Preparations are underway for the 2023 Queensland Garden Expo, one of Australia’s most-loved gardening events, which attracts close to 40,000 visitors each year and injects more than $10 million into the regional economy.
With more than 360 exhibitors offering an extensive range of gardening-related knowledge, products and plants, this year’s award-winning, three-day event on the Sunshine Coast will once again have something for every gardener, no matter how experienced they are at nurturing a garden.
Event chairman, Simon Smith said the team was looking forward to seeing Nambour Showgrounds once again transform into a flourishing seven hectares of gardening inspiration, knowledge sharing and community on 7 July.
“The expo is not just a marketplace with more than 50,000 plants on sale each day, but also a chance to chat with growers and access the best gardening minds in the country,” said Mr Smith.
“We have Australia’s largest gardening speaker program with more than 100 free lectures and demonstrations across eight live speaker stages featuring Gardening Australia’s Sophie Thomson and Jerry Coleby-Williams as well as crowd favourites Phil Dudman, Claire Bickle, Kate Wall, and many more.”
Event manager Marion Beazley said this year’s event would offer something for everyone.
“The expo covers all corners of the backyard from a feature on keeping domestic chickens to organic veggie growing in the Giant Kitchen Garden,” Ms Beazley said.
The Giant Kitchen Garden is a collaboration of many gardening and permaculture groups from across the Sunshine Coast region, coming together to help create a piece of gardening paradise.
“But it’s not just about the great outdoors – indoor plants and floral arranging is more popular than ever and we’ve got extensive information, products and displays.
“This year, the expo will play host to the Australian Floral Art Association’s National Convention that will showcase the floral art competition, Nature’s Expression, expected to leave visitors in awe of the beauty and creativity that can blossom from floral arrangements.
“The national convention and competition will attract floral artists from all over Australia and we anticipate anywhere up to 100 competition entries along with state designs and state demonstrations to be held on stage at the expo.”
“Of course, our budding gardeners haven’t been overlooked with plenty of activities and workshops designed just for kids that will help kickstart their gardening journey.”
The Queensland Garden Expo, which first opened its gates in 1985, has become a much-loved Sunshine Coast tradition for the most experienced green thumbs and absolute gardening beginners alike.
“This event not only brings the community together in celebration of gardening, but also has a massive impact on the local economy, with around 65 per cent of visitors travelling from outside the region,“ Ms Beazley said.
“The expo is hosted by the Nursery & Gardening Industry Queensland and while we are a not-for-profit event, we inject more than $10 million into the local economy through accommodation, hospitality, flights, retail and a range of community organisations. We’d like to thank our amazing volunteers and presenting partner Queensland Country Bank who we are delighted have come on board this year – we could not do it without you.”
The 2023 Queensland Garden Expo will be held from 7-9 July at the Nambour Showgrounds, Coronation Avenue, Nambour.
Entry is free for kids aged 15 and under with a giant kids’ playground to keep them entertained.
To find out more and purchase tickets online, visit qldgardenexpo.com.au.
FAST FACTS
· Three-day event from 7-9 July.
· 40,000-plus attendees.
· 65 percent visitation from outside the Sunshine Coast region.
· More than 7ha of gardening inspiration.
· 360-plus exhibitors and displays, including 55 nurseries.
· 100-plus free lectures and demonstrations.
· Eight live speaker stages.
· 50,000 plants for sale each day.
· More than $10m injected into the local economy.
