About LCGD Australia
The London College of Garden Design Australia — Who We Are
The London College of Garden Design Australia (LCGD Australia) is a leading provider of professional garden design education, delivering world-class training from its home within the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Melbourne Gardens.
Bringing together the heritage of the renowned London College of Garden Design (UK) and the distinct botanical, horticultural and design culture of Australia, LCGD Australia offers a design-led pathway for emerging and career-changing garden designers.
Our History & International Connection
Founded in the UK by Andrew Fisher Tomlin and The London College of Garden Design, the College has long been recognised internationally for excellence in garden and planting design education.
The Australian campus was established to bring this world-class training to local designers, blending global design thinking with Australia’s unique climate, plant palette, and landscape identity.
LCGD Australia is headed by Directors Brent Reid and Andrew Fisher Tomlin, supported by a teaching team made up of leading garden designers, horticulturists, planting designers, and industry specialists.
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne & Online
LCGD Australia delivers a blended learning experience, combining in-person classes, site visits and immersive landscape experiences with live online learning.
Our classroom is based at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, one of the world's most respected botanical gardens, providing students with opportunities to learn within an extraordinary landscape setting throughout the program.
Alongside face-to-face learning, students participate in live online lectures, workshops and studio sessions delivered by leading garden designers, horticulturists and industry professionals from across Australia and internationally.
This flexible model allows us to bring together some of the best educators in the profession while providing students with access to a diverse range of expertise, projects and perspectives.
Students benefit from:
• Learning at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne throughout the program
• Site visits and landscape-based learning experiences
• Live online classes and studio sessions
• Access to leading Australian and international lecturers
• Real-time participation for students across Australia and New Zealand
Our Blended Learning Model
The Garden Design Program combines face-to-face learning, site visits and live online teaching.
Classes are delivered through a mix of in-person and online sessions, allowing students to learn from leading practitioners based across Australia and internationally.
This approach gives students access to industry experts who are actively designing, teaching and shaping the profession, while still benefiting from the collaborative learning experience and landscape-based activities that form an important part of the program.
All online classes are delivered live and in real time, allowing students to participate, ask questions and engage directly with lecturers and classmates.
Programs & Courses
LCGD Australia offers professional training designed for both career-changers and emerging designers.
Our flagship qualification is:
Garden Design Program — Two-Year Professional Qualification
Delivered across four semesters, this program covers:
Garden design principles and methodology
Planting design and horticulture
Construction and documentation
Conceptual thinking and design communication
Site planning and analysis
Software and graphic presentation
Real-world design studio work
Portfolio development for industry readiness
Online and in-person learning options ensure accessibility for students nationwide.
Graduates receive the LCGD Garden Design Diploma, accredited by the Society of Garden Designers (SGD), the UK’s professional body for garden designers.
Teaching Philosophy
LCGD Australia is built on a design-led education philosophy, preparing students to think creatively and critically while working with plants, people and place.
Our approach includes:
Studio-based learning
Pin-ups, crits, and one-on-one mentoring
Real project briefs
Expert guest lecturers
Show garden and competition opportunities
Industry-based learning and exposure
We believe that exceptional designers create spaces with meaning — connecting horticulture, creativity, architecture, environment and culture.
Industry Reputation & Partnerships
LCGD Australia is recognised within the Australian garden design and landscape community for producing highly capable, design-literate graduates.
Our connections include:
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS)
Plant growers, nurseries, suppliers and builders
Australia’s leading garden and landscape design studios
Internationally recognised guest lecturers and designers
Student Success & Graduate Outcomes
LCGD students and graduates have gone on to:
Exhibit show gardens at MIFGS (including medal-winning gardens)
Launch successful garden design practices
Work in leading landscape design studios
Collaborate with architects, interior designers, and builders
Publish work across major media platforms
Create award-winning residential, urban, rural and planting-focused projects
Many students join from completely different industries — the College has built a reputation for being the career-changer’s pathway into the garden design profession.
Why Students Choose LCGD Australia
World-class, contemporary design education
Access to botanical and horticultural expertise
A structured, professional qualification
Mentorship from industry leaders
A deep focus on planting design
Flexible study options (including online learning)
Strong graduate results and industry recognition
Our Mission
To shape the next generation of Australian garden designers by providing rigorous, design-led education rooted in horticulture, creativity, environmental understanding and real-world practice.
Contact
To learn more, visit the Garden Design Program page or contact our team regarding enrolment, short courses, or study pathways.