Story: Coogee Common
Episode: 3
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Air Date: 21 March 2026

Trevor visits Coogee Common to discover how a thriving kitchen garden supplies fresh produce and inspires home-grown harvests.

• Growing your own produce brings a unique sense of satisfaction, with fresh, homegrown ingredients often tasting better and helping reduce grocery costs.
• Trevor visits Coogee Common, a historic restaurant in coastal Western Australia, where a productive garden plays a central role in the dining experience.
• The site, originally built in 1894 as the Coogee Hotel, has been transformed into a unique venue that blends heritage with sustainable, garden-to-plate dining.
• The on-site garden supplies fresh produce not only to Coogee Common but also to its nearby sister restaurant, showcasing the potential of productive gardening at scale.
• Head gardener Andy Rutherford shares insights into what it takes to maintain a productive garden year-round, from planning and planting to ongoing care.
• Coastal conditions, including wind and salt exposure, present challenges that require careful plant selection and management.
• Maintaining healthy, nutrient-rich soil is key to consistent productivity, supporting strong plant growth and high-quality harvests.