Montrose in Yarra Ranges Shire, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

The People's Garden

Kevin and Jill Heinze People's Garden

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 18, 2026

1. The People's Garden Marker

Inscription. This garden was featured in Kevin's television programme 'Sow What' from 1967 to 1988. The programme introduced many to the joys of gardening, charmed by Kevin's cheerful nature and good practical gardening advice.

Kevin brought to his viewers years of horticultural experience firstly from his time at the nursery in Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens and then with Melbourne City Council.

The People's Garden has always had a broad community appeal. Presidents of Montrose Rotary Club have each planted rhododendrons here since 1979, local primary school children have planted local native plants and the garden was the focus of television viewers for 21 years.

It was fitting for Kevin and Jill to donate it to the people of Victoria as the People's Garden in 2006.

Erected by Shire of Yarra Ranges.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1967.

Location. 37° 48.659′ S, 145° 20.563′ E. Marker is in Montrose, Victoria, in Yarra Ranges Shire. It can be reached from Devenish

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Avenue 0.1 kilometers west of Mount Dandenong Tourist Road (Victoria Route C415). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 Devenish Avenue, Montrose VIC 3765, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

in Australasia,

in the Pacific Ocean,

in South Pacific,

on the Pacific Rim,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Montrose War Memorial (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Major Charles Morris (1856-1935) (about 120 meters away); Montrose Bricks in Demand (about 120 meters away); Storm Leaves (about 120 meters away); Australian Nurses Memorial / Local Nurses that served in War (about 150 meters away); Sister Edith Wilson Yeaman (about 150 meters away); Robert Riddett's Cottage (about 150 meters away); The First Train (approx. 4.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montrose.

Also see . . . Kevin Heinze. Wikipedia

Kevin Carl Heinze (1 April 1928 – 1
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 18, 2026

2. The People's Garden Marker just inside the northern entrance
September 2008) was a pioneering presenter of gardening on television in Australia. He hosted a gardening program for ABC Television entitled Sow What, which was mostly shot on location at his one-hectare home garden in Montrose, an outer suburb of Melbourne, from 1967 to 1988. He also presented for ABC Radio in Melbourne between 1967 and 2004. He was known for his "cheerio" sign off at the end of his programs. Heinze was an advocate for gardening in schools and initiated the School Garden Awards scheme in Victoria.

(Submitted on July 20, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.