Victoria in Bloom garden competition

About Victoria in Bloom

Victoria in Bloom recognises and rewards the great work of gardening enthusiasts living in public or community housing.

It’s a way of saying thanks to renters for their hard work to create and maintain amazing gardens that contribute to the communities they live in.

Renters can enter all types of gardens – from balconies, to back yards and community gardens. No garden is too big or small.

There is no age limit either, with the Best Young Gardener category opening doors for under 25s who enjoy gardening or are thinking of a career in this field.

Award categories for 2024-25

• Best Balcony or Container Garden
  Gardens that are on a balcony space or gardens made up of potted plants.
• Best Small Enclosed Garden
  Gardens that are enclosed, such as courtyards.
• Best Young Gardener (under 25)
  To enter this category, young gardeners must play an active role in gardening – either at home or in a community or school garden.
• Best Household Garden
  Front or back gardens that are larger than a courtyard.
• Best Sustainable Garden
  These gardens focus on being environmentally sustainable. They may include features like compost, water tanks, worm farms, mulch and drought-tolerant plants.
• Best Community or Common Area Garden
  These gardens are in common areas and shared by a group of people, meaning they can be accessed and used by all the residents on a property. They are often part of an apartment or unit complex.
• Best Edible Garden
  Gardens where most of the plants are fruit, vegetables and herbs.
• Best Creative Garden
  A garden that has been designed using creativity, uniqueness and self-expression.
• Best First Year Entered Garden
  Garden entered for the first time in the competition that is judged as best garden.

How do I enter?

To enter, once nominations are open, you need to register your garden in one of the following ways:

• Phone: 03 8633 4362 or 03 8633 4357
• Email: vicbloom@dffh.vic.gov.au

When you register you will need to tell us your:

1. Name
2. Address
3. Email address (if you have one)
4. Telephone number
5. The award category you would like to enter (you can enter your garden in a maximum of two categories)

Downloads

• 2024-25 Victoria in Bloom competition registration form
• 2024-25 Victoria in Bloom competition factsheet
• 2024-25 Victoria in Bloom competition A3 poster

How is the competition judged?

We judge the competition in two stages – first by division (North, South, East and West) and then statewide. Winners in each division go on to be finalists in their category for the statewide competition.

Award winners

2023-24 award winners

Best Balcony Garden or Container Garden – Leonie Porter (Inner Eastern Melbourne Area)

Best Small Enclosed Garden – Heather Lambert (Mallee Area)

Best Household Garden – Gerard Downard (Southern Melbourne Area)

Best Edible Garden – Braybrook, Maidstone, Sunshine Publich Housing Tenants Association (Western Melbourne Area)

Best Sustainable Garden – Christine Cherry (Barwon Area)

Best Community or Common Area Garden – Bozidar Atanasoski (Western Melbourne Area)

Best Creative Garden – Irene Mee (Loddon Area)

Best First Year Entered Garden – Amelia and Jefferey Benham (Mallee Area)

Best Young (under 25) Gardener – Dekoda Bell (inner Eastern Melbourne Area)

Watch a slideshow of the award winning gardens

The Victoria in Bloom Gardener of the Year award was presented to Heather Lambert for her superbly designed Small Enclosed Garden. 

What does an award winning garden look like? Here are the past Gardeners of the Year videos.

Have you ever wondered what makes an award winning garden? 

Watch slideshows of the award winning gardens from past years.

The 2022-23 Victoria in Bloom Gardener of the Year award was presented to Dekoda Bell for his full and well-designed Creative Garden.

Learn about the rooftop garden that earned Paul Nelson the 2021-22 Victoria in Bloom Gardener of the Year award. You can also view the video transcript (word). 

Have a look at the community garden that earned Daniel Budge-Welsh the 2018-2019 Victoria in Bloom Gardener of the Year award. You can also view the video transcript (Word).

Hear 2017-2018 Victoria in Bloom Gardener of the Year Helen Rauschenbach talk about creating a colourful and tranquil common area garden for local renters to enjoy.