Curtin shop gardens makeover completed

After more than five years of planning and several hours of work by community volunteers, the Curtin shop garden’s much needed makeover has been completed.

What was once an area that was covered in overgrown ivy is now a fully landscaped square, much to the delight of shoppers and nearby residents.

Founding member of the Curtin Shops Garden Group, Judith Gates, said the number of people using the square has skyrocketed since the makeover.

“There’s been lots of mums with prams buying coffee, and lots of people sitting there reading books as well,” she said.

“We’ve found that there’s been a variety of people using the space.”

Work began on reinvigorating the area after a group of Curtin residents met several years ago to discuss the state of the run-down area, with more than 30 residents forming the action group.

“We got a group of friends together and met to talk about getting the ivy removed, and then we started to liaise with the ACT government,” Mrs Gates said.

While the ACT government supplied a grant to help with the renewal project, most of the $10,000 needed for the work was donated by volunteers.

After consulting with local builders and landscapers for the project, construction work began in July.

“We now have an open area with new trees to replace the dead ones from before, and we have two garden seats which look at the John Curtin Memorial Wall," Mrs Gates said.

While the construction work finished in December, the final plants as part of the garden were planted last Saturday at an opening ceremony.

Mrs Gates said the project to give the square at Curtin shops a new lease on life has brought many members of the community together.

“It was many people that were in the garden group that became part of the Curtin Turns 50 Party that took place several months ago,” she said.

“There’s lots of people using the area now, whereas before it was just a patch of ivy.”