Our History
Celebrating 70 Years – WA Gerbera Society Inc.
2025, proudly marked the 70th Anniversary of the WA Gerbera Society Inc., celebrating seven decades of dedication to the cultivation, exhibition, and promotion of gerberas in Western Australia.
From its founding in the 1950s by passionate local growers, the Society has grown into a vibrant community of enthusiasts, breeders, and horticultural experts. Over the years, members have contributed to the development of new gerbera varieties, shared knowledge through exhibitions and shows, and fostered a strong culture of collaboration and learning.
This milestone offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the Society’s achievements, explore its rich history, and appreciate the ongoing commitment of its members in maintaining and advancing the legacy of gerbera cultivation across the state.
A Brief History of the Gerbera
Gerberas are relatively modern plants compared with many other well-known species and do not have a long or colourful history.
The first recorded discovery of the species is attributed to Traugott Gerber (1710–1743), a German botanist and medical practitioner, who reportedly found gerberas in eastern Europe or western Russia during the 1730s. Some historians, however, suggest that Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish naturalist and friend of Gerber, may have been responsible for the discovery. Regardless of who first found the plant, the genus name Gerbera was ultimately derived from Gerber’s name.
In 1737, Jan Frederik Gronovius, a Dutch botanist and patron of Linnaeus, formally assigned the name Gerbera. Beyond this, there is little historical record detailing the characteristics of these early specimens, such as flower colour, leaf shape, or stem length.
After Gerber’s initial discovery, the next significant record was by Robert Jameson, a Scotsman who identified a species in the Transvaal region of South Africa in the 1880s. This species, Gerbera Jamesonii, forms the basis of most modern gerberas. Jameson sent specimens to Cape Town, some of which were later forwarded to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. Around the same time, another species was sent to Kew from the Durban Botanical Gardens, though it is unclear whether it was identical to Jameson’s discovery.
Hybridisation and selective breeding of gerberas began in the late 19th century, but detailed records of these early programmes are scarce. Gerberas gained wider recognition after the Royal Horticultural Society’s Jubilee Exhibition at Chelsea in 1912, which sparked commercial interest, particularly in the Netherlands. Modern cultivars were developed by crossing Gerbera Jamesonii with Gerbera viridifolia, alongside contributions from species found in France, Germany, Belgium, the USA, and even Tasmania.
One of the most significant milestones in gerbera history was the development of double flowers in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This breakthrough stimulated large-scale breeding programs worldwide, including in Australia, leading to the extensive variety of colours, shapes, and plant types available today. The popularity of gerberas soared, making them the fifth most popular cut flower in the world.
The development of superior varieties was a key factor in the formation of the WA Gerbera Society in the 1950s, as members focused on cross-pollination and breeding to produce flowers of exceptional quality. Today, most early varieties are no longer grown, as they do not match the exhibition quality of modern cultivars. Due to the limited records of early cross-pollinations, undertaking new breeding programs with predictable outcomes remains challenging.
Today, approximately 40 different species of gerbera are known worldwide. Western Australia has its own native species, Trichocline spathulata, which grows in the Darling Ranges.
This overview provides a brief history of the gerbera plant, from its early discovery to its development into the highly popular and diverse flower we know today.
The Founding
Years
50's to 60's
Following the Gerbera Championship at the Kelmscott Horticultural Show in 1955, a decision was made to establish a dedicated Gerbera Section. The first meeting, attended by ten enthusiastic growers at a private residence, marked the beginning of what would become the WA Gerbera Society. As interest and membership grew, meetings soon relocated to the Kelmscott Parish Hall. By 1957, the group resolved to operate independently from the Kelmscott Horticultural Society, and in June of that year, the Gerbera Society of Western Australia was officially formed. When membership numbers began to fluctuate, the Society strategically moved meetings closer to the Perth metropolitan area, taking up residence at the Carlisle Scout Hall to encourage broader participation. In 1958, the Society hosted its first official Gerbera Show on the 26th of October. True to its grassroots beginnings, the event reflected the dedication and community spirit of its members — no nomination fees were charged, and five trophies were awarded in recognition of excellence. Show materials were modest yet resourceful: schedules were hand-typed, prize cards were donated, and displays were staged using borrowed trestles, tablecloths, and even household bottles as vases. Attendance was limited to members and their friends, setting the stage for what would evolve into a proud and enduring tradition of gerbera exhibitions across Western Australia.
Growth, Structure & Recognition
60's to 70's
In 1960, the Society relocated to the Bickford Memorial Hall in Carlisle, providing a more permanent and structured meeting space for members. By 1964, Bickford Hall had proven too isolated to attract sufficient public interest, prompting a move in June of that year to the Melville Community Association Hall (now known as the Roy Edinger Hall) on Stock Road, Melville. In 1965, the Society produced its first Journal on 25 June (Vol. 1 No. 1). The Journal continues to be published quarterly, sharing updates, research, and Society news with members—over 70 years later. In 1967, the Society’s Constitution was drafted and officially registered, as recorded in Journal Vol. 3 No. 5 and Vol. 3 No. 6. The following year, 1968, saw the establishment of the Gerbera Titles Registry of Australia in Perth, which officially commenced on 8 April, providing a formal record of recognised gerbera varieties. The late 1960s also marked the production of the Society’s first Gerbera Handbook—a carefully typed and photocopied guide created to provide members with valuable information on the cultivation and care of gerberas. In 1974, the Society achieved incorporation, and in August 1975 (Vol. 11 No. 7), the Journal proudly carried the title “WA Gerbera Society Inc.” on its cover for the first time.
Renewal, Relocation & Continued Growth
90's and Beyond
In 1994, amendments to the Society’s Constitution were finalised and formally advertised in Journal Vol. 30 No. 5, ensuring the organisation remained aligned with its evolving structure and membership needs. By 1999, significant changes prompted another transition. When the Melville Community Association Hall was leased by the Melville Theatre Group and permanent staging was installed, the venue was no longer suitable for meetings or shows. The Society briefly trialed a hall within the Melville Recreation Centre on Stock Road, but it too proved unsuitable. In July 1999, the R.S.L. Hall on Kintail Road in Applecross became the Society’s new meeting place—a welcoming and practical home that would serve members faithfully for the next 21 years. During this period, the South Perth Civic Centre Lesser Hall on South Terrace was selected as the new venue for shows, beginning in April 1999. As membership steadily increased, the Lesser Hall became too small to accommodate the growing number of exhibitors and attendees. Consequently, in 2001, the Society moved its October Show to the Main Hall of the South Perth Civic Centre, offering a more spacious and professional exhibition environment. In early 2007, major renovations were announced for the Civic Centre, requiring all bookings to be suspended for approximately 18 months. During this time, the Society temporarily relocated its shows to the Community Hall on Collins Street, South Perth. Following completion of the renovations, the WA Gerbera Society Inc. proudly returned to the beautifully restored South Perth Civic Centre in April 2011 to once again host its exhibitions. A decade later, in 2021, the Society experienced another rise in membership following the success of the April 2021 State Gerbera Championship Show. To accommodate this growth, monthly meetings were moved from the cozy R.S.L. Hall in Applecross—our home for 21 years—to the larger Community Hall on Collins Street, South Perth. This transition marked yet another step forward in the Society’s ongoing commitment to growth, inclusivity, and community engagement.