When the opportunity to apply for a Green Adelaide Grassroots Grant presented itself, the team at Adelaide Presbyterian Church Norwood – affectionately known as Adelaide “Pressy” Church – knew they had to grab it with both hands.
They hoped the grant would help them create a welcoming space – but didn’t know it would create connection like they’ve never seen before, even with passersby.
Read on to hear about the transformation and discover their advice for future grant applicants.
Why is this grant project important?
Lead Pastor Davo Gunning says before the grant, the church had a street front that was very unwelcoming.
‘Out the front of the church we had this concrete jungle.
‘There was this big chain that was across the front of the building and a big mesh fence that [effectively] said, “Stay out we’ve got no interest in engaging with you whatsoever”,’ he says.
Davo says that cutting down the chain fence barrier and replacing it with garden beds and beautiful permeable pavers removed a barrier from the community coming on site.
‘Normally when people walk past they just kind of go, “Oh yep, there’s the footy stadium, right, physio is on the corner” – now they’re like, “Oh, what’s this garden?”
‘[Then they] look up and realise there’s a church here and they’re like, “I didn’t know there was a church here” – even though it’s been here for close to 150 years,’ he says.
On a personal note, Pastor Davo says he is enjoying the ‘little oasis of calm and peace’ that the grant has helped them create.
‘I grew up in the bush and I just love being connected to the smells and the freedom that comes from being out in open spaces with greenery around.
‘In the city we ordinarily have very little of that… and so I just love, as I drive in, to be able to see greenery – there’s a bit of a calming nature to that – and I really like not just being stuck on the concrete,’ he says.
The site uses a mix of native plants typical of the SA Blue Gum Woodland that would have been there long ago, and introduced species.
Davo says he has been impressed by the plant choices made by their landscapers – both natural and hardy plants that will “survive a bit of neglect”.
‘They are just looking fabulous,’ he says.
The gazebo at the back of the church, which sits next to an open space with a tall gum tree.
How did the Grassroots Grant help?
So far, the church team have finished their front garden beds, permeable paving, some tree planting and installation of a gazebo to provide shade.
Davo says, ‘What we haven’t yet done is we’ve got a blank garden bed [out the back of the church] that is going to be filled by some of our members of our congregation.
‘We’re looking at things like some grapevines and citrus, to enliven the place up a little bit, hide that dirty grey fence and allow us to continue to do the work that has been started by this grant,’ he says.
The church has been fortunate to combine donations from members with the money received from the grant, to help take the project further.
Davo hopes that after the garden bed they will be able to continue on to hiding the back sheds, which are positioned next to the lawn in the open space at the back of the church, and do a few other things as well.
Once it’s all complete, church groundskeeper John Carpinelli will continue to look after the space with the help of the church community, through monthly working bees and volunteering opportunities.
Davo says that they’re lucky to have a couple of horticulturalists in the church community who are able to help with things like designing the final garden bed.
Greenery has made the site more welcoming to the church community and beyond.
Do you have any words of advice for future applicants?
Pastor Davo says the process was simple to follow and ‘reasonably smooth’.
‘It is a comprehensive questionnaire, which I think is good.
‘[We had] particularly good support from staff,’ he says.
Davo says Green Adelaide Education Officer Jeremy Gramp has been ‘fantastic’.
‘Any time we had a question, he was on the phone and ready to answer the question,’ he says.
Davo says the process was time consuming but not in an unexpected way, so he recommends having someone focused on the application.
‘Don’t be afraid to ring the [Green Adelaide] office,’ he says.
Find out more
Applications are now open for round 7 of the Green Adelaide Grassroots Grants.
Grants from $2,000 to $200,000 are available for local projects that contribute to a cooler, greener and wilder Adelaide.
Find out more and apply before 25 May 2026.