The Kevin Hoffman Walk is a scenic trail featuring more than a thousand different species of native plants including 150 indigenous plants.
The trail is named after long-time Lara resident, 82-year-old Kevin Hoffman, who started beautifying the area when he and his wife moved in across the road in January 1970. Although he was a fitter and turner by trade, the garden allowed Kevin to pursue his love of horticulture and photography according to his wife, Beverley.
“Kevin spent 80 or 90 hours a week out here each summer: planting, weeding, watering and building the paths and retaining walls,” she said.
“Back when he started, people didn’t think about putting native plants into their gardens, everyone used to just think of cottage gardens and plant exotics.”
While Kevin hasn’t worked in the garden since moving into a nursing home in March, he still gives planting advice to members of the Friends of the Kevin Hoffman Walk. The group was formed in 2013 by neighbours, friends and other supporters.
Current President and Treasurer, Greg and Linda Wilson, have lived next door to the Hoffmans since 1980. “Kevin’s love of the gardens was an obsession more than a passion,” said Greg. “He just dedicated his life to it.”
According to Greg, the walk is a haven for many native bird species, including honeyeaters, wattlebirds and superb fairy-wrens. He believes that one of the many benefits of the walk is that it gives wildlife from nearby Serendip Sanctuary somewhere to migrate.
“This walk is so worth protecting. It’s a tribute to the extremely hard work of one man over 45 years that has become such a great asset – not just to the people of Lara, but also to the Greater Geelong community.”
The City works in close partnership with the Friends group and each year provides funding for upgrades and maintenance of the walk.
