This spring, Open Gardens SA will celebrate ten years of opening beautiful gardens and raising more than $1.5 million for local good causes.
In the last decade, 206,000 visitors have enjoyed seeing more than 400 gardens, events and festivals. Hundreds of garden owners have allowed the public to look around their private gardens, and teams of volunteers have staged workshops, theatre shows and garden festivals, generating an impressive $1.54 million to benefit the community.
Open Gardens SA charges a modest entry fee. After covering essentials, including insurance, IT, publicity, and card fees, garden owners received $692,000 to distribute to good causes and charities of their choice.
Over the years, many hard-working and creative owners have enlisted their friends, and often the charities themselves, to help raise a further $522,000 from plant sales, sausage sizzles and afternoon teas.
$120,000 has been generated from events, including garden workshops and Theatre in the Garden by Blue Sky Theatre, which supports venues such as Adelaide Botanic Gardens, Hans Heysen Foundation, and various cancer charities. Two festivals support good causes directly. Two Landscape Festivals raised $50,000 for SA’s Country Women’s Association, and the Harvest Garden Festival gave $30,000 to OzHarvest.
Open Gardens SA’s support program has given $133,000 to projects that benefit the community, including assisting horticulture students through the Playford Trust, making small grants available to community gardens and making donations to BlazeAid to assist with bushfire recovery.
Tom Wilkinson, Open Gardens SA co-chair, says the volunteer team is proud to launch their tenth year this August and reach such an impressive milestone of community support.
“It’s most impressive and extremely heart-warming for our not-for-profit organisation to make such a difference to a huge range good causes,” said Mr Wilkinson.
“I acknowledge the generosity and hard work of garden owners, volunteers, event organisers and our committee, who’ve made this venture successful.
“I thank the visiting public for their enthusiasm and support, which ensures our scheme will flourish for another ten years.”
Open Gardens SA’s tenth season opens in August 2024, with another 40 gardens opening through to autumn 2025.
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