Over 26 years, the Riverina Highlands Landcare Nursery has grown from a place to buy local native plants into a welcoming community hub, now hosting everything from workshops and AGMs to Christmas parties among the plants.
The issue
For more than two decades, the Riverina Highlands Landcare Nursery has been the local go‑to for native revegetation and garden plants, supporting on‑ground Landcare projects and the wider community. As the network’s activities grew and our partnerships increased, it became clear there were very few suitable local spaces to host Landcare events, meetings, training sessions or informal catch‑ups that felt connected to country and community.
Our community needed a flexible, affordable space that reflected Landcare values, reduced pressure on partners, and created new ways for people to connect with the nursery beyond simply buying plants.
The solution
The first step was a hands‑on working bee, with support from Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, whose employees travelled over from Wagga to help give the site a thorough tidy‑up and refresh. This practical, shared effort cleared old materials, decluttered work areas and reset the space so it could function both as a productive nursery and as a welcoming venue.
From there, a series of small, affordable upgrades followed: a few trips to the hardware store, a fresh coat of paint, some welding and repairs. By focusing on simple, achievable changes, the team improved the look and feel of the nursery, created defined areas for gatherings, and ensured the space could comfortably host functions without interrupting day‑to‑day nursery operations.
The impact
The upgraded nursery has already become a lively meeting place. Riverina Highlands Landcare Network recently held its AGM there on a mild autumn afternoon, with adults catching up over tea and children exploring and playing between the plant benches. Participants commented on how much more inviting the nursery now feels, and how nice it is to meet in a space surrounded by the plants and people that embody Landcare in the region.
Before the AGM, the nursery hosted Local Land Services workshops and the Murrumbidgee Landcare Christmas party, demonstrating its versatility as a venue for partners and community groups. The facelift has opened up new revenue opportunities through events and increased nursery visibility, while also taking pressure off partners who now have a reliable, Landcare‑aligned venue option close to home.
Not Just a Nursery — NSW Landcare Gateway
Capacity building – LEP23_036_LLC7_9
Author: Rachel Cullen
