Fetherston Gardens - Background

These gardens were designed and developed as the former Canberra Institute of Technology Horticulture College in Heysen Street, Weston which was opened in 1974.  In the gardens, which have been named after the first and longest serving Head of the Horticulture College, Tony Fetherston, there is a well-established arboretum, a woodlands garden, and an enclosed "secret garden".  The CIT's Weston campus was closed in 2002, and the gardens ceased being a purpose-built educational facility.  Several years later, in 2009, in response to representations from the WCCC, the ACT Government dropped its plans to redevelop the site for residential purposes, and handed the land back to the Weston Creek Community for use as a community facility, while the former classroom buildings became part of the Canberra Islamic School.

The WCCC is working with the Friends of the CIT/Fetherston Gardens to coordinate the community's participation in the garden redevelopment project. The current goal of the WCCC and the Friends of the Gardens, in conjunction with the Parks, Conservation and Lands Department of the ACT Government, is to bring the gardens back to a condition where they can again be open to the public.

The Friends of Fetherston Gardens hold regular working bees to continue with the Garden development and also to ensure that it is well maintained for use by the community.

Dates and times are published in the Council's 'Community Event's' Calendar (see left hand column). You can also place yourself on a mailing list to receive the latest updates on happenings.

You can contact the Friends here