75th Anniversary
The Story of Barossa Nursery
Our Journey
In 2013, Daniel realized the face of retail was changing and changing quickly. Although iconic, the old wooden rotunda building had been outgrown and a modern new retail store was required.
After much planning, and the need to trade out of the goods inwards shed during construction, the new retail showroom opened in August 2016 and gave the opportunity to expand the retail offer to include more garden products, furniture, gifts, homeware and lifestyle products. The changes have been well received, and the business has been honored with many awards including SA’s Best Garden Centre in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Peoples Choice Award in 2020, 2021and 2022. The business was also awarded the national award at the Australian Garden and Nursery Industry Awards in 2004.
Kristee returned to the business in 2016 working along side Daniel as manager to further improve and develop the business. Barossa Nursery is a member of the Garden Centres of South Australia group and works with other major garden retailers to keep South Australia growing and looking great.
In 1987, after having 3 children, Erica began working at the retail site while Kevin continued at the production nursery.
In 1987, after having 3 children, Erica began working at the retail site while Kevin continued at the production nursery. In time, Eric was slowing down and Kevin and Erica were taking over the running of the business with Daniel, Ryan and Kristee helping at the production nursery after school and during school holidays with planting out, weeding and all manner of other nursery duties. The business continued to grow and in 1998 the opportunity arose for the Bartsch family to purchase the current site as an existing garden centre and renamed it to Barossa Nursery. Daniel was now working full time in the nursery and assisted Erica in cleaning up the new location to a standard they were happy with. As the years progressed, Daniel took on a larger role in the running of the nursery and slowly took over the management from Erica and Kevin however, to this day, Kevin is still at production 7 days a week with Erica filling gaps at the retail site when required.
It was back in 1951 when a young Eric Bartsch saw a need for the supply of seedlings to the local businesses around the Barossa.
After purchasing a land holding on Langmeil Road in Tanunda, he began experimenting, growing bundles of various seedlings, potatoes and onions in large garden beds at the back of the property. Eric and his wife Audrey, often under torch light once the children were in bed, would wrap them in newspaper and sold them from the front door of the house as well as the florist in Tanunda and other local businesses in the Barossa. Seedling bundles sold for 2c each, except for pansy’s which were sold for 3c each because the seed was more expensive. Over time, as the business grew, the family opened up a little shop known as Barossa Garden Centre located on the corner of what is now the Tourist Information Centre in Tanunda. After adding offerings such as hardware and more varieties of plants, the business moved to a larger premises in front of Foodland still in Tanunda. The business continued to grow with their son Kevin starting full-time work at the age of 15 at the production site and was joined by his sister Dianne who ran the shop.