Chronicle Garden Competition changes hands to Toowoomba Hospital Foundation for 2025 event

The legendary Chronicle Garden Competition will change hands in 2025, with the region’s only daily newspaper handing the reins over. Here’s why nothing will change:

After 75 years of celebrating Toowoomba’s green thumbs, one of the city’s most famous tourism events is entering a new era.

The legendary Chronicle Garden Competition will change hands in 2025, with the region’s only daily newspaper handing the reins over to the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation as the new owner.

The Chronicle will remain the principal sponsor, with this year’s competition running in the same format as previous iterations.

General manager Erika Brayshaw said the arrangement preserved the event’s core values and traditions, ensured its viability into the future and created opportunities to raise funds for cancer care on the Darling Downs.

“Transferring ownership of our beloved Chronicle Garden Competition to the Toowoomba Hospital Foundation really showcases The Chronicle’s commitment to giving back to our community,” she said.

“We are extremely proud to assist with raising much needed funds for the Hospital Foundation, in particular the Regional Cancer Centre.”

The Chronicle general manager Erika Brayshaw and Mike Wells, garden liason. Chronicle Garden competition launch at Cobb+Co Museum. Saturday, June 11, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

THF chief executive Alison Kennedy said the charity and its staff were excited to celebrate what made the competition so enduring.

“Our role is to support and sustain this event, not change it,” she said.

“The Chronicle Garden Competition has always been about our community; the talented gardeners who make our city bloom.

“That remains the driving force behind this event, and always will.”

Ms Kennedy said more resources will be added to the event to elevate what she believed was one of Toowoomba’s most famous cultural touchstones.

“We understand that any change can bring questions, but rest assured, this event will continue as you’ve known and loved it,” she said.

“We are honoured to carry forward The Chronicle’s incredible legacy, and our focus is on celebrating the green thumbs that make Toowoomba Australia’s Garden City.”

Mike Wells will continue on as the competition’s garden liason, with the event to officially launch in the coming months.