Celebrating 30 years of the PCCG

Three decades of gardening, community and connection

Located off Historic Drive in Highbury, South Australia, the Pioneer Court Community Garden is home to more than 40 plots, 75 members and almost 400 fruit and nut trees and vines - from pomegranate and banana, through to grapes and macadamia.

It’s situated on just under one hectare of land leased from the Department for Environment and Water and is larger in scale than many typical community gardens.

Its origins can be traced back to the proactive efforts of Mario Minuzzo, now 88, and a group of local residents whose properties backed on to the land. They had noticed overgrown grass and an increase in snakes and vermin as a result.

“One Christmas morning, when a snake found its way onto my yard and my young grandchildren were nearby, I was prompted to talk to the government about how I could keep the nearby grass tidy,” Mario said.

Growing interest from neighbours led to the establishment of the community garden in 1996, creating a green space that continues to connect the community and promote environmental stewardship.

“I recall standing on the mound thirty years ago and thinking this would make a great community garden,” Mario said.

“My heritage is Italian and in Italy, local people often meet in the piazza. They gather, walk, share stories, and connect - so my original vision for the garden was to create a sense of community and place - just like a piazza.”

Today, the garden’s membership spans diverse age groups and ethnic backgrounds, with members bringing different levels of gardening expertise. Some have just begun while others have decades of experience. Members share skills, learn from one another, and explore new foods and recipes together.

Many members have been there since the beginning, and the garden’s success is a testament to the tireless efforts of members and volunteers, who generously give their time.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed, with the garden winning the 2022 City of Tea Tree Gully Australia Day Award for Outstanding Community Group of the Year, plus a Morialta Community Award for Mario’s dedication to the garden in August 2023.

Chairperson Marina Birch, who took over the reins from Mario in 2022, said the highlight of her time at the garden is the friendships she has made.

“I’ve really enjoyed the experience and made some lovely friends along the way,” she said.

“We gather often, from weekly working bees to social events, or sharing produce and knowledge.”

“Garden membership offers many benefits - we learn about growing food, enjoy fresh produce, spend time outdoors surrounded by birdsong, nature and beautiful views, plus the health benefits too.”

The garden holds seasonal fundraisers to support ongoing improvements and donates surplus produce to local charities that help families in need. Workshops and visitor days also provide opportunities to share the garden’s work and involve the wider community.

“One of the things we are most proud of is our charity plot and the fresh produce we provide to families in need,” Marina said. “We regularly donate produce to Pathway Community Centre, which partners with OzHarvest and helps feed more than 1,500 people each week.”

The garden’s community focus extends beyond its members, with volunteers also working to support local families and the wider environment.

“It’s been quite exciting making plans for the future of the garden too, so that it can continue to be enjoyed by our community hopefully for a long time to come.”

Future plans include the addition of a community-run native nursery, which would propagate native seedlings for use in surrounding areas recently devastated by the Giant Pine Scale infestation.

“As local community members, we have all been saddened to see the removal of thousands of nearby trees and wanted to help,” Marina said.

“We are now attempting to get a grant to allow us to set up the greenhouse and its equipment, and hope to welcome more volunteers from the local area with an interest in Australian native flora.”

For Mario, the next 30 years of the garden is all about good succession.
“I’m very proud of the fact that Marina has been a well-chosen successor and is a great person - this makes me feel very happy and proud,” he added.

The Pioneer Court Community Garden is always interested in hearing from its local community about membership, volunteering and potential partnerships.

To visit the garden for yourself, attend the annual Spring Fundraiser on Sunday, 1 November 2026 from 10am.