Turf Collection

“In 2000, a Turf Research program was established and led by Dr Loch at the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Redlands Research Station. The lifestyle horticulture program was disbanded in 2012 following a machinery of Government change.

Within the turf research program was a “living library” of turfgrasses containing some 200 varieties of warm-season grasses from the USA and Australian ecotypes. The collection also served as a Genetic Resource Centre (GRC) for the purpose of Plant Breeder’s Rights (PBR) testing of turfgrasses in Australia.

After the research program was abounded the turf collection was in limbo. In 2015 Australian Sports Turf Consultants (ASTC – now Greenspace 4D) negotiated a deal with the DAF to remove and relocate the collection which would be used for education, and research by ASTC.

Considerable effort was required to reselect the appropriate plant material (Aug 2015), terminate the existing Redlands in-ground and tub collections (Oct 2015) and then replant the chosen plant material (Feb 2017).

The Turf Collection was relocated to a turf farm in Stockleigh, 40 minutes south of Brisbane’s CBD. The collection is maintained by ASTC with some funding coming from Turf Australia and limited turf owners/breeders. The turfgrass collection serves as a GRC to be used (where applicable, adhering to the Plant Breeder’s Rights Act 1994 and Australian and United States Patent regulations) for research, multiplication, breeding and as an educational source for the turfgrass industry and general public. Greenspace 4D is proud to be involved in this program, as we recognise this is particularly important for the next generation of turf managers and greenkeepers so they can physically see the difference between species and varieties of turf. Such an experience is invaluable to those starting in the turf management industry.

Support for this initiative is provided by Turf Australia.”