For Cam Lyneham, looking after the gardens at Abbotsford Convent is about much more than maintaining lawns and trimming plants. It is caring for a living landscape that is shaped by history, ecology and generations of people who have helped define the character of this remarkable place.
As one of the gardeners responsible for the Convent’s heritage grounds, Cam’s days shift with the seasons. In late autumn, the work turns to weeding and pruning, while summer and spring bring the demands of maintaining the expansive heritage lawns enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors each year.
“We mow at the start of the day because people like to lay out on them in the afternoons,” he says.
The gardens are deeply woven into how people experience the Convent. They are places where children play, friends gather, visitors pause with a coffee and artists find inspiration. For many, the grounds provide a quiet moment of calm in the middle of city life.
Cam regularly hears from people who want to express their appreciation.
“A lot of people approach me to thank me and tell me how much they love the gardens,” he says. “I always tell them it’s a group effort.”
For the Abbotsford Convent Foundation, it is a careful balancing act between preserving the past and protecting the future. The Convent’s historic gardens are not simply decorative landscapes; they are heritage spaces that require thoughtful stewardship. Some of the trees and plantings date back generations, with certain plants originally established by the nuns who once lived on site.
“There’s a great privilege and responsibility that comes with managing these historic gardens,” Cam says. “They’ve been designed and planned in a certain way and we have to maintain that vision.”
Cam, an avid birdwatcher, sees the Convent as an ecological refuge in the inner city, where biodiversity quietly thrives. He recalls spotting a Superb Fairywren nesting in a rosemary bush, one of many bird species that make use of the landscape.
“The buildings are very important,” he says, “but the ecology is really special.”
The historic gardens and expansive grounds at Abbotsford Convent are among the qualities that make this precinct unique. Support through our annual giving appeal helps care for these landscapes so they can continue to inspire, restore and provide sanctuary for generations to come.