We are currently recruiting two Nursery Hands to join our production team in Ewingsdale. These are hands-on growing roles at a NIASA-accredited wholesale nursery supplying landscape contractors, councils, and developers across Australia.
Both roles are based at our Ewingsdale property and work Monday to Thursday, 7am–4pm. We supply over 100 species of advanced trees and screening plants to landscape contractors, councils, and developers across Australia.
Casual / Part-time — Potential to convert to permanent · Ewingsdale NSW 2481
This is a production nursery hand role within our growing team at Cape Nursery’s 20-acre coastal site in Ewingsdale. You will be responsible for the day-to-day physical production tasks that keep over 100 species of advanced trees and screening plants healthy, properly staged, and ready for dispatch. The work is outdoors, hands-on, and physically active.
Cape Nursery supplies landscape contractors, councils, and developers across Australia. The plants you tend will go into streetscapes, commercial landscaping projects, and prestige residential developments. It is production work with a direct and lasting impact.
Day-to-day duties will include potting and repotting stock across multiple container sizes (140mm to 1000L), watering and irrigation checks, plant staging and layout, removal and disposal of substandard stock, maintaining growing area hygiene and biosecurity protocols, and assisting with loading and dispatch preparation. You will also assist with general property maintenance and infrastructure upkeep as required.
The nursery operates Monday to Thursday, 7am–4pm. Initial engagement is casual, with a realistic path to part-time or permanent employment for the right candidate. Hours may increase during peak production periods.
You do not need formal horticultural qualifications for this role, though any nursery, farming, or landscape experience is highly regarded. We are looking for someone physically fit, reliable, and genuinely interested in plants and production horticulture. Experience operating small machinery (forklifts, tractors, ride-ons) is an advantage. A current driver’s licence is required.
Cape Nursery holds NIASA accreditation, which requires consistent adherence to documented biosecurity and production protocols. Attention to process and a methodical approach to physical work are important traits in our team.
Pay rate of $26–$30 per hour depending on experience, plus 25% casual loading, in accordance with the Horticulture Award 2020 (MA000028). Superannuation at the current statutory rate. After conversion to permanent: four weeks annual leave, access to personal leave, and long service leave accrual.
The nursery is 7km from Byron Bay and within easy commuting distance of Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads, Bangalow, Lismore, and Ballina. On-site parking. A small, stable team with low turnover and a professional working culture.
Send a brief cover letter and CV to accounts@capenursery.com.au with the subject line Nursery Hand Application. Include a description of any relevant plant or outdoor work experience. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — don’t wait for a closing date.
Casual / Part-time — Potential to convert to permanent · Ewingsdale NSW 2481
This position is a step up from general nursery production and requires demonstrated experience with irrigation systems and a higher level of plant knowledge. You will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining our computerised drip irrigation network across the full 20-acre growing site, as well as taking a leading role in plant husbandry — identifying early signs of disease, pest pressure, or nutritional deficiency, and responding accordingly.
Cape Nursery holds NIASA accreditation and operates UV water sterilisation and recycled water systems across the site. Familiarity with drip irrigation scheduling, emitter maintenance, and basic water quality monitoring is a significant advantage in this role.
Your primary focus will be on irrigation system inspection, maintenance, and daily monitoring — checking pressure, identifying blocked or damaged emitters, adjusting schedules by species and container size, and logging any anomalies. You will also be responsible for plant health monitoring across the growing areas: assessing foliage condition, identifying and escalating disease or pest observations, and maintaining growing area records in accordance with our NIASA compliance requirements.
In addition to these specialist responsibilities, you will contribute to general nursery production tasks alongside the broader team: potting, staging, loading and dispatch preparation, and biosecurity protocol adherence.
Monday to Thursday, 7am–4pm. Initial casual engagement with a clear pathway to permanent for the right candidate. Some additional hours may be required during high-demand periods or following weather events requiring system inspection.
You should have at least two years of experience in wholesale nursery production, commercial horticulture, or a related field. Demonstrated experience with drip irrigation systems — whether in nursery, agricultural, or landscape construction contexts — is highly valued. A Certificate III in Horticulture, Irrigation, or a related discipline is advantageous but not essential if experience is strong.
Plant identification skills and genuine horticultural knowledge are important. You should be able to recognise common pests and diseases in subtropical growing conditions and have confidence in escalating issues appropriately. Familiarity with Myrtaceae species (Lilly Pillies, Brush Box, Tristaniopsis) and subtropical ornamentals is a plus, given the makeup of our range.
A current driver’s licence and forklift licence (or willingness to obtain one) are required. Experience operating a forklift in a production environment is advantageous.
Pay rate of $28–$34 per hour depending on experience, plus 25% casual loading, in accordance with the Horticulture Award 2020 (MA000028). Superannuation at the current statutory rate. On conversion to permanent: four weeks annual leave, personal leave, and long service leave accrual.
We invest in skill development for team members who show initiative. Opportunities may exist for NIASA compliance training, irrigation systems training, and forklift licensing support for the right candidate.
Send your CV and a short cover letter to accounts@capenursery.com.au with the subject line Nursery Hand — Irrigation Application. Please describe your irrigation experience specifically and include any relevant qualifications or tickets. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis.
While we are not actively recruiting, the roles that typically arise at Cape Nursery include:
Cape Nursery is a member of NGINA (Nursery & Garden Industry NSW & ACT). For broader industry career resources, the Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) maintains career and training resources for professionals in the nursery sector.