An inspirational display at Eden Gardens provides an intriguing overview of Yates’ 125 years in business in Australia.

Arthur Yates left his native Manchester in 1879 to migrate to New Zealand. A few years later he travelled to Australia, where he eventually opened a seed shop in 1887. Arthur spent the rest of his life building up his garden supplies business in Australia. The business has carried on Arthur’s legacy and has continued to grow over the ensuing 125 years.

The Yates story is very much a story of the everyday Australian, and this is reflected in the display at Eden Gardens. There are dozens of photographs; some family pictures, as well as many images from the factory, trial farms and warehouses of this great seed and gardening firm. Yates responses to the major events of the 20th century are recorded, as well as the brand’s challenges of adapting to a changing society. There are extracts from wartime newsletters, old advertising posters, seed stands and boxes and copies of the Yates Garden Guide through the years.

Reproduction Yates seed tins, filled with heritage varieties and illustrated with archival material, are also on sale.

Yates is an integral part of the Australian story and anyone who is interested in Australian social history will find this display fascinating. Eden Gardens is on the corner of Lane Cove and Fontenoy Roads, North Ryde, Sydney - just near the intersection of the M2.

Entry to the display (through the Dragonfly Cafe) is free but visitors are asked to make a voluntary gold coin donation to the Cancer Council.

Visit: www.yates.com.au