The Kevin Heinze People's Garden is a public community garden next to Montrose Recreation Reserve. The main entry to the garden is from the rear of the Montrose shopping strip car park, off Mt Dandenong Tourist Road.

Kevin Heinze was a prolific horticulturalist and television presenter, presenting his ABC gardening program, Sow What, from 1967 to 1988. In 2005, Kevin & Jill donated the garden to the Yarra Ranges Council for public enjoyment.

During and following the June 2021 storms, the garden lost many mature trees which changed the dynamics and microclimate. These changes have allowed for consideration of new plantings of both under-story and canopy trees for future shade to add to the eclectic mix of established horticulture.

In this first phase of this landscape development plan, we would like to collect your memories and stories around this space. Also to gather feedback around how you would like to continue to best use the space into the future. This will inform a detailed plan which we hope will honour the original intentions of Kevin Heinze.


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Share memories and/or photos of the space with us.

Share with us what you enjoy about the garden, and how you would like to use the space in the future.

We welcome multiple contributions!

We will also be available for questions at the garden as part of the regular "Weed Wednesday" sessions on;

  • 13th August - 10am-11.30am
  • 27th August - 10am-11.30am


This project will seek to;

  • Understand the community's wants from this space.
  • Revitalise the planting within the garden, including replacing previous storm damage.
  • Celebrate the storytelling and history of this garden.

This project will not consider;

  • Areas outside the boundary of this garden or private property, including the car park.
  • Active recreation, including formal play spaces and structures.
  • Plants that require lots of watering or maintenance.
  • Hard surface pathways.

Feedback received that can't be considered at this time may be used at a later date to inform future developments.

This survey is looking for your feedback on Kevin Heinze People's Garden. If you need to report damage or concerns about other community spaces in Yarra Ranges, please Report an issue with Yarra Ranges Council.

An indigenous section of the garden was designed and planted by Montrose Environmental Group (MEG) members, aiming to showcase a number of indigenous species that are desirable garden species, particularly for the replacement of exotic species. Follow up weed control, maintenance and further plantings are carried out periodically at working bees.

Montrose Environmental Group (MEG) - secretary@meg.org.au

The Peoples Garden Working Party

Montrose Township Group montrosetownshipgroup@gmail.com

Please reach out if you would like to get involved with one of these groups.

This project does not have committed funding. However, having a landscape development plan will give a strong basis for advocating for external funds opportunities. It will also support applications for funding through Council's annual Capital Works Program.

In this first phase we would like to collect your memories and stories around this space and gather feedback around how you would like to continue to best use the space into the future.

Your feedback helps shape the landscape design plan by informing priorities, design, and guiding decisions to better reflect community needs. All community input is carefully reviewed and considered alongside technical studies, expert advice, and policy requirements.

We will also continue to receive input from any relevant technical experts and seek approvals by relevant authorities.

Timeline

  • Timeline item 1 - active

    Community engagement Phase 1

    Feedback & memory gathering

  • Timeline item 2 - incomplete

    Draft landscape development plan created

    Informed by community feedback and key stakeholders.

  • Timeline item 3 - incomplete

    Community engagement Phase 2

    Draft landscape development plan available for review and feedback collected

  • Timeline item 4 - incomplete

    Feedback incorporated into final design

Contact Us

If you have any questions or want to learn more about this project, our contact details are below:

Contact Information
Name Rohan Brown, Northern Parks Team Leader - Recreation, Parks & Facilities
Phone 1300 368 333
Email mail@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
In writing

Rohan Brown, Kevin Heinze People's Garden feedback

PO Box 105, Lilydale Vic 3140

If you need assistance when contacting Council, please use the numbers below.

  • National Relay Service: 133 677 (for callers who have a hearing, speech or communication impairment and for Text Telephone or modem callers)
  • 1300 555 727 (for callers using Speech to Speech relay)
  • Translating and Interpreting Service: 131 450 and ask them to contact Council on 1300 368 333
  • TTY: 9658 9461