The Wollongong Botanic Garden Nursery underpins the specialist plant production work of the Botanic Garden in maintaining our diverse living collections.
As well as propagating and growing plants for display in our Garden Collections, the Nursery plays an important role in enhancing our local environment through the following key areas:
The Botanic Garden Nursery plays an important role in restoring our natural areas by growing locally sourced plants to supply to Wollongong City Council's 40+ volunteer Bushcare and Dunecare programs, as well as Council's own natural area regeneration teams.
The regional native species we provide form a critical part of Wollongong’s focus on environmental sustainability through enhancing local biodiversity.
The Nursery propagates and holds a number of ex-situ collections of endangered species to support scientific research. These collections are also part of ongoing conservation and restoration programs to help safeguard wild populations in partnership with the South East NSW Bioregion Working Group.
Every financial year, not-for-profit primary and secondary schools, and community centres operating on community land in the Wollongong local government area can request up to 30 plants to be donated from the Botanic Garden's Nursery.
We cannot accommodate requests for specific plants. The donation will include a mixture of native grasses, ground covers, trees and shrubs from our available supplies. If you have a specific plant request, you can purchase plants directly from the nursery as a special order (see 'Purchasing Plants' below) or come along to one of our sale days.
Submit your donation request
If you are interested in receiving free plants for your school or community centre please complete the following:
- Email us to request a donation. Note: we cannot accommodate requests for specific plants.
- Once your request has been approved, we will contact you to arrange a collection time. All orders for the remainder of the year will be scheduled for collection early in the new year when stock will be at its best.
Collecting plant donations
Bring a letterhead from the organisation or school authorising you to collect the plants on their behalf, along with photo ID. Plants cannot be collected without this.
Collections must be pre-booked. Collection times are Monday to Friday 7.30am to 9am, 9.30am to 12pm, or 12.30pm to 2pm.
- Visit our Nursery: 63 Northfields Avenue in Keiraville (Gate 8) at your agreed collection date and time (see above).
- Make sure you have an authorisation letter and photo ID.
- When you arrive gate, please call 0419 273 818.
Purchasing plants
If your school or community centre would like to purchase specific plants you can come to an upcoming Plant Sale (dates listed above) or email us with your request for a special order.
Make sure you include details of the types and quantity of plants you would like. Please note: There may be a limit on what we can provide you, so we will assess your request to order and if applicable, offer you similar alternatives.
Since the 1990s, Wollongong ratepayers have had access to low cost, subsidised native plants through regular plant sales via the Greenplan program.
Our monthly Plant Sales aim to encourage the introduction of local native plants into home gardens, to support biodiversity and enhance habitat for native animals and insect pollinators.
Upcoming Plant Sales
View our Events Calendar for all upcoming events at the Garden.