Wayn‑Gurr Derrk community gardens
Learn about the edible and ornamental native plants growing in our Mt Helen Campus garden.
Acknowledgement of Country
Learn more about how we recognise Traditional Owners.
The Traditional Owners of the Ballarat region are the Wadawurrung People. Wayn‑Gurr Derrk, or 'good ground' in Wadawurrung language, is our native community garden at Peter Lalor South on the Mt Helen Campus. Created in partnership with the Aboriginal Education Centre, the garden is a welcoming space for Fedliving residents, students, staff and the wider community.
If you’d like to tour the garden or book the space for an event, email fedliving@federation.edu.au.
The plants we're growing
Native Guavas produce sweet, aromatic fruits that can be used in drinks, desserts and preserves. Its summer flowers are unusual – strongly scented and petal‑less – leading to urn‑shaped fruits that ripen in winter. The plant also shows attractive copper‑tinged foliage in cool seasons and benefits from mulching and additional watering in dry periods.
- Height 3–5 m
- Part shade
- Edible (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
Blue Lilly Pilly is known for its striking blue‑purple berries, which have a mild sweetness with hints of ginger and lavender. It flowers for an extended season and is hardy once established, tolerating dry conditions and thriving in full sun or part shade. This plant makes a great edible and ornamental hedge.
- Height 4–7 m
- Full sun / part shade
- Edible (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
Black Plum is an attractive rainforest tree with glossy foliage and edible black fruits that ripen in autumn. It tolerates heavy shade and moist soils and has fire‑retardant qualities, making it valuable in bush‑area plantings. Planting multiple trees improves pollination.
- Height 4–10 m
- Full sun / part shade
- Edible (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
Davidson’s Plum produces clusters of large, purple, antioxidant‑rich fruits that taste pleasantly sour and are ideal for jams, sauces and even wine. A tall, slender tree, it prefers protection from strong sun and wind when young and displays striking red‑tinged new growth.
- Height 4–8 m
- Full sun / part shade
- Edible plant (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
This dense tree yields large orange fruits with tangy red flesh, ideal for sweet and savoury dishes. Flowers appear in summer, with ripe capsules splitting to reveal colourful pulp. The plant thrives with watering in dry seasons and makes a beautiful ornamental shade tree.
- Height 6–8 m
- Full sun / part shade
- Edible (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
Lemon Myrtle is highly aromatic and prized for its strong citrus flavour in teas, desserts, sauces and savoury dishes. A rainforest species, it bears fragrant autumn flowers and works well as an ornamental or culinary plant.
- Height 3–8 m
- Full sun / part shade
- Edible
- Bird attracting
Bignay forms grape‑like fruit clusters that ripen unevenly, creating striking displays of white, red and black berries. The fruits range from sour to sweet and are used raw as well as in jams, sauces, syrups and wine. The plant prefers protection from frost and drying winds.
- Height 3–8 m
- Full sun/part shade
- Edible (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
This palm‑like tree has broad leaves and produces abundant sweet but tart fruits that drop when ripe. It enjoys moist soil and shelter from wind, and can grow tall in gardens or thrive in large pots.
- Height 8 m
- Part shade
- Edible (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
Tasmanian Native Pepper has both edible leaves and berries with a strong peppery flavour. These can both be used for curries, sauces and dressings, and the flowers may be enjoyed fresh in salads or as a spicy garnish. The plant thrives in cool, moist, semi‑shaded environments and prefers lime‑free soil.
- Height 3–5 m
- Part shade
- Edible
- Bird attracting
The edible roots of Red Back Ginger can be used in savoury dishes, desserts, jams, marmalades, lollies and tea. The plant thrives in rainforest‑like shade and produces fragrant flowers and sweet fruits (although the seeds should be discarded).
- Height 2 m
- Part shade
- Edible (good for jams)
- Bird attracting
Ruby Saltbush is a hardy sub‑shrub (a low-growing, semi-woody plant) with trailing branches and grey, semi‑succulent foliage. It bears vibrant red berries that often appear alongside green and yellow unripe fruits. The plant tolerates drought, saline soils and harsh conditions across Australia.
- Height 1 m
- Full sun
- Edible
- Drought tolerant
This ornamental native grass forms dense blue‑green tussocks topped by delicate spring‑summer flower plumes. It's low‑maintenance and frost-tolerant, and thrives in many soil types, making it excellent for landscaping.
- Height 1.2 m
- Full sun
- Non‑edible
- Drought tolerant
Pale Vanilla Lily features fragrant white‑lilac flowers and edible tubers traditionally eaten roasted or raw. It's ideal for the home garden or commercial landscaping because it's low‑maintenance and drought‑tolerant, and performs well in sun or shade.
- Height 1 m
- Full sun or shade
- Edible
- Drought tolerant
Kangaroo Apple is a fast‑growing shrub with dark green leaves, large purple flowers and bright orange‑yellow berries. It's hardy in most soil types, and suited as a screen plant, in the understorey of a windbreak, or for bank and erosion stabilisation.
- Height 4 m
- Full sun
- Non‑edible
Old Man Saltbush is a fast-growing shrub that thrives in dry conditions and is commonly used as a livestock grazing plant. The leaves are edible, salty and rich in protein, antioxidants and minerals. They can be blanched, sautéed, dried or eaten raw.
- Height 2–3 m
- Full sun / part shade
- Edible
- Drought tolerant
- Attracts bees and insects
Sea Parsley is a hardy coastal herb once used by early explorers to prevent scurvy. Its celery‑like shoots add flavour to soups, seafood and salads, and it thrives in sandy environments. The leaves, stems and seeds are all edible.
- Height 30–50 cm
- Full sun / part shade
- Edible
- Drought tolerant
- Tolerates sandy soil