Our People
29 August, 2026
Steve closes the garden gate
For 96 years, the Hughan family have been providing plants, seeds and gardening advice to Ararat gardeners, but the dynasty is about to end. 79-year-old Steve Hughan has been part of the family nursery business most of his life, but in coming weeks he’ll shut the door for the last time ending a remarkable commitment to Ararat.
Steve’s father started in Ararat in 1930 in the shop currently occupied by SEDE Café before moving to their current location in 1935.
Over the years, Hughan’s nursery has helped thousands of residents with everything from seeds and plants to tools, fertilisers, sprays, and most importantly, sound advice.
From a young age, Steve was keen to follow in his father’s footsteps.
“I went to Burnley College and did a diploma of horticulture in the 1960s,” he said.
Steve comes from a long line of horticulturists dating back over 175 years.
He said growing things comes naturally.
“I’m actually the fourth generation (in horticulture). I can trace family involvement back to 1850 in Scotland with various cousins and uncles and so forth.
“I’m the last link which makes me a bit sad. I would have liked to get to 100 years but it wasn’t to be,” he said.
Steve advised this week his shop will close in the next three weeks before he starts cleaning up the property for a new tenant.
“It’s going to take a fair while to clean this place up. My dad was a bit of a hoarder and so am I. We’ve got stuff upstairs, we’ve got stuff in the cellar and down the back and that will take a while.
He told the Advocate this week he’s sad to be finally pulling the pin on a long and successful career.
“Some of the customers are third generation in some cases. And yes, I will miss the interaction with people and I will miss helping people with their gardening problems and sourcing particular plants they want.
“I’ll also miss the interaction with our suppliers. Some of them have become close and personal friends after many years dealing with them.
In retirement, Steve insists he has plenty to do.
“I’ve got a big garden at home which is a bit neglected and I’ll perhaps get involved in a few more community things. I’m not going to sit around and twiddly my thumbs and watch TV all day,” he said.
“My own garden has a lot of potential but it needs a lot of work. I haven’t had the time to do it.
As Steve starts to wind down, he admits leaving the business will be a huge change.
“It’s going to be hard. It has been my whole life. It is what I have wanted to do from my early teenage years onwards.
“It had to end sooner or later and it’s better to finish up this way than being carted out in a box,” he said.
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