Australian floral treasures will be on display at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London.
Journey Beyond, the South Australian Tourism Commission and Tourism Western Australia have partnered to bring an Australian garden to the prestigious show in May (19-23), after their joint bid to present a small show garden was accepted by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Titled Journey Beyond the Tracks: from Adelaide to Perth, the display will convey the diversity of landscapes passengers see during along the route of the Indian Pacific, one of the world’s epic rail journeys, along with the foliage and greenery found in Adelaide and Perth.
It will be arranged and presented by award-winning gardener Max Parker-Smith, who commented: “I see this garden as a compelling platform to celebrate the diverse landscapes of South Australia and Western Australia.
“By incorporating distinctive materials and the warm, earthy hues of the outback, alongside a thoughtfully curated selection of native inspired planting, the garden aims to evoke the spirit and identity of both states.”
At the heart of the garden is a striking central structure, echoing the form and interior of an Indian Pacific train carriage. One side captures the shrub plains of the Western Australian outback, featuring tiered sand beds and resilient native plantings, while the other reflects Adelaide’s identity as a National Park City, showcasing its green urban vision with trees, natural water corridors and layered vegetation.
Added Smith: “It will be a rich storytelling vehicle that blends travel, horticulture, and Australian innovation, promoting tourism, sustainability and regional identity through the design.”
Emma Terry, CEO, South Australian Tourism Commission said: “British holidaymakers visit, on average, at least two states or territories when they visit Australia and those travelling here are always looking at exciting ways to connect different parts of the country.
“The Indian Pacific offers a wonderful way to combine the National Park City of Adelaide with the nature city of Perth, and our garden at the Chelsea Flower Show will share that story – inspiring people to book this epic trip.
“Our involvement in the project also allows us to share the wider story of Adelaide and South Australia – our commitment to sustainable and regenerative principles, the city’s proximity to world class wineries and national parks teeming with native wildlife and our welcoming locals who value living well instead of living large.”
Western Australia Tourism Minister, the Hon. Reece Whitby MLA, said: “Western Australia’s beauty will be showcased at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“Through our partnership with Journey Beyond and the South Australian Tourism Commission, we hope to give the UK a taste of WA and inspire travellers to visit and explore our unique state.
“Perth is Australia’s closest city to the UK and the only Australian city offering direct flights.”
Sustainable materials are being used throughout the display, including reclaimed timber, ochre-toned eco-concrete, natural stone, aggregate, and low-carbon metals — grounding the garden in both environmental responsibility and regional character.
Once the RHS Chelsea Flower Show concludes The Journey Beyond the Tracks garden will be re-homed sustainably. All the plants will be replanted by The Royal Parks in Kensington Gardens London.
The hard structural elements of the garden will be used by the horticultural team at Longleat in Wiltshire, where its team of gardeners will create an Australian garden space to complement the estate’s existing Koala Creek experience. This opened in 201, with the arrival of southern koalas from South Australia, the first of their kind in Europe.
