The Baileys Verge Awards
THE WINNERS ARE IN!
As part of our 100th anniversary celebrations, we launched the Baileys Verge Awards to recognise the incredible Perth residents transforming verges into thriving spaces for people, wildlife and community.
After receiving inspiring entries from right across the metropolitan area, we're delighted to announce our 2026 winners.
BAILEYS BEST VERGE AWARD
Winner: Ian & Daphne, White Gum Valley
Recipient of the $10,000 Grand Prize
What began as a limestone reef with poor soil has been transformed into one of Perth's most inspiring native verge gardens.
Passionate advocates for waterwise gardening, the winners have spent the past eight years creating a thriving habitat that showcases the beauty and biodiversity of local coastal plants. Dry stone walls, crushed limestone pathways and carefully selected native species have created a welcoming landscape that supports birds, insects and native wildlife while requiring minimal watering.
Located on a prominent corner block beneath a mature Tuart tree, the verge has become a local landmark, attracting visitors from across Perth, landscape professionals, university groups and even the attention of Gardening Australia.
As active members of Valley Verges, they've also helped inspire and support countless others to transform their own verges, demonstrating the positive impact great gardening can have on an entire community.
BAILEYS GIFT A VERGE WINNERS
Three deserving Western Australians have each won a professionally designed verge makeover valued at $5,000.
Jo, Hamilton Hill
A beloved community connector, Jo was nominated by neighbours who described her as the driving force behind local gatherings, from street parties to community events. The community hopes to transform her verge into a reflection garden and gathering space that honours their shared memories and strengthens neighbourhood connections.
Narrelle, Success
Nominated by her daughter Narrelle is a dedicated night-shift nurse who looks after disadvantaged families and is a single mother of four. Narrelle's verge makeover will create an attractive, low-maintenance outdoor space she can enjoy without adding to her already demanding schedule.
Suzi, Nedlands
With a vision for a wheelchair accessible and wildlife-friendly verge, Suzi impressed judges with her desire to create a waterwise space that supports local biodiversity while improving accessibility. The makeover will help transform an underutilised lawn area into a welcoming habitat for birds, including endangered Carnaby's Cockatoos.
The incredible response to the Baileys Verge Awards has shown just how passionate Perth residents are about building greener, cooler and more connected communities.
From spectacular biodiversity havens to deserving makeover recipients, every entry demonstrated the positive impact verge gardens can have on our streets, our environment and our sense of community.
Thank you to everyone who entered, nominated a neighbour or shared their gardening story with us.
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Who is judging The Baileys Verge Awards?
The search for Perth’s Best Verge will be guided by some of Western Australia’s most respected gardening experts, sustainability advocates and horticultural leaders.
Judges of The Baileys Verge Awards:
- Neville Passmore: Fourth-generation WA plant producer, and a regular on The Garden Gurus, Neville is one of the state's most recognised garden experts, with more than four decades of experience across horticulture, education and industry leadership.
- Mel Logozzo: Founder of the thriving @RewildingSuburbia online community with more than 175,000 followers and author of Rewilding Suburbia, inspiring Australians to create more biodiverse, wildlife-friendly gardens.
- Andrea Whitely: The Sunday Times Gardening Columnist, horticultural consultant and a highly respected voice within WA's gardening community.
- Gen Bailey: Research & Development Director at Evergreen Garden Care and a fourth-generation member of the Bailey family, bringing deep expertise in gardening innovation and soil science.
- Together, these industry experts bring decades of experience across gardening, biodiversity, landscape design and plant science - making them perfectly placed to identify Perth’s Best Verge and recognise those most deserving of a Baileys Verge Makeover.
What are the judges looking for in the Baileys Best Verge Award?
Entries for Perth's Best Verge will be assessed on:
• Street appeal and beauty
• Thoughtful planting and creative use of space
• Soil health and garden care
• Waterwise principles
• Biodiversity and habitat value
• Community contribution and neighbourhood pride
What are the judges looking for in the Baileys Verge Makeover Award?
Applications and nominations for a Baileys Verge Makeover will be assessed on:
• Potential for transformation and positive neighbourhood impact
• The story behind the application or nomination
• Creativity and vision for the space
• Potential to support biodiversity and local wildlife
• Existing verge conditions and opportunity for improvement