2026 Garden Competition Winners

Winners of the eagerly anticipated and hotly contested Tablelands Garden Competition were announced today at a ceremony at Tablelands Regional Council’s Ordinary Council Meeting.

This year’s judges, Tablelands Regional Council councillors Dave Bilney and Maree Baade and community judge, Nicky Goudberg from the Tableland Garden Group were very impressed with the standard of the gardens on offer this year.

Deputy Mayor Dave Bilney, representing the judging panel, said selecting finalists was really tough because all the gardens were fantastic. “There were entries across multiple categories, including commercial garden, community gardens, rural gardens, home gardens and edible gardens. We travelled across the region, covering Atherton, Herberton, Kairi, Millaa Milla, Tolga, Upper Barron and Yungaburra.”

“The unique variety of gardens is because of our region’s range of climate and unique natural environments, that made it difficult to judge. The panel were all amazed by the pride and passion the participants have for their gardens. I congratulate not only the winners of each category, but also everyone who nominated and anyone who spends time in their garden,’ said the Deputy Mayor.

WINNING GARDENS

Commercial Garden Award — Sponsored by Lakeside Garden Centre

Winner — Herberton Historic Village

 Community Garden Award

First Place — Herberton Garden Club — Sponsored by the Lakeside Garden Centre

Second Place — Kairi State School — Sponsored by S&K Raw Materials

Special Mention — Sponsored by the Millaa Millaa Garden Club

Special Mention — Sponsored by the Tolga Historical Society

Rural Garden Award

First Place — Lynette & Mick Ferraro, Northey Road, Tolga — Sponsored by Ravenshoe Hardware

Second Place — Mark and Dallas Roesler, Mooma Road, Upper Barron — Sponsored by Seven Sisters Plant Co

Home Garden Award

First Place — Cath Archer, Bunya Street, Yungaburra — Sponsored by Tajenka Orchid Gardens

Second Place — Anne Naylor and Mike Bulling, Loder Street, Atherton — Sponsored by Lakeside Garden Centre

Edible Garden Award

First — Anne Naylor and Mike Bulling, Loder Street, Atherton — Sponsored by the Tableland Hardware Community Chest Program

Second — Melissa Booth, Robertson Close, Atherton — Sponsored by Lakeside Garden Centre

Champion Garden Award — Sponsored by Burrawong Garden

Winners — Lynette and Mick Ferraro, Northey Road, Tolga

People’s Choice Award — Sponsored by Little Trix

First Place — Herberton Garden Club with 41 community votes

Second Place — Webster Street Atherton and Millaa Millaa Garden Club (joint winners, with both nominees receiving 35 votes).