Open Gardens Canberra – Grants Program

Open Gardens Canberra – Grants Program

Applications for the Grants program in 2026 are now closed. Successful projects in the 2026 round will be announced soon.

Each financial year, Open Gardens Canberra has funding available from our operating surplus to assist with the establishment of a project or projects that meet our core values.

We offer grants of up to $5,000 for creative, community-driven gardening projects. Types of projects that could be considered include but are not limited to:

  • Restoration of native woodlands
  • Projects that will enhance a streetscape
  • Projects that will improve the garden experience for the disabled
  • Garden education projects
  • Making open gardens available to a wider audience through technology.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this grant, applicants must demonstrate:

1. Applicant Eligibility:  Applicants must be a nonprofit organisation, community group, or an individual engaging the wider community in horticulture.

2. Project Location:  The project must be located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)/ Queanbeyan region.

3. Budget:  The budget must show value for money and how the funds will be used.

4. Community Benefit:  The project must show lasting benefits for the community through gardening or garden education.

5. Ecological Sustainability:  The project must show lasting ecological benefits.

2025 Projects

In 2025 we funded 4 projects:

  • St Vincent’s Primary School – Sustainability Garden Project. $2084 to transform an under-utilised garden area at Aranda into a sustainable garden for children at the school, with the vision to also engage the local aged residents from a neighbouring retirement village. Four existing raised beds of various heights will be rejuvenated and planted out, while also adding some propagating equipment, large pots, fruit trees, compost bins and worm farms.
  • The Barnardos Canberra Children Family Centre – Community Garden. $2961 to establish a vegetable garden that engages disadvantaged children and families in the design and construction of five raised beds on the family centre site at Downer, including garden bed kits, soil, gravel, seeds and seedlings.
  • Hawker Community Landcare – Continuation of Hawker Community Garden. $1231 to assist the Hawker Community Garden, located adjacent to the Hawker shops, with seed, seedlings and soil rejuvenation for next season’s planting. Plus tea and coffee equipment and supplies for morning tea workshops.
  • Canberra High School P & C– Bush Food Garden. $2100 to establish a bush food garden on the school campus at Macquarie with soils, compost, mulch, sustainable pathways, seeds, plants and drip irrigation.  The Garden will create an innovative and immersive educational resource for students, staff and the broader school community.

2024 Projects

In 2024 we funded 4 projects:

  • Belgravia Foundation received $2,540 to construct and make operational six wicking beds for an all-access community garden located at Lakeside Leisure Centre Tuggeranong. The funds partnered with other contributions and were used to purchase soil, compost, perlite, framing, cladding and hardware fittings.
  • The Memorial Garden at Robert Comb Gardens was provided $600 to purchase materials to enhance the northern approach to the Robert Comb Memorial in Stirling.
  • Lions Youth Haven was funded $2,150 to expand its gardening health and cooking program at Kambah, which runs in partnership with local high schools and which targets youth who are at-risk or disengaged in the mainstream school system. The funds were used to purchase edible Australian plants and a range of equipment.
  • A small Tomodachi inspired garden in Wanniassa received $300 to purchase soil, fertilisers and related materials to enable a group of primary school aged friends to learn to raise vegetables and use the produce.

Examples of previously funded projects

  • Croke Place Wetlands Land Care Group. Construction of 3 seats to provide rest and pleasant viewing for visitors.
  • Friends of Dryandra Woodlands. Towards restoration of 16 ha of urban park bushland in Bruce.
  • St Dominic’s Garden, Holy Rosary Church. Constructing a 60th anniversary commemorative garden and revitalisation of existing garden beds.
  • Construction of the Bonner Verge Garden with two planter boxes constructed on the verge.
  • Canberra High School. Construction of three large raised garden beds outside their Technology block, planted with a range of winter crops that are commonly used in their Food Technology classes
  • Donation of advanced trees to Featherston Gardens in Weston to replace some they lost during the drought.
  • Approval of other community-based garden projects including works at Canberra City Farm and a bush aviary for Wildcare in Queanbeyan.