2025 Spring Garden Competition

There will be seven (7) categories within the competition.

• Overall Best Garden:

(a) The majority of which is Individually Maintained

(b) The majority of which is Professionally Maintained

• Best small balcony and courtyard garden: This is using ornaments, pots, planter boxes with walled gardens etc.
• Best native inspired ‘habitat-friendly’ garden: This is with Australian natives and habitat elements to encourage native fauna such as birds, lizards, possums and insects.
• Best streetscape garden: A garden area adjacent to the street which may include the entry gate or pathway leading to the front door of the residence.
• Best beautified or maintained public space: This could also be a contribution made by a group of volunteers at a recognised bushcare site or where local community organisations have worked together to utilise garden space and improve and beautify the amenity.
• Best school garden: We encourage local pre schools, primary schools and high schools where students and teachers have worked together to enter this category.

Entries is FREE for all residents living within the Hunters Hill municipality.

All entrants will receive:

• FREE MULCH from Council. Please email Hugh at info@huntershill.nsw.gov.au to confirm collection and provide proof of entry to the competition.
• FREE plant from Giant Step Greenhouse Project
• FREE ENTRY to Awards Evening with guest speakers Sandra and Graham Ross AO on Thursday 30 October, with light supper and drinks.
• FREE professional PHOTOS of winning gardens

Prizes for winning gardens include plaques, vouchers, gardening accessories and plants. 

Competition entries will open Tuesday 1 July and close on Friday 17 October 2025. 

Judging will take place from 20 to 23 October with the Awards Evening on Thursday 30 October from 5.30pm at the Boronia Park Sports and Community Facility.

An Open Day will be held on Sunday 9 November from 10am until 3.30pm, commencing from the Hunters Hill Town Hall. Residents will be invited to view the winning gardens as well as other beautiful showcase gardens in the municipality, not entered in the competition.

Judging will take place from Monday 20 October until Thursday 23 October. Click here to book you preferred day time.

All entries will be judged by a panel of professional gardeners and horticulturists based on three main factors:

• Maintenance - covering well-presented lawns and clipped scrubs, considered water usage and overall attention to detail.
• Design - covering aspects such as layout, colour, use of line, form, texture and plant use.
• Intent - which is the active participation of the entrant, level of knowledge and enthusiasm and extent of third-party assistance.

Online tickets for the Open Garden Day will be available to purchase from Friday 1 August.

Following the Hunters Hill Spring Garden Competition Awards Evening, an Open Garden Day will take place on Sunday 9 November 2025 from 10am until 3.30pm, commencing at the Hunters Hill Town Hall Forecourt, showcasing the winning gardens. 

Tickets to view the open gardens can be purchased at $30 per person in advance online or on the day from the Rotary tent at the Forecourt. A wristband and map will be issued to all ticket holders to ensure entry in all gardens. For those who have pre-purchased tickets online, they must register at the Town Hall Forecourt to receive their wristband and map.

The Open Day will showcase the winning entries as well other iconic historical estate gardens in the suburb not entered in the competition including Bayfield, Kyhilla and Wybalena gardens.

Buy a ticket here

Thank you to Tracey Dixon and Matt Ward from McGrath Real Estate Hunters Hill for their ongoing support and sponsorship for this event. 

Sponsors wishing to be involved in supporting the competition are welcome and all funds raised during the competition will be dedicated to the maintenance of the ‘Hillman Orchard’ located behind historic Vienna Cottage, at 38 Alexandra Street Hunters Hill.

The funds are to restore and provide for ongoing maintenance in order to retain a vital and welcome space for the community and complementing the National Trust listed heritage Vienna Cottage.

Enquiries should be directed to Rotary Club of Hunters Hill - 

rotaryhuntershill@gmail.com

Rotary Club of Hunters Hill, contact:

Email: rotaryhuntershill@gmail.com