A Story of Growth

Tingalpa Wholesale Nursery (TWN) was established in 1985 on an 8,000m² property in Tingalpa, a suburb on Brisbane’s eastern side. Fittingly, Tingalpa means “place of the fat kangaroo” a name that reflects the area’s rich natural heritage and fertile landscape.

TWN are a proud family-owned and operated business, with family partners bringing together more than 100 years of combined horticultural knowledge and hands-on growing experience.

But the story begins long before 1985.

In 1907, Philip Taylor’s grandfather planted an apple orchard at Tally Ho in Victoria, marking the beginning of the Taylor family’s lifelong connection to horticulture. In the 1950s, the family relocated to Queensland, where they began small-scale cropping in the rich red soils of Aspley on Brisbane’s northside, growing pawpaw, pumpkin, tomatoes, and rockmelon.

In 1982, Philip moved to Tingalpa with his young family and began establishing stock plants for cutting material, with a vision to supply quality indoor plants to the southern states. Those early years were built on determination and hard work including driving around Brisbane suburbs in an HQ Holden with a trailer, going door-to-door sourcing happy cane (Dracaena massangeana) to build the foundation of the nursery.

Through the early 1990s, TWN expanded to a five-acre property at Wakerley. Originally a cut flower farm with a single grow tunnel developed into a significant production nursery, ultimately including 37 grow tunnels, extensive stock plant areas, a dam, packing sheds, and comprehensive water treatment and storage systems.

By 2001, continued growth led to the acquisition of a 25-acre site at Chandler, a former poultry farm transformed into a state-of-the-art production facility. By 2007, the site was fully operational, featuring three acres of stock plants, four acres of grow tunnels.

That same year, TWN completed a 20-megalitre water storage dam and advanced water reticulation systems, enabling them to capture, treat, and reuse all irrigation water on-site, as well as harvest rainfall. This investment ensured they operate as a fully self-sustainable nursery, committed to responsible water management and environmental stewardship.

In 2020, TWN expanded their facilities with an additional acre of grow tunnels and 350,000 litres of extra water storage capacity.

Today, TWN is led by Philip’s sons, Stephen and Joel, supported by a dedicated team of 11 staff who share a passion for quality and service. Philip remains actively involved, continuing to guide the business with the same steady commitment that has shaped its growth over decades.

Tingalpa Wholesale Nursery brings together generations of horticultural expertise and modern production practices to deliver premium indoor plants to wholesale customers across Australia.

A family business defined by resilience, innovation, and a deep respect for growing quality indoor plants.