11 April 2022

Goulburn’s reigning citizen of the year has described as a “win-win” a move by TAFE NSW to cultivate a new chapter for the city’s historic Belmore Park glasshouse.

The glasshouse, which for half a century was a popular showcase of the region’s flowers and plants, sat idle for more than a decade before TAFE NSW Goulburn recently offered to resurrect it to its former glory and use it as a tool to train the next generation of horticulturalists.

Goulburn Mulwaree’s 2022 Citizen of the Year Heather West, a well-known gardening figure in the district who first approached TAFE NSW with the idea of reviving the iconic glasshouse, said the move would save ratepayers money and return the glasshouse to its glory days.

“This is a real win-win for the community and for the horticulture industry and I’m delighted TAFE NSW is supporting it,” Mrs West said.

“The glasshouse was a focal point for visitors and locals for many decades. The current glasshouse opened in 1990, replacing one on the site that stood since 1959, and it’s great a new generation of horticulturalists will be able to learn hands-on skills there.”

As part of the arrangement, Certificate II and III in Horticulture students from TAFE NSW Goulburn and Moss Vale will maintain and propagate the plants, and host a 10-week show each season.

TAFE NSW horticulture teacher Tim Dally said it would help ensure students gain the practical, in-demand skills and real-world work experience to thrive in the industry.

“Students will do everything from the planting schedule to actually growing and maintaining the plants,” Mr Dally said.

“It will also be invaluable for them to learn things like WHS and risk assessments as it’s happening in the public domain.

“This is another great example of the real-world skills TAFE NSW gives its students as it trains the workforce of the future.”

According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, the gardening services industry is set for strong growth in the next three years, generating annual revenue of nearly $3 billion by 2024.

Mr Dally said the project would in future also include input from TAFE NSW Certificate III in Landscape Construction students.

To explore the range of courses available at TAFE NSW and via TAFE Digital, visit www.tafensw.edu.au or phone 131 601 for more information.

Media contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, mobile 0477 722 428