Jane Edmanson

Jane Edmanson OAM
Born	(1950-10-21) 21 October 1950 (age 75) [1] Australia
Citizenship	Australian
Education	BA, Dip Ed Monash Cert Hort, Cert Landscape Tech, Burnley
Occupations	Horticulturalist Television presenter Author
Years active	1989–2025
Employer	ABC
Known for	Presenter on Gardening Australia (1990–present)
Television	Sow What Good Morning Australia Gardening Australia
Awards	OAM 2004

Jane Marion Edmanson OAM (born 21 October 1950) ^[1] is an Australian horticulturist, author, and television and radio personality. Edmanson is best known across Australia as the longest serving presenter for the ABC TV program Gardening Australia, being on the show from its beginning in 1990, until her retirement in 2025.

Early life

Edmanson was raised on a citrus farm in Buronga, New South Wales, near Mildura. This was where Edmanson started building her knowledge of horticulture and environmental care; including salt management and under-tree irrigation, observing her parents in the 1970s. ^[2] Her family later moved to Melbourne, which led to Jane attending Lauriston Girls School. ^[3] Teaching studies at Monash University were followed by certificates in horticulture and landscape technology at Burnley College of the University of Melbourne.

Career

After a teaching posting at Dimboola, Edmanson started at the Victorian Schools Nursery as a Nursery Hand in 1976, then moved up over 15 years to Deputy Director.

Edmanson's early career included working through a range of jobs in the retail plant nursery industry, and she became a partner with friends in the suburban Bell Street Garden Centre retail nursery in Preston, Victoria. ^[4]

Edmanson has written and co-authored books on gardening and horticulture; and has written regularly for Gardening Australia Magazine. She leads gardening tours in Australia and internationally. Edmanson is Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society of Victoria, among other public interest roles. ^[5]

Broadcast media

In 1989 Edmanson replaced Kevin Heinze as presenter for ABC TV's Sow What. Edmanson was a founding presenter at Gardening Australia ^[5] and has continued in the role. ^[6] Another television role was six episodes on Good Morning Australia in 2005. Edmanson moved on to add weekend gardening talkback radio in Victoria to her broadcast list with 3AK, 3MP and 3AW over 28 years. ^[7]

In November 2025, Edmanson announced her retirement from Gardening Australia, finishing up presenting on the show on 28 November. She was the longest serving presenter on the show, and left as the only original presenter, having been on the program since its beginning in 1990. ^{[8] [9]}

Filmography

• Hotel Sorrento (1995), Radio Announcer

Television

• Sow What ABC TV
• Gardening Australia, 1990-2025, presenter
• Good Morning Australia, 6 episodes 2005 ^[10]

Works

• The Australian garden : a classic guide to design planting and care. By Jane Edmanson and Lorrie Lawrence. Ringwood, Vic., Viking O'Neil, 1992; ISBN   0670866679
• The New Zealand garden. By Jane Edmanson and Lorrie Lawrence. Auckland, N.Z., Viking Pacific, 1993; ISBN   0670852406
• Jane Edmanson's favourite plants (also titled Favourite plants). By Jane Edmanson. Port Melbourne, Vic., Lothian, 1995; ISBN   0850917069
• Cheap and easy propagation. By Jane Edmanson. Melbourne, Lothian, 1991; ISBN   0850914639
• Jane Edmanson's working manual for gardeners : a month-by-month easy-reference guide to practical tasks to do in the garden (also titled Working manual for gardeners). By Jane Edmanton. South Melbourne, Vic. Lothian Books, 2003; ISBN   0734400500
• From the ground up : a complete garden guide for Victorian gardeners (also titled Complete garden guide for Victorian gardeners). By Jane Edmanson. Adelaide, South Australia, Neutrog Australia Pty Limited, 2009; ISBN   0980705711

Awards

• 2004 Order of Australia "For service to horticulture, particularly through the promotion of environmentally sustainable gardening practices, and the encouragement and education of young gardeners." ^[11]
• 2013 Honorary Life Membership of the Horticultural Media Association of Victoria for "outstanding service to horticulture and the media"
• 2016 Gold Laurel and Hall of Fame Award, Horticultural Media Association Australia ^[12]
• 2016 Golden Wattle Award, Australian Institute of Horticulture ^[5]

References

1. Paton, Margaret (15 February 2018). "Gardening for a healthy mind and body". WYZA. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
2. Peck, Damien (28 March 2018). "Gardening Australia's Jane Edmanson rediscovers her roots with the river red gum". Back Roads . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Retrieved 31 October 2018.
3. In conversation with Jane Edmanson OAM (OL 1967) , retrieved 11 February 2024
4. "Jane Edmanson: Australian gardening personality". Saxton Speakers Bureau. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
5. "AIH 2016 Annual Awards". Australian Institute of Horticulture.
6. "Jane Edmanson". ABC. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 March 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
7. "Jane Edmanson (OAM)". The Diggers Club. The Diggers Club Pty Ltd. Retrieved 31 October 2018. Jane is a qualified teacher with certificates in horticulture and landscape technology, a prolific columnist and author, and a well known presenter on Gardening Australia and radio stations including 3AK, 3MP and 3AW.
8. "How this camera-shy gardener landed a national TV hosting gig". ABC News. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
9. "Iconic Aussie TV presenter announces retirement after nearly 40 years: 'It's time'". Yahoo Life. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
10. "Jane Edmanson". IMDb. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
11. "Australian Honours Search Facility". It's an Honour. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
12. "2016 HMAA Laurel Award Winners". Horticultural Media Association Australia. Retrieved 31 October 2018.

External links

• Gardening Australia Australia Broadcasting Corporation
• The Diggers Club Meet Our Experts, Contributors and Presenters