The nursery was officially opened on Tuesday at the Agricultural Research Station, located at the rear of Charles Sturt University, to an audience of local environmental supporters. 

Central West Landcare coordinator Marita Sydes said that, while it wasn’t originally intended to move the nursery, it had found a good home in the research station.

“The Department of Health had to sell off the property in Orange. We got notice of that two weeks before Christmas, so not a really good time to start negotiating new agreements with people that might want to house 8000-odd plants,” she said.

It was Bathurst man Roy Menzies, who worked at the research station for 37 years, who suggested Central West Landcare approach the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to use the site.

The organisation approached DPI to use land at either Orange or Bathurst and were granted permission to relocate the nursery to Bathurst. 

“I think, in reflection, this is a fantastic facility. It is in the centre of Bathurst and I think, as far as community engagement in the future, it will be great,” Ms Sydes said.

The nursery was established to grow a variety of local native plants, including grasses, shrubs and trees, which will be used to achieve Central West Landcare’s goal of restoring and enhancing the local environment. 

Nursery manager Sue Wakefield said there are thousands of plants at the nursery, including white box, yellow box and Blakely's red gum.

The nursery is not open to the public as a retail nursery.

“All of the stock here is for projects being funded by NSW Environmental Trust,” Ms Wakefield.

She said the transition to Bathurst was made easy with the cooperation of DPI.

Ms Sydes said there is hope to involve the community more with the nursery in the future.