden Centre
Elegant Outdoors, Turramura, NSW
Grasstrees Australia, WA
Newman's Nursery, Tea Tree Gully, SA
Tim's Garden Centre, Campbelltown, NSW
Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale, WA
Best Group Garden Centre
Barossa Nursery, Nuriootpa, SA
Macdonald's Plants Plus Nursery, Bendigo, Vic
Alameda Combatentes da Grande Guerra,2750-326Cascais
Overview |
Set in Cascais, just 1.2 mi from Tamariz Beach, Garden Center Apartment offers beachfront accommodations with free WiFi. Featuring a patio, the apartment is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as hiking and fishing.
The apartment features 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, an equipped kitchen with a microwave and a fridge, a washing machine, and 1 bathroom with a shower.
A bicycle rental service is available at the apartment.
Popular points of interest near Garden Center Apartment include Cascais Town Hall, Casa das Historias - Paula Rego Museum and King D. Carlos Sea Museum. The nearest airport is Humberto Delgado, 16 mi from the accommodations, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Rooms: 1
When would you like to stay?
Facilities of Garden Center Apartment
General
- WiFi in all areas
Activities
- Golf course (within 2 miles)
- Fishing
- Windsurfing
- Hiking
- Diving
- Horseback riding
Pool and Spa
- Beachfront
Transportation
- Airport shuttle
- Bicycle rental (additional charge)
- Airport shuttle (additional charge)
Front Desk Services
- Invoice provided
Shops
- Shops (on site)
- Convenience store (on site)
Miscellaneous
- Non-smoking rooms
- Family rooms
- VIP room facilities
- Smoke-free property
Safety & security
- Fire extinguishers
Safety features
- Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities
- First aid kits available
Physical distancing
- Cashless payment available
- Physical distancing rules followed
Cleanliness & disinfection
- Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against coronavirus
- Linens, towels, and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines
- Guest accommodation disinfected between stays
Food & drink safety
- All plates, cutlery, glasses, and other tableware sanitized
Internet
Casino Garden Centre Hotel
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Rivers Garden Centre
Best Lifestyle Garden Centre – River's Garden & Home, Yarrambat, Vic
Not just a garden centre but part of a well-planned lifestyle centre
Best Specialty Garden Centre – Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale, WA
Nothing out of place, beautifully maintained display gardens and stock, and a happy, helpful staff.
Barossa Nursery from the road
Best Group Garden Centre – Barossa Nursery, Nuriootpa, SA
Barossa Garden Centre at Nuriootpa in country SA is a welcoming site along the road. It provided excellent plants, products and advice for local gardeners in a friendly and relaxing atmosphere.
However all 12 finalists in the 3 different categories are very worthy finalists and worth visiting to buy plants or other garden-related products.
Lifestyle Garden Centre
Allora Gardens Nursery, Berrimah, NT
Brookfield Garden Centre, Brookfield, Qld
Eden Gardens, North Ryde, NSW
River's Garden & Home, Yarrambat, Vic
Stoneman's Garden Centre, Glenorchy, Tas
Best Specialty Garden Centre
Elegant Outdoors, Turramura, NSW
Grasstrees Australia, WA
Newman's Nursery, Tea Tree Gully, SA
Tim's Garden Centre, Campbelltown, NSW
Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale, WA
Best Group Garden Centre
Barossa Nursery, Nuriootpa, SA
Macdonald's Plants Plus Nursery, Bendigo, Vic
Alameda Combatentes da Grande Guerra,2750-326Cascais
Overview |
Set in Cascais, just 1.2 mi from Tamariz Beach, Garden Center Apartment offers beachfront accommodations with free WiFi. Featuring a patio, the apartment is in an area where guests can engage in activities such as hiking and fishing.
The apartment features 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, an equipped kitchen with a microwave and a fridge, a washing machine, and 1 bathroom with a shower.
A bicycle rental service is available at the apartment.
Popular points of interest near Garden Center Apartment include Cascais Town Hall, Casa das Historias - Paula Rego Museum and King D. Carlos Sea Museum. The nearest airport is Humberto Delgado, 16 mi from the accommodations, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
Rooms: 1
When would you like to stay?
Facilities of Garden Center Apartment
General
- WiFi in all areas
Activities
- Golf course (within 2 miles)
- Fishing
- Windsurfing
- Hiking
- Diving
- Horseback riding
Pool and Spa
- Beachfront
Transportation
- Airport shuttle
- Bicycle rental (additional charge)
- Airport shuttle (additional charge)
Front Desk Services
- Invoice provided
Shops
- Shops (on site)
- Convenience store (on site)
Miscellaneous
- Non-smoking rooms
- Family rooms
- VIP room facilities
- Smoke-free property
Safety & security
- Fire extinguishers
Safety features
- Staff follow all safety protocols as directed by local authorities
- First aid kits available
Physical distancing
- Cashless payment available
- Physical distancing rules followed
Cleanliness & disinfection
- Use of cleaning chemicals that are effective against coronavirus
- Linens, towels, and laundry washed in accordance with local authority guidelines
- Guest accommodation disinfected between stays
Food & drink safety
- All plates, cutlery, glasses, and other tableware sanitized
Internet
Casino Garden Centre Hotel
WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.
Policies of Garden Center Apartment
These are general hotel policies for Garden Center Apartment. As they may vary per room type, please also check the room conditions.
Check-in
16:00 - 23:00 hours
Check-out
08:00 - 11:00 hours
Cancellation / Prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to apartment type.
Children and Extra Beds
Free!Up to two children under 12 years stay free of charge when using existing beds.
One child under 2 years is charged EUR 30 per night in a crib.
There is no capacity for extra beds in the room.
The maximum number of total guests in a room is 8.
The maximum number of cribs in a room is 1.
Casino Garden Centre Dubai
Additional fees are not calculated automatically in the total cost and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Accepted credit cards
- Maestro
- Mastercard
- Visa
- Debit card
- Discover
- JCB
- Diners Club
The property reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.
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