Horticulturist – Retford Park

National Trust of Australia (NSW)

Location: Bowral, NSW

Job Type: Part time Permanent, 30 hrs week

Category: Horticulture

Sectors: Horticulture, Landscape Gardening

Reports to: Head Gardener, Retford Park

Salary package: up to $80.9k FTE inclusive of super and leave loading; pro rata for PT hrs

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Overview

The National Trust is the largest community based, not-for-profit conservation organisation in Australia, operating for more than 70 years. Our vision is to bring the heritage of New South Wales to life for future generations. We achieve this by advocating for the conservation and protection of our built, cultural and natural heritage and by educating and engaging the community through the sharing and interpretation of all Australian heritage stories in ways that awaken a sense of place and belonging.

Located in Bowral, Retford Park features an elegant Victorian Italianate residence surrounded by over thirty hectares of formal gardens and grounds.

You will be an integral part of the small horticultural team at Retford Park, with responsibility for undertaking the maintenance, restoration and conservation of the grounds and garden and ensuring a high level of presentation and public safety.

About the Role

We are seeking a passionate Horticulturist who has experience working in cool climate gardens, is familiar with the management principles of heritage properties and understands the expectations of a high standard of presentation for a garden open to the public.

About you

To be successful in this role you will need to:

Have excellent horticultural knowledge, an aptitude for maintaining mechanical equipment, an eye for detail, ability to manage your time efficiently and effectively and a practical 'can-do' approach to your work.

Be organised and able to perform all tasks in a timely manner and to the standards set by the Head Gardener and/or Property Manager.

Be punctual and reliable and able to work both independently and as part of a team.

You will also be largely responsible for overseeing a small team of garden volunteers, so excellent organisational and people skills are important.

As the gardens and grounds are a key attraction of the property, you will have a commitment to ensuring the gardens are beautifully presented to the visitors.

You have at least 2-5 years’ experience as a Horticulturist

Essential Qualifications and Skills

Certificate 3 or Above, in Horticulture

Current Level 1 Chainsaw certification

Experience in maintaining large scale gardens

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Current NSW Working with Children Check number (WWCC)

Current NSW Drivers license

Desirable Qualifications and Skills

An understanding of management principles of Historic Gardens, especially Cool Climate gardens

Current AQF 3 Chemical Application certification

Computer literacy and willingness to learn new applications

An understanding of and commitment to the National Trust’s aims, objectives and workplace values

You must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this job.

For enquiries about the role, contact HR on 02 9258 0159

For a full position description call: 02 9258 0159 or email [email protected]

Applicants should submit a CV together with a covering letter addressing the key accountabilities to: [email protected]

Closing date: 20 July 2025

Immediate start available