George Brunning (1830-1893) was a qualified nurseryman, born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. He and his brother Charles travelled to Australia in 1853. After designing and planting gardens in Melbourne and managing a nursery in Richmond, he establish his own nursery in 1860. He moved to Argyle Street, St Kilda, and later acquired additional property in Brighton Road and Inkerman Street, utilising more than ten acres (4 ha) of land for the business. By 1885 Brunnings nurseries, St Kilda, were leaders in their field in Victoria and had a large export trade to other Australian colonies.mounted and framed sepia photographgeorge brunning, st kilda, brunnings nurseries

May have been created in 1876.Colour lithograph, mounted and framed. Brunning house in foreground with the hothouses on the RHS and sheds to the rear. House depicted as single storey with verandah across the front and southern side. Brighton Road carriageway in foreground. Railway line with train to the rear.brunnings nurseries, george brunning

George Brunning was born in Suffolk, England, on 2 October 1830 and settled in St Kilda in June, 1852. He was a gardener and became part-proprietor and manager of Rule's Nursery in Richmond before establishing the first nursery of his own in 1861. Following his death on 5 June 1893, his sons continued the business. An article published in Punch in 1907 observed 'Nearly all the flowers grown in and around Melbourne, indeed, throughout Victoria, which are not native to Australia, had their origins in the nurseries of George Brunning and Sons. The statement is a large one to make, but it is literally true.'Single page black and white photocopy of advertisement from an unidentified publication for G Brunning & SonG Brunning & Son, St Kilda Nurseries, Near Melbourne, Beg to announce they have the Largest and Most Extensive Nursery Stock in the Australian Colonies. Ten acres of our ground are under cultivation with Flowers and Shrubs, upwards of two acres being covered with pot grown plants. We are the biggest Importers of new florists flowers in the Southern Hemisphere, always adding to our Stock all the Novelties as they appear in Europe. Our nurseries are particularly noted for the fine collections of roses, show, fancy and zone pelargoniums, fuchsias, picots, carnations, and other leading Plants, Shrubs, etc. In addition, we cultivate extensively the best and most popular kinds of fruit trees, of sorts suitable for private gardens, or for market purposes. Priced Catalogues are published annually in May, and will be forwarded gratis on application to G Brunning & Son, St Kilda Nurseries, Near Melbourne. Visitors to Melbourne are respectfully invited to inspect our Nurseries.g brunning and son, plant nurseries victoria, st kilda, 19th century