Garden Insights - Kiambram Country Cottages

Garden Insights + Share Table

Kiambram Country Cottages presented by Michelle and Adam 

Sunday 2 March 2025

2.00 pm - 4.30 pm

at Gowie Little Plain Q 4352 (address will be provided when you book)

This event is organised by Permaculture Toowoomba Inc.

Bookings are Essential

Please book so we have your contact details and know how many will be attending.

What We'll Do

We’ll start at 2.00 pm with a welcome and introduction. We like to visit a range of different gardens, each as unique as the gardeners who live there. It’s wonderful to see the diverse garden styles, approaches, and plants that can be grown in our bioregion.

This month we'll visit Michelle and Adam Purse's 13.5 Ha property where they live a self-reliant country lifestyle.

What We'll See 

• You will be able to see how Michelle and Adam have cleared the property of boxthorn and lantana and regenerated a diverse species eucalyptus orgadoplila with vine scrub country allowing wildlife to move back and thrive. 
• How directing overland flow has assisted this and improved topsoil. 
• How the diversion into tourism has affected the historic layout for vege gardens and animals and the challenges of this more recent change.
  

"The Garden" is really the whole property of 13.5 Ha while the formal gardening is close around the buildings where Michelle and Adam are trying to learn about the resources and food the endemic plants have traditionally offered. Their balance has shifted from prioritising grazing animals to looking after the natural landscape. Their current project is labelling specimens to help educate visitors and ourselves. They want to build on knowledge of the interconnectedness of the flora, fauna and people.

The Story Behind the Garden (a few words from Michelle and Adam)

Over thirty years ago we named this land “Kiambram” (meaning dense forest in aboriginal language). A place to bring up our family, giving them a self-reliant country lifestyle and be able to continue our involvement with horses and cattle. Hailing from North Queensland savannah and rain forests we appreciated the remnant vine scrub flora and soon began returning our steeper lands to nature.

Our circa 1910 home we now call Gumnut Cottage was relocated from Hume Street, Toowoomba to make way for Chalk Drive opposite Queens Park. Transport was rough, especially the dozer tow up the hill but worth the view and sheltered winter aspect! We decided to share this spot with guests after years of visitors routinely getting out of their cars and commenting on the views and peacefulness.

https://www.kiambram.com.au/

Other important things to know.

Please carpool if possible.

Please be mindful of our guests' privacy and noise levels when in the cabin area.

Afternoon Tea (provided)

A light afternoon tea will be provided (including Gluten Free and Vegan options).

What to Bring

• KeepCup or similar for your drink at afternoon tea (we're trying to minimise waste) 
• Chair
• Water bottle
• Sun protection
• Clothes and footwear suitable for outdoor weather conditions
• Donations of surplus produce for the Share Table

Share Table

Do you have surplus?

We encourage you to bring your surplus produce, plants, seeds, books, craft supplies, and resources to share with others at our events.

Some ideas of what you could bring include – fruit, vegetables, herbs, eggs, honey, milk, jams, pickles, preserves, jars, ferments, starters, SCOBYs, seeds, plants, seedlings, cuttings, tubers, pots, tools, gardening magazines, permaculture books, recipes, patterns, manure, coffee grounds, compost additives, worms, mealworms, wool, fabric, craft supplies, soap, natural cleaning products, plastic alternatives, produce bags – the list is extensive.

Please bring whatever you can and then take home whatever you need within our culture of generosity and free sharing.

Directions and Parking

Follow Google Maps to the address provided - or there is a link on the footer of the website. https://www.kiambram.com.au/

It is 320 metres from the intersection of Sunrise and Glencoe-Yalangur Roads. Via Gowrie-Lilyvale, then Heiligs Road is best. Sunrise Road is the only dirt road you should travel on.

There's roadside parking across from the entrance gate on the southern side and just above it on the northern side. 

Those with strollers etc can park on the level platform inside the gate. 

As we have guests booked in the cabins that weekend we'll arrange it to suit their privacy and access. Basically at this stage suffice to say follow signs and markers at the entrance gate.

Access

While the level lawn platform and shed thereon is where we'll meet and have afternoon tea, to get from there to anywhere else including the toilet requires negotiating gravel, hill and steps. We have had less mobile visitors eg. with the field naturalists, still enjoy themselves and able to view quite a bit from their vehicles.

Children are always welcome with close adult supervision for their safety.

We hope we see you there!

Cost

• Financial Members of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. - Free
• First-time Visitors to a Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. Event - $10 per person
• Non-Members - $20 per person
• Children attending with an Adult - Free (but please book so we know the total numbers)

Membership 2025 - Now Due

Annual Membership of Permaculture Toowoomba Inc. is due by 31 December each year. It's only $50 per person or $40 for a second or subsequent adult living in the same home.  

Financial Members can attend events and workshops during the year at no cost. 

You can pay your membership for 2025 at checkout when you book to attend this event.

Membership forms will be available at the event for anyone wishing to join, or available here for download at http://www.permaculturetoowoomba.com.au/membership/