General News
19 December, 2025
Steed’s garden continues legacy of fame
Bung Bong residents Allan and Rachelle Steed have taken top honours in this year’s Central Goldfields Shire Gardening Competition, winning two categories, including Best Country Garden along with Overall Winners.
The pair have been praised for the striking colour and creativity in a garden that surrounds their home, featuring a myriad of deciduous trees, roses, perennials, irises, lemon trees, vines and geraniums.
Mr Steed said he doesn’t take the recognition for granted, certain there are many impressive gardens locally where enthusiasts can draw inspiration.
“They only judge those who enter. We have won before, we used to do a new project every year, this area was one year, this was another year, an area out there would have been another year, we like to do it over January, and other times add things as we go,” Mr Steed said.
Over many years, the couple have transformed sections of their garden entirely on their own, constructing fish ponds, a fountain, brickwork and pergolas along a path following the expansive vegetation.
“We don’t really plant any particular colour scheme, but generally we just stick things in and it doesn’t matter what colour they are. I just think lots of colour in the garden just looks nice, some gardens are colour coordinated but we don’t worry too much,” Mrs Steed said.
“If we are in a nursery, we might see a plant, and have to figure out where we are going to put it.”
The rural property sees a lot of frost throughout the year, as well as the hot sun over summer time.
The couple particularly enjoy salvias, finding them a diverse and durable plant to work with.
“We do like salvias, there are so many different kinds, they are very hearty plants and will grow most places, there are so many different types, the leaves can be quite different and there are hundreds of different varieties,” Mrs Steed said.
“They will grow very easily from a cutting, I’ve even got some in the hot house now.”
However, like many properties in the Central Goldfields, the couple are struggling with an adequate water supply, yet still manage to keep their entire space green.
“We do have to watch it, we have a solar pump, getting bore water and we hope there is enough water down there. We do have a nice dam but it’s become so low,” Mr Steed said.
Despite their mammoth task of watering, the pair continue maintaining roses and envisaging ideas, and look forward future addition to the grounds.
“I have lived in this house all of my life. I have never lived anywhere else. We didn’t have time to do much when the kids were here, but when they left, we started to do various things and most of this, was only done in the past 10 years,” Mr Steed said.
“So that’s what inspired us.”
The couple are honoured to take home the awards, but have seen a range of gardens throughout the shire equally worth the recognition.
“We feel a bit lucky, there are some pretty nice gardens around, there is probably a lot of people in the shire that didn’t enter,” Mrs Steed said.
“We appreciate the Garden Club, they do a good job year after year, and it’s a lot of work for them, and they go out to the whole shire, it’s a big effort.”