The Roma Bush Gardens Queensland
The Roma Bush Gardens is on 14ha with 2 dams, including the picturesque Railway Dam, recreational reserve within the town of Roma Queensland.
The Roma Bush Gardens are run and managed by The Roma Bush Gardens Association which was formed in May 1998 at a town meeting.
The Roma Bush Gardens Association is committed to creating and maintaining the bush garden using community involvement.
Individual volunteers and service groups, notably Rotary and Apex, as well as a visiting Green Corps team, assisted with the earthworks, installation of water pipes, and large scale plantings required to transform the site.
Some of the plants were propagated by members or grown from seed collected by members. Bungil Shire Council carted in special soils from appropriate areas for the mulga, bendee and cypress pine zones, and Roma Town Council supplied loam as well as slashing regularly for fire protection. The Rural Fire Brigade provided water trucks and pumps on big planting days.
A lengthy drought, problems with salinity in the eastern section of the site and floods in 2010-11 resulted in the death of a significant number of young trees, but the majority of vegetation zones are now well defined and labelled with interpretive signs. Planting, particularly of understorey species, continues.
Since shire council amalgamation, the Maranoa Regional Council has shown it, too, is strongly supportive of the Bush Gardens. In 2009 it provided a generous grant and in-kind assistance for the completion of the loop path.
The Roma Bush Gardens is a few minute drive from The Overlander Homestead Motel Roma or a pleasant hike.