Market gardens collection

Market gardens were an important part of the City of Stirling's history, especially around the swamp and lakes areas. The ready moisture from the swamps and lakes meant that, in the days before modern irrigation, market gardeners could crop three times a year and make a profit.

Many market gardens in the metropolitan area, including the City of Stirling's areas, were originally worked by Chinese migrants. These Chinese market gardeners tended not to own the land but instead to lease it. This let them become accustomed to the conditions in the area without the capital outlay of purchasing, and let them extend their gardens more easily. They brought with them traditional and labour intensive gardening techniques including irrigation, well digging and drainage. Some used waste fish and offal for fertiliser. They grew vegetables for sale to the wider community, and also a smaller amount of their traditional Chinese vegetables for use by the Chinese people in Perth.

After World War One, European market gardeners began market gardening in their place. This included Italian and Yugoslav families. It was hard work. In the dry months, they used small drains to irrigate. Many of the European gardeners used wooden trolleys, which were pushed on rail tracks to move manures and produce. These trolleys came second hand from brickworks in Perth. One such trolley has been restored and is on display at the Mount Flora Regional Museum.

The City of Stirling is grateful to the many market gardening families from the City have contributed photographs, objects and stories to the collection.