Operating since November 1999, Ooray Orchards P/L has concentrated on growing native Australian fruit trees with particular emphasis on assessing varied genotypes of Davidsonia species. Ooray Orchards P/L and the associated Burringbar Botanical Gardens are situated within the Tweed district of far north-eastern, NSW. These two operations are the concept of Kris Kupsch, a botanical enthusiast who has been studying Australian native plants for twenty years. Since embracing this interest, Kris has planted over 5 acres of rainforest arboreta, containing some 1500 species of native plants. Kris’s continued passion for plants has seen him cultivate endangered species and thus broaden the knowledge base for those assisting in preserving such species within the wild.

The recently established Botanic Gardens Nursery (BGN) is a subset of Ooray Orchards P/L. BGN currently offers a small but promising variety of mostly Australian tropical and subtropical species specifically catering for botanical collections but also for landscaping and bushfood plantings. The nursery is a new endeavour, decided upon by the constant requests for native species rarely available in the nursery trade. BGN is developing two growing facilities, one at Burringbar in far northern-eastern NSW (just over 100km south of Brisbane) and the other in Malanda in far north-eastern QLD (60km south-west of Cairns). These two disjunct locations give BGN the ability to source a wide range of species to hopefully shape Australian horticulture into the future. The NSW facility is the larger of the two and should be fully operational by the end of 2007. The majority of species grown by BGN have been trialled in the ground for over ten years within the subtropical climate of north-eastern NSW. This allows for good judgement of species requirements especially those generally considered to demand tropical conditions. View the Arboretum list for species cultivation notes.

Kris has 20 years experience in propagation, revegetation and is tertiary trained in Horticulture and Botany with particular focus on rainforest botanical sciences. He has been the leader of the Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants - Rainforest Study Group for a number of years and regularly consults with horticulturists on aspects of Australian plant culture. Professionally, Kris is employed fulltime with Biotropica Australia P/L on the Atherton Tablelands in North Queensland as a Botanist and Environmental consultant.

Unlike other plant providers BGN is developing a ‘Risk Assessment Rating’ to help and reduce the possibility of introducing new weeds. This rating is based on biological character traits of each species grown. Once developed individual species risk assessments can be forwarded on request. BGN is aware of the risks posed by bridging natural ecological barriers and introducing species to new areas. Reflecting this attitude, BGN openly converses with clients concerning the sale of those species considered to be an environmental risk outside of their natural range.

Here at BGN, nursery hygiene is of the upmost importance. BGN constantly strives to better its hygiene practices by using soil-less media and by utilising shelved growing facilities. In the future BGN eventually aims to possess Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia (NIASA) standards.

BGN possesses an Authorisation to Propagate permit issued under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act (1992) and holds permits to collect and propagate a number of threatened species.

BGN is closely associated with Trees for Earth P/L who provides detailed information and services on growing trees within plantations. Trees for Earth P/L are based on the Sunshine Coast where they implement and manage plantations throughout SE QLD and NSW. They specialise in a range of unique tree growing products from biologically rich soil improvers to tree guards. BGN currently liaises with Trees for Earth P/L to assist in species selection, especially trialling methods to successfully grow tropical cabinet timbers.

BGN is collaborating efforts with Incana Nursery P/L so as to broaden the availability of species and thus offer a greater range to landscape gardeners. Incana Nursery P/L invest their time in growing a wide range of ornamental foliage and flowering plants with most attention towards species in the families Heliconiaceae (Heliconias), Zingiberaceae and Costaceae (Gingers), Begoniaceae (Begonias- non-invasive species and cultivars only) and Taccaceae (Bat Plants). Also available are various palms and rare trees, and a number of other understorey plants in the Marantaceae family (Calatheas etc.)