Jim Fogarty

Jim Fogarty

Jim Fogarty
Project Designer
The Australian Garden presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Jim graduated from Burnley Horticultural College in 1992 with an Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Horticulture), majoring in Landscape Design and Construction.

Jim’s passion for garden design led him to his first role, working with Andrew Seccull at Jenny Smith Gardens for three years. In 1995, Jim moved to Cairns and took on the role of Landscape Maintenance Supervisor for Woodman’s Landscaping, where he had his first taste of Tropical Horticulture and commercial landscape construction.

A brief stint in front of the camera came calling, and in 1996 Jim moved to Sydney to join Network Ten’s Monday to Friday television program, where he presented a weekly gardening segment.

In 1997, Jim was drawn back into garden design and struck out on his own to establish his own business – Jim Fogarty Design Pty Ltd.

Jim’s flair for design was soon noticed within the industry, and in 1998 he received an invitation to design a Show Garden for Your Garden magazine at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS). Jim’s garden, “The Garden with No Green” received two bronze awards and started Jim’s passion for designing show gardens.

Jim has won Gold medals at MIFGS (2002, 2003, 2005 & 2006), Best in Show (2003 & 2005), and the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria Comeadow Award for Design Excellence (2002, 2003 & 2006). In 2003, he was awarded a Gold medal at Sydney in Bloom.

In 2004, Jim was the designer of ‘Australian Inspiration’, the garden known for its Eucalypt log walls, which was the first time an all-Australian team travelled from Australia to exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, winning a Silver-Gilt Flora Show Garden Award.

In 2006, the Singapore National Parks Board invited Jim to compete in its inaugural Singapore Garden Festival. Jim won a gold medal, as well as the RHS (UK) Award for Horticultural Excellence.

In 2008, Jim was again invited to compete in the Singapore Garden Festival and received a Gold Medal for his show garden inspired by Jervis Bay, a popular beach-side holiday destination in Australia.

 In 2009, Jim was invited to compete in the World Garden Competition in Hamamatsu, Japan, where he won the Gold Award for Best Design.

 At the 2010 Singapore Garden Festival, Jim was awarded a Gold medal and the award for Horticultural Excellence for his garden “Daintree”.

In October 2010, Jim competed in the Gardening World Cup in Japan where he won the major award for Best Construction and a Silver Medal for his interpretation of world peace.

In 2011, Jim will return to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show – this time, with the expertise of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne behind him as he creates “The Australian Garden” Show Garden.