STRINGYBARK NURSERY
Stringybark Community Nursery was established in the wake of the 2009 bushfires, with support from the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR). Originally created to help fire-affected landowners in St Andrews, Christmas Hills, Strathewen, and Arthurs Creek, the nursery’s mission has always been to provide locally-sourced plants for revegetation and community projects. Over the years, thanks to the dedication of volunteers, it has grown into a vital community resource, offering a space for learning, gardening, and connecting.
Recently, we’ve shifted how we operate to encourage more community involvement in plant propagation. This new approach allows us to share knowledge, and we’re now focusing on helping locals grow their own plants, whether for personal use or as part of Landcare or other similar community group initiatives. This also enables us to maintain sustainable practices while ensuring the nursery's continuation.
We welcome you to get involved, whether by purchasing plants, propagating your own with our guidance, or simply seeking advice.
WHERE WE ARE
Stringybark Community Nursery is located behind Wadambuk St Andrews Community Centre (The Old School), next to the multi-purpose room of St Andrews Primary School. If you're driving, the entry is off School Road, on the left just before the bridge. There is parking available near the entrance.
Our address is:
Rear of 35 Caledonia St, St Andrews VIC 3761. Look for us behind Wadambuk and Men’s Shed @ St Andrews.
Note: Entry and parking at 20 School Rd (directions)
HOW WE WORK
To ensure the nursery continues to thrive and reduce waste, we’re encouraging the community to grow their own plants with our guidance. Here’s how our new co-op model works:
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Come and collect seeds: You can collect seeds directly from us, or purchase them from one of our recommended suppliers. We only support growing indigenous plants native to our area.
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Sow your seeds: Make an appointment on Tuesdays or Thursdays to come in and sow your seeds with our help. A $10 donation covers the seed and seed-raising mix (made by us).
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Leave your seeds with us: We’ll let you know when they’ve germinated. Please note that germination times vary and some seeds may not germinate.
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Pricking out: Once the seedlings are ready, you’ll return to help us separate them into individual pots.
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Ongoing care: We’ll water and care for your plants while they grow, then you can collect them once they’re ready.
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Donate a small percentage back: We ask for 5-10% of your plants back to help us maintain our seed bank.
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While we continue to grow tubestock, the numbers are reduced.
For just a few hours of your time, you can grow hundreds of plants for your garden or community projects at a fraction of the cost of buying them from nurseries.
OPENING HOURS
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Tuesdays: 3:30pm - 5pm
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Thursdays: 1:30pm - 3pm
Please note: The nursery is run entirely by volunteers, and while we strive to be open during our listed hours, there may be occasions when we are unavailable. We apologise in advance if this affects your visit.
For inquiries, appointments, or any questions, please email us at:
stringybarkcommunitynursery[at]gmail.com
CURRENT PLANT AVAILABILITY
Our stock of indigenous plants is available for purchase or propagation. Because our nursery operates on a volunteer-run basis, our plant stock changes frequently. If you’re interested in specific plants, please feel free to contact us.
We also encourage community members to sow their own seeds, as part of our sustainable growing initiative.
LEARNING & VOLUNTEERING
Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, Stringybark Community Nursery is a place where you can learn about propagating plants and help contribute to the local environment. Our volunteers play a crucial role in managing the nursery and supporting community members with gardening and propagation advice.
We welcome volunteers of all skill levels. If you’re interested in learning, sharing your knowledge, or simply helping out with ongoing tasks, we’d love to have you join us. It’s a great way to get involved with the local community and make a positive environmental impact.
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
Our nursery has always been deeply connected to the local community. Over the years, we’ve supported Landcare groups, schools, kindergartens, and many others, supplying plants for various environmental projects.
We were also involved in supporting the landscaping around the Blacksmiths’ Tree in Strathewen.
By engaging the community, we hope to continue offering plants that help in revegetation and biodiversity restoration across the region.
