| Genre: | Lifestyle |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Num Series: | 34 |
| Runtime: | 30 minutes 60 minutes |
| Network: | ABC1 |
| Last Aired: | present |
Gardening Australia is an Australian lifestyle television program which suggests and promotes organic and environmentally friendly ways of gardening. It is created by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and airs on ABC TV, in an hour-long weekly show each Friday evening.
A monthly magazine, Gardening Australia, was spawned by the show.
The series has its origins in 1969 as It's Growing, with five minute segments broadcast ahead of the Sunday night news on ABT2 in Hobart. It was hosted by Peter Cundall, an experienced gardener with a passion for growing plants using organic methods. He had hosted a gardening talkback segment on ABC radio in Hobart since 1967. It was renamed Landscape in 1972 and extended to 15 minutes per episode.
The format was adapted into Gardening Australia in 1990, broadcast nationally with the format expanded to 30 minutes per episode. It was still hosted by Cundall with other gardening experts from around Australia. Stephen Ryan succeeded Cundall in 2009.[1] After three years as host, Ryan's contract was not renewed by ABC. Costa Georgiadis was announced as the new host in December 2011 for the 2012 series.[2]
In addition to the host, each episode contains segments which are recorded across Australia with local presenters.
the presenters are:[3]
| Presenter | Years Active | State |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Cundall | 1990–2009 | TAS |
| Colin Campbell | 1990–2011 | QLD |
| John Patrick | 2002–2017 | VIC |
| Angus Stewart | 2004–2016[4] | NSW |
| Meredith Kirton | 2006–2009 | NSW |
| Stephen Ryan | 2009–2011 | VIC |
| Leonie Norrington | 2003–2010 | NT |
| Mary Moody | c. 2000 | NSW |
| Melissa King | c. 2005 | NSW |
| Tino Carnevale | 2007–2022[5] | TAS |
| Guest Presenter | Year | State | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indira Naidoo | 2017 | NSW | |
| Carolyn Blackman | 2017 | VIC | |
| Paul West | 2018 | VIC |
Cundall had a segment called Pete's Mailbag where viewers could ask questions or send in photographs or letters about their own gardens.
The show has several segments, which include all forms of gardening, from sculptural and artistic gardens to vegetable growing and xeriscaping. Most segments are filmed on location.
The program has an Ask It/Solve It section where people can submit their garden questions/problems to be answered by the presenters.
The 6 Bed Rotation Vegetable Crop (formerly 'Pete's Patch') at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is still in the show, now called 'The Vegie Patch' with Tino Carnevale presenting.[6]
The Vegie Guide is a new feature which suggests a range of vegetables that can be planted each month, in the broad climate zones around Australia.
In 2023, the ABC announced a brand new Gardening Australia spinoff series titled Gardening Australia Junior, a gardening series for kids that would air on Friday nights at 7:05 pm and feature 20 episodes. Costa Georgiadis hosts the program and is featured alongside Gardening Australia presenters Clarence Slockee, Hannah Moloney and Tammy Huynh.[7] [8]
Gardening Australia is a monthly magazine published by the ABC and marketed by ABC Commercial, featuring articles by presenters on the show.[9] [10]
Gardening Australia won the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Audience Choice Award for Favourite Entertainment Show in 2021,[11] and the AACTA Best Lifestyle Program in 2022[12] and 2024.[13]