Annie Marlow in one of the Nursery hot houses

In July 2005, the then Minister for Environment, John Thwaites announced the Mount Hotham Resort Management Board would acquire the Ovens Alpine Nursery from the Department of Sustainability and Environment.  The Alpine Resorts 2020 strategy cites the alpine resort management board’s are responsible for rehabilitating degraded areas and improving the management of ski field areas to enhance, protect and restore vegetation communities.  With no commercial nurseries supplying plants indigenous to the alpine regions, the Board realised the importance of the nursery to provide reliable quantities of a diverse species of plants for revegetation and rehabilitation projects.  The nursery, now known as the Victorian Alps Nursery, is located between Bright and Myrtleford and production under the last 2 and a half years of Board management has seen the nursery grow threefold.  Ongoing research by staff will ensure further species are obtainable and a better understanding of plant growth and development for successful regeneration is available. 

The nursery has evolved after lengthy research into germinating and producing alpine and sub-alpine species of the Australian mainland.  The work has been supported by the Victorian Government’s conservation department and La Trobe University.  Production standards have been established by Elizabeth MacPhee, an expert horticultural scientist with many years experience in the production of high altitude plants.

The nursery was the major source of plants for rehabilitating alpine areas around Mt Hotham and Falls Creek damaged by the 2003 bushfires.  It also pioneered production methods of alpine wetland species to restore moss beds that have been damaged by a range of natural and imposed events.  The nursery produces high quality plants for rehabilitation and restoration projects at all major Victorian ski resorts, the Mt Buffalo and Alpine National Parks as well as the Kosciusko National Park and ski areas.  It provides a diverse range of grasses, wildflowers and shrubs to suit a range of ecological communities.  Plant material used for propagation must be taken from the alpine area from where it is intended to be used. This is referred to as provenance specific and requires the nursery staff to develop a wide knowledge of a range of plants as well as the aspects and altitudes they grow for the best results in rehabilitation projects.

The very particular alpine environment conditions such as long cold winters, short growing seasons and alpine soil types, mean that many alpine species are difficult to propagate and very slow growing.  The nursery caters for big and small orders but because of the time taken to grow the plants and the need for site preparation, specifically weed control, careful planning of any project is required.  Whether it be a job as big as Loch Reservoir or as a small site around a ski lodge planning is essential.

Mt Hotham’s Environmental Officer Bev Lawrence should be contacted by anyone considering revegetation work at Mt Hotham.  There is often a predominance of a particular species to a particular area of the mountain and the best outcome will be achieved by following what the natural environment tells us.  Bev is able to advise what species are best for any particular site.  Her advice is free and she will refer you to any other appropriate services if you require more technical information. You can contact Bev at the Mount Hotham Resort Management Board office on 03 5759 3550.

For placing orders contact Annie Marlow at the Nursery on 03 5731 1212 or email anniemarlow@mthotham.com.au