Canberra’s 106-year-old Yarralumla Nursery is to receive $690,000 worth of safety improvement works to ensure the Nursery can continue growing trees to be planted across the city.
Minister for City Services, Chris Steel said the Yarralumla Nursery had helped to shape the ACT’s landscape by growing an estimated 50 million trees and more since being established as the Government Nursery in 1914.
“The historic Yarralumla Nursery continues to make a substantial contribute to our city’s green, tree-lined streets, gardens and parks,” Mr Steel said.
“Planning has commenced on restoring aged and unsafe heritage infrastructure including the propagation shed, roofs on major buildings, restoration of a 1930s glasshouse and the amenities facility,” he said.
“The Government is funding replacement of the Nursery’s bird net structure, which plays an important role in protecting tree stock from bird and hail damage, after being damaged by severe winds in September 2019 and subsequent storms.”
Mr Steel said the improvements also included the replacement of aged and unsafe benches in six historic glasshouses.
“The upgrades will provide a safer working environment for staff members, and for customers to the Nursery, while still preserving the heritage values of one of Canberra’s oldest establishments,” he said.
He said the Nursery was continuing to make a meaningful mark on the ACT, growing and supplying an estimated 300,000 plants for people in the region each year.
Mr Steel said trees grown in the Nursery would contribute to the Territory’s Urban Forest Strategy and the locally grown and specially selected varieties would help ensure the plants were able to withstand the Canberra climate.
