The website for the Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda is currently under construction. This page provides an interim introduction to the garden while this work is underway.

The Chelsea Australian Garden At Olinda is the first Australian winner of ‘Best in Show’ at the prestigious 2013 Chelsea Flower Show, London. It was created by Designer Phillip Johnson, Horticulturist Wes Fleming and the Trailfinders Team.

About the garden

The 2013 ‘Australian Garden’ was the 9th and final show taken to London's RHS Chelsea Flower Show by local Monbulk nurseryman Wes Fleming.

This was the year that the Flemings Nursery Trailfinders Team exhibit designed by Phillip Johnson went on to be the first ever to be unanimously judged as Best in Show at Chelsea and the first Australian exhibit to ever win this prestigious award.

The show garden’s success was created on two design pillars – more sustainable design with using Australian plants and the urge to connect people back to the beauty of nature. Following the team’s return home extensive discussions ocurred on how to permanently relocate the newly internationally renowed Chelsea Australian Garden back in to Victoria.

Whilst many options were explored the perfect outcome was to bring it back home to where the garden was originally designed and inspired from here in Olinda.

When a section of the old Olinda golf course was given back to the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Gardens which created a wonderful blank canvas for the showgarden to be designed up to become a public garden twenty times the size of the original garden.

The creation of the Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda was actively supported and enabled by the agency contributors as recognised below. The energetic support of the then Federal Liberal and State Labor local members was crucial in this process. These contributions provided the foundation upon which further direct community donations could be put to creative effect.

This garden would not have been possible without massive community support. We especially acknowledge here the contributions made by individual donors. The garden relies on this continuing support for its growth and nourishment today.

The garden webapp

To help you discover the garden features and enjoy a guided podcast tour by Phillip Johnson, a webapp accessed via QR codes has been developed as part of the onsite interpretive signage. The link below takes you to the webapp homepage. From there you can use the drop down menus to explore the different garden locations.

explore the Chelsea Australian Garden at Olinda webapp ...