The Kevin Heinze Grow Story
The late Kevin Heinze was a well-known and much-loved celebrity gardener who innately recognised the value of plants and gardening for human health and wellbeing.
Working with the Kiwanis Club of Doncaster and Templestowe, Kevin established the Kevin Heinze Garden Centre in 1979 as a place where people with disabilities could come together to learn about the value of gardening.
The Doncaster/Templestowe Council (now Manningham Council) supported the initiative by securing the lease on the site in Wetherby Rd where the Centre still thrives today.
In 2019, the second Kevin Heinze Grow site opened at Peppertree Place in Coburg in Melbourne’s inner north.
At this beautiful urban oasis Kevin Heinze Grow delivers its unique therapeutic programs to people in the Moreland area, allowing them to form the same health-giving connections to nature, gardening and community that were central to Kevin’s original vision.
In its early days, the Kevin Heinze Garden Centre relied heavily on a dedicated team of volunteers.
Today, volunteer support remains a fundamental part of the culture providing support to our growing and diversely qualified and experienced professional staff team.
Kevin Heinze Grow celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2019 with a number of awards and accolades as well as becoming officially recognised as a large charity.
- Most Outstanding Disability Service in Australasia at the Disability Update Enablement Awards
- Highly Commended in the Community Achievement Award at Manningham Civic Awards
- Nominated in the Hesta Community Sector Awards
We now deliver over 750 hours of individual service each week to over 70 individual participants. We have a team of more than 40 passionate, dedicated and well-trained staff, and an annual turnover which officially classifies us as a large charity.
