“We had champion Open Class bloom at 4 out of 5 events. Not bad for novice growers - only possible with the support of Gerard.” Allan Harvey and Joshua Carter
Watch Gerard in Action
Want to hear directly from one of Australia’s great dahlia champions? We had the opportunity to catch up with Gerard where he shares his No.1 tip for growing better flowers — timeless advice drawn from decades of exhibiting and mentoring success.
A Passion Sparked Early
Gerard’s story with dahlias began at the tender age of five, when he won his first blue ribbon at Mittagong Horticultural Show.
The winning bloom — a striking red cactus dahlia with delicate white tips — ignited a lifelong passion that would grow into one of Australia's most influential horticultural careers.
Following his marriage to Olwyn in 1978, Gerard expanded his skills beyond cultivation and exhibiting, specialising in irrigation design and installation — a foundation that would serve him well in building a nursery where plants could truly thrive.
Highland Dahlias: A Family Legacy
Nestled in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Highland Dahlias stands today as a proud testament to family dedication and horticultural excellence. What began as a dairy farm transformed into a registered nursery in 1988 and soon after, the name "Highland Dahlias" came to represent not just a physical location, but a way of life devoted to cultivating, celebrating and sharing dahlias with the world.
Set on a modest 2,000 square metre block — with just 600sqm devoted to growing — Highland Dahlias produces an astonishing 1,000 dahlia plants annually. From this compact space, the family not only grows for award-winning competition entries and propagation, but also supplies premium cut flowers to florists. It’s an incredibly efficient and productive use of space, showcasing the family's expertise and commitment to quality.
Today, alongside Gerard and Olwyn, their daughter Marleena continues the legacy as a proud member of the Dahlia Society of NSW & ACT, ensuring the spirit of Highland Dahlias will flourish for generations to come. Their son, Dan, is also part of the family’s dahlia story — a long-time judge at dahlia exhibitions, bringing his own expertise and eye for excellence to the show bench.
A Champion on the Show Bench
Throughout his exhibiting career, Gerard has been a force to be reckoned with on the show circuit.
Between 1983 and 2004, he was crowned the Most Successful Exhibitor at Sydney Royal Easter Show for an extraordinary 15 consecutive years. His long list of accolades includes Grand Champion Flower awards in South Australia, multiple championships at Berry, Nowra, Albion Park and the Australian Champion title in ACT.
In 2025, Gerard made a triumphant return to competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show — staging an extraordinary 240 vases of flowers across 157 entries over three days. His efforts earned 69 first places and 74 second places, with many classes swept by both a first and second prize. Once again, he was awarded the title of Most Successful Exhibitor — marking his 16th time claiming the honour.
During that same period, Highland Dahlias also supplied an impressive 100+ bunches of flowers to florists for the event. It’s a remarkable achievement that reflects not just talent, but a lifetime of dedication, resilience and innovation.
Breeding New Beauty: The 'O' Series
Gerard’s love for dahlias extends far beyond exhibiting. He has also bred some of Australia’s most admired cultivars under the distinctive 'O' suffix, including:
- Joan ‘O’ – a soft light pink ball
- Pinkie ‘O’ – a charming light pink collarette
- Lillian 15 ‘O’ – a striking red-yellow reverse orchid type
- Lava ‘O’ – a vibrant ball blending orange, red, and yellow
Both Lillian 15 ‘O’ and Pinkie ‘O’ have been nominated for Flower of the Year in NSW/ACT — a fitting recognition of Gerard’s skill and keen eye for excellence.
In addition to these well-known varieties, Gerard has also bred cultivars such as George ‘O’, Alike ‘O’, Aururo ‘O’, Cliffy ‘O’, Derkrad ‘O’, and Mrs Em ‘O’, each carrying the hallmark of his dedication to form, colour and performance.
Above all, Gerard remains a proud advocate for Australian-bred dahlias, championing their diversity and resilience in shows and gardens across the country.
A Mentor to Many
While Gerard’s accolades are impressive, it’s his impact as a mentor that has left the deepest mark on the community.
He has guided many growers to success, including Don Kelly, Bruce Raines, Daryn Brown, Allan Harvey and Joshua Carter...
Gerard is known for his generosity — empowering newcomers to succeed.
As Allan Harvey and Joshua Carter shared:
“What makes Gerard a true mentor is the fact that he will identify the issue you might have with staging, bloom selection or presentation BEFORE judging. Some competitors may only mention that POST judging! That revealed to us the authentic character of someone we have been so blessed to learn from.”
Through his mentorship, Gerard has helped foster a new generation of dahlia enthusiasts who will carry forward his values of excellence, fairness and community spirit.
Leading and Innovating
Beyond growing and mentoring, Gerard has been a leading force in the Dahlia Society of NSW & ACT, holding key roles including President, Vice President and Judges Convenor.
His lasting contributions include:
- Initiating and leading the Buy/Swap/Sell program, opening access to high-quality tubers across Australia.
- Developing the judging points system still used nationally today.
- Training and supporting the next generation of accredited dahlia judges.
Gerard’s leadership helped revitalise the Society, grow its membership and connect growers across regions.
Expanding Into the Cut-Flower Industry
Always forward-thinking, Gerard recognised the potential for dahlias beyond the show bench. Today, Highland Dahlias also supports the cut-flower industry — regularly supplying fresh high-quality blooms to florists, including over 100 bunches during the Sydney Royal Easter Show period alone.
What’s most impressive? All of this comes from just 600 square metres of dedicated growing beds — an extraordinary output that showcases the family’s expertise, care and efficiency in every part of the process.
Their striking varieties, including florist favourite W1 (known for its magenta colour, white tips and extended vase life), have made Highland Dahlias a standout name in floral design.
Gerard’s guidance has also helped many micro flower farms succeed, offering practical advice on soil health, bed prep, irrigation and plant care — all grounded in decades of real-world results.
A Tireless Educator and Advocate
Over decades, Gerard has never stopped sharing his love for dahlias with the world. Through workshops at Highland Dahlias, presentations at conferences, charity events like dahlias for dementia and countless talks at shows and club meetings, Gerard has educated thousands. From soil preparation tips to flower staging tricks, his insights have sparked enthusiasm and excellence at every level.
His leadership style — humble, knowledgeable, and welcoming — has built not just better growers, but a stronger, more connected community.
More Tips and Insights from Gerard
If you'd like to dive deeper into Gerard’s techniques, we’ve captured more of his advice in earlier videos:
- How to Grow Longer, More Robust Stems and Deeper Colour (2016 snippets)
- 👉 Watch here
- How to Grow Better Flower Stocks, Faster & More Robust (full 2016 video)
- 👉 Watch here
These videos offer a rare glimpse into the expertise that has made Gerard a champion and a mentor to so many.
Want to Learn More About Dahlias?
If you’ve been inspired by Gerard’s journey and want to dive deeper into the world of dahlias, consider joining the Dahlia Society of NSW & ACT.
👉 Visit the Society’s website to explore upcoming events or become a member.
Alternatively checkout the Highland Dahlias website which includes tips and tricks for growing dahlias. You can also purchase from their shop or attend one of their events and workshops.
👉 Visit Highland Dahlias Website and learn more now.
A Legacy Still Growing
Gerard Oldfield’s story is one of passion, perseverance, generosity and excellence. Through six decades of growing, breeding, judging, leading and mentoring, Gerard has not only earned a place among Australia's greatest dahlia champions — he has built a legacy of knowledge, community and inspiration that will flourish long into the future.
At Natural Growth Institute, we are proud to celebrate leaders like Gerard who embody the true spirit of growth. His work reminds us that in the world of horticulture, as in life, true success isn’t just measured by awards — it's measured by the lives we touch and the communities we help grow.
Thank you, Gerard, for everything you have given — and continue to give — to the dahlia world.
💡 Want more gardening tips? Check out our latest blogs for expert advice on foliar feeding, soil improvement and more here
💡 We’re always updating our guides to stay helpful and relevant. Have a tip, research update, or something we missed? Let us know — we’re all ears!
💡 Got an idea, special insight, or story worth sharing? We're open to quality blog contribution ideas that can help our community grow. If you'd like to contribute, get in touch — we'd love to hear from you. 😊
