I'll be honest, I should have written this a lot sooner. It's been several months since I took over Newtown Garden Market at 538 King Street, and a proper introduction is well overdue. So here it is.
I'm Ri. I'm the new owner. And I am absolutely loving it.
I've Been Obsessed with Plants My Whole Life
I grew up in the Blue Mountains, which probably explains a lot. My family had a kitchen garden, and my step-dad was a decorator with a real eye for how plants and natural materials change the feeling of a space. So from pretty early on, plants meant two things to me: growing things you can eat, and making wherever you live more beautiful. I've never really separated those two ideas.
I also have a deep, unashamed obsession with colour. Dahlias are my favourite flower, which tells you everything. If something comes in a bold, joyful, slightly-too-much colour, I want it in the shop.
Some Highlights From Running the Nursery So Far
It's only been a few months but there have already been some moments I didn't expect:
- One of my favourite parts of running NGM is the team. Glenn is a qualified horticulturalist and an accidental Instagram star — if you haven't seen the reel of him watering the plants to a Madonna song, go watch it. Aaron has been at NGM for years and is the inventor of the unofficial Short Shorts Saturdays theme, which has become a bit of a King Street thing. We're giving a huge send-off to Erkan, who is heading home to Turkey in the next couple of weeks. He's been a brilliant part of the team and we'll miss him.
- NGM is now supplying plants to two Bentley Group restaurants — Watermans in Barangaroo and the soon-to-open Ashe in the CBD. The Bentley Group runs some of Sydney's best dining rooms, and seeing NGM plants in those spaces is something I'm genuinely proud of.
- Getting out to nurseries around Sydney on buying expeditions to find what's new, what's unusual, and what our customers will love. That part of the job is exactly as good as it sounds.
- Working with Sam Absurd, a Sydney based graffiti and street artist, to redesign a new logo for the shop. We wanted something that felt like it actually belonged on King Street, and Sam absolutely nailed it.
- And honestly the best part every single day: helping customers figure out what will work in their space, and seeing what people do with their homes and gardens when they get the right plant. That never gets old.
Why I Came Back to Newtown
I lived in Newtown for years before moving elsewhere in the Inner West, and I always missed it. King Street has this thing where it's genuinely a destination, not just a strip you drive through. The independent businesses, the community feel, the fact that you can walk in somewhere and the person behind the counter actually knows what they're talking about. That's rare, and Newtown has it.
So when Newtown Garden Market came up for sale, it felt like the stars aligned. A plant nursery, on King Street, in a neighbourhood I love. I didn't need much convincing.
I do want to give a proper shout out to Dave Gillard, who owned NGM before me and built it into the community spot it is. I wasn't just buying a shop. I was taking on something that people genuinely care about, and that's not something I take lightly.
What I've Been Up To Since Taking Over
My background is in events, which sounds like a random leap into running a plant nursery, but it actually makes a lot of sense to me. Events are about curation, about creating an experience, about the way things feel when someone walks in. That's exactly how I think about the shop.
I've been working on the range, leaning into more colour and more unusual varieties alongside the classics. I want NGM to be the place you come to when you want something a bit special, not just the reliable options you can find anywhere.
I've also been putting a lot of energy into workshops, which have been incredible. Glenn, our qualified horticulturalist, runs them from the store and they have been booking out. If you haven't done one yet, keep an eye on the schedule.
What Makes Newtown Garden Market Different from a Chain Garden Centre
Newtown Garden Market is an independent nursery, which means the buying decisions, the curation, the advice, and the atmosphere are all made by people who actually care about plants. That is a practical difference, not a marketing line.
Chain garden centres optimise for volume and turnover. NGM buys what is interesting, what is suited to Sydney's growing conditions, and what customers at 538 King Street will actually want to grow. That includes rare aroids, hard-to-find natives, and seasonal stock that reflects what is worth planting in the Inner West right now.
The other practical difference: the team knows what they are talking about. Glenn's horticultural expertise runs through the plant selection and the care advice. If you have a struggling plant, or you are not sure what will work in a north-facing courtyard in Newtown, you will get a real answer here.
Come and Say Hello
If you haven't been in for a while, or you've walked past and been curious, please come say hi. We're at 538 King Street, Newtown, open seven days from 9am to 5pm. A short walk from Newtown station and St Peters station, with parking nearby.
I love talking plants, whether you know exactly what you want or you have absolutely no idea where to start.
See you in the shop.
Ri x
About Newtown Garden Market
Who owns Newtown Garden Market?
Newtown Garden Market at 538 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042 is owned by Ri, who took over the business in late 2025. The nursery was previously established by Dave Gillard and has traded on King Street for many years. Ri is an Inner West local with a lifelong connection to plants and a background in event management.
What does Newtown Garden Market sell?
Newtown Garden Market is an independent plant nursery and garden centre on King Street, Newtown. The range includes indoor plants, outdoor plants, Australian natives, succulents, cacti, tropical aroids, edibles, herbs, pots and planters, potting mix and soils, fertilisers, and garden supplies. The shop also stocks giftware and runs regular gardening workshops from the King Street store.
Where is Newtown Garden Market located?
Newtown Garden Market is at 538 King Street, Newtown NSW 2042. The store is a short walk from Newtown station and St Peters station on the T3 Bankstown Line. Street parking is available on and around King Street. The nursery is open seven days, 9am to 5pm.
Does Newtown Garden Market run workshops?
Newtown Garden Market runs regular hands-on gardening workshops from 538 King Street, Newtown. Sessions are led by Glenn, the nursery's qualified horticulturalist, and cover topics including terrariums, propagation, and seasonal planting. Workshop tickets are available to book online through the NGM website.
What makes Newtown Garden Market different from Bunnings?
Newtown Garden Market is an independent nursery with specialist horticultural knowledge on staff. The range is curated for Sydney's Inner West growing conditions, including rare and unusual varieties not available at chain garden centres. The team provides tailored plant care advice in person at the King Street store.
