Pittwater Life September 2020 Issue

Garden Life
Garden Life
End of an era for Wirreanda
Local gardener and
landscaper supplier
Wirreanda Nursery at
Ingleside is closing its doors
after almost 42 years of
operation.
To mark the occasion,
the sprawling familyowned
nursery, tucked
away in bushland on the
western side of Mona Vale
Road between the Bahai
Temple and Kimbriki tip, is
holding a Closing Down sale
commencing in September.
Wirreanda specialises in
native plant stock, but also
supplies exotics.
Owner and operator Laura
Winder said it would be a sad
day for the staff at Wirreanda
when they closed, especially
for those who had dedicated
most of their working lives to
the business.
She explained Wirreanda
began as a modest operation
more than four decades ago.
“Howard and Judy Smith
first bought the nursery in
April 1979 as a small nursery,
growing plants suited to
the Northern Beaches area,”
Laura said. “It was known
locally as the $2 nursery.
“They sold it in 1998 upon
retirement to the McGuinness
family who in turn sold it
to the current owners, the
Winders, in November 2009.
The nursery has always
been owned and operated
by families living in the local
community.
“The growing area now
under irrigation covers about
5 acres of land. We have
developed a unique style of
operating as both a wholesale
and retail nursery, opening
from 5 days to 7 days a
week, with a customer base
that covers most of Sydney
and includes landscapers,
councils, golf clubs and the
home gardener.”
Laura said one of the
more challenging recent
projects had been working
with longtime customer
Taronga Zoo for the growing
and supply of plants for the
newly built Sumatran Tiger
enclosure.
Another rewarding project
had been helping Elanora
Country Club re-establish
the bush surrounding its golf
course with well over 100
native NSW Waratah Trees
that were indigenous to the
area.
“Our customer base has
always been very loyal
and diverse and includes
members of the community
of all ages, from the novice
to the expert,” she said.
“We wish to thank them for
their ongoing support over
the years and hopefully
we will leave a generation
of gardening enthusiasts
behind!”
Laura said she was looking
forward to “a bit of a break”
before exploring new
opportunities in the New
Year.
The Wirreanda Closing
Down Sale will continue until
stocks last. – Nigel Wall
* More info
wirreandanursery.com.au
80 SEPTEMBER 2020
The Local Voice Since 1991