A recent trip to the city revealed some floral spectacle in front of the Melbourne Town Hall. It is a visually fascinating and delightful experience, seeing the splendid autumn colours on full display. The plants used here include various types of heuchera (commonly known as coral bells), coleus, salvia, and marigold. These are tough yet beautiful plants, suitable for dappled shade (such as the footpath in front of the town hall), although salvia and marigold would prefer a bit more sun.
Back in February 2025, I went to the city to see the musical Dear Evan Hansen and was so bedazzled by the horticultural display here that I contacted the City of Melbourne about it. Back then it was more of a herbs and vegetables theme — soaring corn plants with fat cubs and flowy tassels, sunflowers in full bloom, nasturtiums, marigolds, many types of vegetables and herbs (e.g. kale, lemon balm, parsley and chives), and even strawberry plants.
Eventually someone from the city’s horticultural team responded to my inquiry. This person, whose surname begins with a “D”, started as an apprentice in 1990. He is now responsible for the design and implementation of all displays at the town hall, and for all of Melbourne’s high-profile gardens.
D explained that in the past, he and his crew would arrange the “stock” in metal crates (approximately 1 square metre in size) surrounded by straw bales “to evoke the feeling of a rural vegetable patch”. But the vegetables on display were often picked by members of the public on the day of installation (free zucchinis, snow peas, and capsicums!).
These days the “stock” is grown off-site and then delivered and planted into timber fruit crates, which are placed on-site to create an instant look. According to D, the displays used to change every month, showcasing plants within their growing season. These days there are 9 displays per year, “due to the ever-increasing demand on the space at Town Hall for events and alike, and in order to be as practical and as sustainable as possible”.
I wrote an article back then but didn’t publish it, because I never received permission from D. I guess he was too busy to worry about publicity, and perhaps too humble to have his expertise featured in our local newspaper. I am sure glad to have a chance to write about it now!
Image credits: Me.
Voices under the Sun 陽光下的聲音 