Rodney's of "picturesque Pialligo" is celebrating its 50 th birthday, the family-run nursery business surviving and thriving in the face of drought, COVID lockdowns and Canberrans' fading passion for a luxurious lawn. Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The nursery and garden centre remains a family-run operation, started by Cheryl and Rodney Toll in 1974 and now run by their children - with occasional enthusiastic help from their grandchildren.
The business has evolved over the decades. Nearly 30 years ago the family put in a cafe - a first for an Australian nursery - and it remains a favourite catch-up spot for Canberrans. The Tolls also added a popular retail space that helped to galvanise the business.
But at the heart of it all has been the people - the family, the staff and the customers. "It's been a love affair for Rodney and I all these years," Cheryl Toll said. "It's not work to us as such.
We enjoy the customers. We enjoy growing the place and putting more into it and making it better and better. That's been one of the nicest achievements.
"Now we have generations of customers who come." The family has a week of 50 th birthday celebrations starting on Saturday and Sunday, with street food, family entertainme.
