New host for Gardening Australia

The ABC has announced a permanent host for Gardening Australia, following the retirement of Peter Cundall.

He is Stephen Ryan (pictured left), Victorian horticulturalist, author and broadcaster.

Ryan has appeared a number of times on the show featuring his garden ‘Tugurium’ in Macedon, Victoria. He has also been a regular on ABC Radio.

“I am really excited to be joining the Gardening Australia team,” he said. “It is without doubt the best program of its type in Australia and to be given the host job is a highlight of my career. I hope that the team and I will take the program to even greater heights of excellence and build on its strong foundations well into the future.”

Ryan’s first episode airs on Saturday January 31, in the show’s 20th year.

Press Release:
ABC TV is pleased to announce Victorian horticulturalist, author and broadcaster Stephen Ryan as the new host of its perennial gardening program Gardening Australia.

Stephen replaces Peter Cundall who retired from the program earlier this year.

Stephen said, “I am really excited to be joining the Gardening Australia team. It is without doubt the best program of its type in Australia and to be given the host job is a highlight of my career. I hope that the team and I will take the program to even greater heights of excellence and build on its strong foundations well into the future.”

Executive Producer Tim Mitchell said, “It’s an exciting prospect to have a new face and such a highly regarded plantsman take the helm of Gardening Australia.

“Stephen’s deep knowledge, enthusiasm and energy is bound to inspire gardeners around the country and his special interest in rare plants will add a new dimension to the program.

“Gardening Australia will be celebrating its 20th year on air in 2009, so it’s timely Stephen will usher in a new era of a much-loved program.”

Stephen developed an interest in horticulture at the ripe old age of ten when he started working in his father’s nursery.

After completing a Gardening and Turf Management apprenticeship, and achieving an Award of Merit as the top Victorian apprentice, Stephen was awarded two scholarships, one in the UK and the other in New Zealand. When he returned to Australia, he ran his family’s nursery until he started his own in 1980. He has been a passionate plant collector ever since.

In 2002 Stephen was awarded a Radio Laurel by the Horticultural Media Association for his segments on ABC Radio 774. He is a much sought after speaker for horticultural events nationwide, is the author of three books on rare plants and contributed to the two large tomes produced in Australia Botanica and more recently Flora. In 2001, the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria recognised Stephen with a John Pascoe Fawkner Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Horticulture.

Viewers of Gardening Australia will recognise Stephen from his many appearances on the program featuring his stunning cool climate garden ‘Tugurium’ in Macedon, Victoria. His garden and nursery hold three national plant collections – Cornus, Sambucus and Acanthus, for the Garden Plants Conservation Association of Australia.

Stephen will present his first episode of Gardening Australia on Saturday January 31.

Gardening Australia is an ABC TV Production. Executive Producer, Tim Mitchell.