Summary

Booklet - 'Gardening to save water', published by City West Water and Sustainable Gardening Australia, circa 1996-2002. The booklet provides information about efficient watering methods, garden design, caring for soil, compost and mulch, greywater, low water use plants, lawn and alternatives, and a water conservation 'score card'. The enclosed information sheets cover the topics of: mulch, garden styles, efficient irrigation and compost.

Physical Description

20 page A5 booklet with beige card cover and beige stiff paper pages, bound with 2 staples and folded flap pocket inside back cover containing 4 folded A4 information sheets. Coloured photographs.

Significance

These items were collected during the Water Smart Home project and document the developing strategies used by the Victorian Government, water authorities, private industries and communities in confronting the emerging water crisis from 1995 to 2007. It captures the increasing urgency to address the growing imbalance between water supply and demand. It demonstrates a shift in government strategy away from an investment in major infrastructure to a campaign focused on behaviour change methods to reduce water consumption and secure Melbourne's water future.

An interesting feature of this material is the focus on gardening. Prior to water restrictions, Melbourne households used up to 50% of potable water for gardening - a significant focus of the public education campaign was therefore directed to this popular cultural activity and offered many ways to preserve this activity within the limits of Melbourne's water supply.

The Smart Water Fund was set up as part of the 'Our Water Our Future' campaign to support innovative water conservation projects, including Museum Victoria's Water Smart Home project. This material was collected as part of the Water Smart Home project. It shows how the 'Our Water Our Future' campaign infiltrated households in Melbourne, and documents the broader community messages and education strategies.

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