South Australia

AGHS Alice Springs Conference 2025

Dear South Australia AGHS branch members,

At the last meeting of the National Management Committee for the Australian Garden History Society we discussed the National Conferences. As I’m sure you know, this year’s conference (2023) is in Ipswich, Queensland, next year’s conference (2024) is in Bunbury, West Australia and for 2025 the Committee would like it to be in Alice Springs.

As the nearest State branch, South Australia was asked if they would take this on. When I had recovered from the shock, I started investigating whether this could be possible and what sort of conference it could be.

There is a suitable venue for the talks, plenty of accommodation in Alice, several bus companies for transport and interesting places to visit and eat. Speakers will have to be contacted later.

What we need now is a strong committee that will undertake the organization. The AGHS head office has a manual that previous organisers have put together to share their experiences. It details timelines, budgets and the duties of subcommittees. It is very helpful.

Would you be willing to serve on the Alice Springs Conference Committee? Many of our meetings would be by zoom. The following is an extract from the manual:

While there is no ideal size for a conference committee, the larger it is, the more unwieldy it may become and more time it consumes for those involved. A model that has proved successful is to have important sub-committees chaired by one individual with assistance from one or more others. Such committees would logically include:

• Venue
• Budget
• Speakers
• Garden visits
• Tours.

The Conference Chair should be a member ex-officio on all sub-committees. Other sub-committees which could concentrate on one-off tasks might include:

• Transport
• Conference Dinner
• Decorations.

If the chair of sub-committees attends meetings called by the Conference Chair, there is no need for subcommittee members to attend—thus reducing the time commitment of all involved. The overarching conference committee is composed of the Chair and sub-committee chairs.

We really need your help.

Please contact Dot Evans on 0480475748 or by email dotandmike2@gmail.com by Sunday 16^th April to register your interest or for any questions.

Advocacy

• A report was submitted to the National Management Committee on the successful campaign to prevent the construction of Mounted Police Barracks in the southern Park Lands.
• Attunga Gardens, Kensington Road, Toorak Gardens, is at risk of losing significant heritage trees. Di Wilkins is following this up with Burnside Council.

Past Events

The Australian Museum of Gardening at Carrick Hill remains our main state project. Many of you attended the opening of the Pavilion at the Sparkling Gala Dinner at the new Pavillion on Friday 5th April 2024.

SA Branch finished a year of rebuilding post pandemic with three well attended events:

The house and gardens of Kilmacurragh - 6 October 2023 at Carrick Hill
Evening talk to raise funds for the Australian Museum of Gardening planned for Carrick Hill.  Seamus Obrien, Head Gardener, Kilmacurragh (part of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland) spoke of this seventeenth century estate developed by the Acton family with its remnant Dutch water garden and its extraordinary arboretum of specimen trees sourced from major planter hunter.  Located near Wicklow, south of Dublin, Seamus shared not only the exciting restoration plans for the house and garden but the vital link this estate has with Australia.

Hidden Gardens SA - 18 October 2023
AGHS members were both volunteers and visitors to this highly successful event in its third year raising much needed funds for Carrick Hill’s garden. The event featured four Stirling private gardens of exceptional interest to lovers of historic and contemporary gardens available only to 750 ticket holders.

End of year Garden Party for Branch members and guests - 10 December 2023
Held at member Marjorie Brown’s Glenunga garden, stormy weather caused the party to take place in the summer house where nearly 30 members gathered to celebrate the end of a good year and the beginning of the festive season with delicious snacks and wine.

Richard Heathcote
SA Branch Chair