THE founders of Ararat’s Greenslade Nursery, soon to close its doors to the public for the last time, have talked about their memories of the iconic business.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Betty Quick said she first started the nursery from a house on a block of land in the 1960s.
The initial site was on Tuson Street opposite Bulte’s timber yard.
The business moved to a Lambert Street address on the request of the Ararat council in 1979.
Mrs Quick said she was inspired to open a nursery because she loved seeing things grow.
“I’ve also loved trees. After I reared my family, I was sort of bored,” she said.
Making cuttings and giving them to neighbours eventually turned into a full-time job for Mrs Quick, in the form of the nursery that took on her family’s name.
Her husband Hedley wasn’t far behind her after he left his job as a train controller due to glaucoma.
“We used to have children come from high school to do work experience. We taught them how to propagate plants, how to serve … they didn’t have a clue,” Mrs Quick said.
“A lot of kids are now married with families.
“You see them on the street and they still sing out, ‘Hello Quickie’.”
The Quicks had four boys of their own but non ever took on the business.
“All the boys are very sad about the nursery closing,” Mrs Quick said.
“David was born in the nursery … it was all he ever knew.”
The Quicks sold the business in 1986 due to ill health.
“We helped everyone out there. We helped the North school when that first opened.
“We gave boot loads of shrubs to schools for fetes,” Mrs Quick said.
Mrs Quick said they also helped the Chalambar Golf Club with their new bowling green and gave the racecourse on Ballarat Road many trees.
“The most memorable part of the nursery experience was helping people out and having lovely customers,” Mrs Quick said.
