Gardening
Book Details

Australia's Quarter Acre

The Story of the Ordinary Suburban Garden

Peter Timms

Who invented the rotary clothesline, the lawn-mower and the fibreglass swimming pool?

Awards

Shortlisted for the 2007 Tasmania Book Prize for the Best Book by a Tasmanian in any genre

Opinion

" This book is a much needed history on Australian gardening." Sunday Telegraph 06/08/2006

" Australia's Quarter Acre: The story of the Ordinary Suburban Garden is a fascinating read." Week end Australian 05/08/2006

About this Title

Who invented the rotary clothesline, the lawn-mower and the fibreglass swimming pool? Why are our back gardens today so different from those of our grandparents? And whatever happened to the chrysanthemums and marigolds that once made front gardens so colourful?

In this fascinating and detailed look at the ordinary suburban block, Peter Timms traces the development of its design, its plantings and its hidden meanings, explaining how we have used our gardens for pleasure, relaxation and food production. Dogs and chooks, woodsheds, lavatories, fruit trees, fences and even the illuminated Santa Claus at Christmas--Timms has something new and surprising to say about them all.

From plots to plants, Timms describes the decline of the manicured lawn and the productive home vegetable garden, and our passion for roses and gladioli. He uncovers how Australia became the world's first great suburban nation, and how social and economic developments have altered the layouts of front and back gardens.

Australia's Quarter Acre is, above all, a spirited defence of the suburban garden, which is, as Timms so lovingly shows, a valuable and unique part of our national heritage.

About the Author

Peter Timms was born and educated in Melbourne and from 1971 until 1988 was employed in a number of public art galleries and museums in Victoria and New South Wales.

He has been a freelance writer since 1988, including periods as art critic for The Age and editor of Art Monthly Australia. He writes regularly for publications both in Australia and overseas. His books include Australian Studio Potter (1986). The Nature of Gardens (1999), Making Nature: Six Walks in the Bush (2001), What's Wrong with Contemporary Art? (2004) and Philip Wolfhagen (2005).

978-0-522-85185-4