Photo: Supplied.
This month, a slice of paradise on the Redlands Coast turns 25 years old! Redlands IndigiScapes Centre at Capalaba officially opened in February 2000.
Many other significant events happened in 2000. Fun fact: it was a leap year and the first century year since 1600 to have a February 29. For me personally, my first baby girl came into the world, and it was the height of the iconic kids’ television show Totally Wild when more than 300,000 viewers tuned in each weekday afternoon to learn about the natural environment. Major global events dominated the news…who can forget the Y2K bug that had us all wondering what would happen as 1999 ticked over into the new year, the Sydney Summer Olympic Games, and the first residential crew arrived at The International Space Station.
Closer to home on the Redlands Coast, a new 14.5-hectare native landscapes sanctuary had locals buzzing. Since opening a quarter of a century ago, hundreds of thousands of people have come to connect with nature, marvel at the 400-plus-year-old tallowwood tree, learn about the local environment, volunteer, and make memories to last a lifetime.
The centre has been an important meeting place for community and environment groups and was groundbreaking as Australia’s first native garden demonstration centre, inspiring and encouraging us to use endemic plant species in our own backyards.
The centre re-launched in 2020 following a spectacular makeover. Today, the heart of IndigiScapes continues to beat strong…people still come for a fix of nature, to recycle and choose native plants for home gardens, enjoy food with a native flavour twist and discover something new on walking trails.
Over the past 25 years, IndigiScapes has blossomed and evolved, but some things have remained the same…the passion for nature and sustainable living and the giant old tallowwood tree that keeps growing more gnarly each year.
If you haven’t yet visited IndigiScapes, I invite you to pop in soon.
Until next time … Stay Wild!
Ranger Stacey Thomson is Principal Adviser – Community Education (Redland City Council)
