Pop-up garden celebrates industry grounded in community
29 August 2025
The Victorian horticulture industry came together to transform Queen’s Hall at Parliament House into a spectacular garden.
‘The design intent of this garden was to create a space that showed the diversity of Victorian horticulture,’ said Emily Rubira, a landscape designer who worked to bring the garden to life.
The pop-up installation drew upon elements of contemporary Australian gardens and incorporated locally grown plants from Victorian growers and nurseries.
‘We have included bulbs, natives, exotics, just trying to capture and show what Victoria has to offer in the horticulture space.’
The creation and installation of the garden was a community effort.
‘We went out, met with the growers, got to see what's looking really good this time of year and what they’re trying to share with the community.’
The pop-up garden was put together in Queen’s Hall on Monday as the centrepiece of the Victorian Horticultural Showcase, with community volunteers banding together to unload and assemble the display in a few hours.
The showcase was a celebration of Victorian plants, growers and landscapers, and gave those in the middle of a busy sitting week the opportunity to pause and appreciate a vibrant natural display.
‘If that helps start a conversation about how important the industry is and making a greener Victoria, then we're doing what we need to be doing here,’ Ms Rubira said.
This was the sixth iteration of the showcase at Parliament House.
‘Creating the garden allows the Members to walk past and stop for a moment and just appreciate what we have to offer in the horticultural space,’ Ms Rubira said.
‘It's been really nice to talk to a lot of the Members and, you know, hear their stories about what they love about gardens and gardening and being outdoors in nature and horticulture.’
The showcase was organised by Nursery and Garden Industry Victoria, the peak body for the Victorian horticulture industry.
‘This really provides us the opportunity to showcase what we do,’ CEO Craig Taberner said. ‘It brings an element of oxygen, colour and smiles to Parliament.’
The body represents a $2.5 billion industry which employs over 24,000 people.
‘35% of green life is actually generated from Victoria,’ Mr Taberner said. ‘We are the leader in this space.'
He noted climate change and affordable, liveable housing as two key matters of significance to the industry.
‘We know climate change is here and real. Our cities are getting more vulnerable to heat, but of course with our product, with turf, with trees and canopy cover, we can reduce that urban heat island effect, so I think that's the critical element that we bring and to remind the community.’
