THE GO GREEN STORY
Go Green Rainforest Nursery is a wholesale production nursery growing Australian native plants at North Arm on the Sunshine Coast. We specialise in Australian rainforest species.
Go Green was established by Simon Smith in 1998 in the western suburbs of Brisbane before relocating to the Mooloolah Valley on the Sunshine Coast in 2000. From there Go Green expanded and relocated to Glenview where it continued to run a wholesale production nursery and an adjoining retail outlet for almost 15 years.
Accompanying the nursery production and retail outlet Simon also ran a consultancy business, Go Green Garden Consulting assisting Government, private enterprise and land owners with native plant landscape design, planning, plant identification, flora/fauna surveying and plant supply.
After a short closure Go Green Rainforest Nursery located to North Arm in 2022 and developed a new growing facility to focus on the wholesale production of Australian native plants.
Go Green is proudly Australian owned and sits upon the beautiful lands of the Gubbi Gubbi people and acknowledges the traditional custodians of country and their connections to the land, sea and community.
WHO IS GO GREEN?
THE EVOLUTION OF GO GREEN
Simon Smith has owned and run the business since its inception in the mid 90’s. As an avid bushwalker, lover of natural environments and wildlife Simon became frequently frustrated he could not source information on native plants, their relationships with native wildlife or where to obtain them for his botanical plantings.
A conversation with a local nursery owner, Greg Breen of Rainforest World changed his path forever.
Whilst working for the Qld Government he obtained his Horticultural Certification attending Grovely Horticultural Campus week nights and weekends. During this time he constructed his first nursery site and commenced growing plants in Chuwar adjacent to the Brisbane River.
In 2000 Simon took on an environmental role with Caboolture Shire Council and relocated the business to the Mooloolah Valley on the Sunshine Coast. Go Green rapidly expanded here and in 2006 Simon commenced working the business as his full time employment. Go Green became well known for its quality plants and ability to propagate and supply rare species.
Go Green took off and demand required a larger site with the ability to open a retail outlet. This quickly happened and Go Green relocated in 2006 to Glenview and stayed there for almost 15 years.
Go Green again relocated in 2022 to its current site where a new wholesale production facility has been constructed focusing on propagating and growing Australian native plants.
PROVEN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
With over 28 years experience in horticulture Simon and Go Green have provided consultancy and plants to numerous organisations and projects including:
Qld Government Departments such as Parks and Wildlife, Main Roads, Education Qld, Biosecurity Qld
Brisbane City Council, Sunshine Coast Council, Moreton Bay Council
Australia Zoo, Taronga Zoo, National Zoo and Aquarium
Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Park project in Riyadh
Legacy Way Tunnel rejuvenation of the Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens
Simon has been actively working to promote Horticulture since joining the Nursery and Garden Industry of Qld (NGIQ) in 2004 and has worked with industry experts, TV celebrities, growers, allied trade providers, stakeholders and home gardeners to promote its values.
He has sat on the NGIQ State Board as a Director and held the roles of NGIQ Sunshine Coast Branch President, Vice President, Retail Representative and for the last four years the Chairman of the Qld Garden EXPO.
His experience has seen him employed with NGIQ industry leaders such as Greenstock Nurseries and Blue Sky Nursery/Tango Trees where he is currently Sales, Marketing and Human Relations Manager.
