Our Story

WHAT THE HECK IS DENDROMANIA?
DENDROMANIA IS A MARKETPLACE WHERE AUSTRALIANS CONNECT TO BUY AND SELL TREES AND TREE RELATED GOODS AND SERVICES
WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ALL THINGS “TREE”
WE BELIEVE IN THE FUTURE OF FORESTRY AND HORTICULTURE
WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE THIS PLANET MORE BEAUTIFUL AND SUSTAINABLE THAN WE FOUND IT

Our "Roots"

We are dendromaniacs. dendromania is from the ancient Greek word Dendron meaning tree. Combine this with mania, or excessive enthusiasm and you get the idea. Dendromania was born from a passion for tree growing and a creative mind.

Not being one to accept the status quo in forestry, we built a small tree nursery on the family farm in southern NSW to promote agroforestry. Having an appreciation for different types of trees, Tim wanted to plant and grow non-mainstream species. Trying to source these trees highlighted a challenge, how do you find the specific tree you want without spending most of your day either on the phone or in the car travelling between nurseries?

Having developed a fascination of redwoods, Tim was convinced they were a fabulous tree, but wondered how he could convince others of this and market his trees effectively. Where could he sell his trees? Who to? Where could he buy the things he needed for the nursery?

On a cold winter’s night after a long day in the nursery, Tim was convinced their had to be a better way to connect tree growers, suppliers and customers. If only there was one place where all this could happen?

In the early days during the nursery’s construction, we sought advice from other local nursery owners. Talking to them, tales of hardship and slow sales dominated our conversation. Perhaps we could create an online marketplace for people like us to advertise their trees for sale and make buying easier?

We really hope you enjoy our site (we certainly have fun). More than this, we hope that it achieves our goal of restoring an enthusiasm for planting trees and better connecting the tree growing community! To learn more about our goals see “our yardstick”.

Our "Yard-Stick"

What the heck is dendromania?
  • To establish Dendromania as an honest, reliable venue for nurseries to interact with a wider consumer market.
  • To strengthen links between Australian tree producers and nurseries.
  • To help raise the profile of our tree industries and inspire the resurgence of forestry and horticulture across the country.
  • To educate and support consumers in their journey from initial tree selection to established tree management.
  • To foster sustainable employment in horticulture and forestry through sponsored scholarships.
  • To leave a positive, sustainable and valued environmental legacy for future generations.
  •      Let’s get growing!

My name is Tim Gillespie-Jones
and I’m a “dendromaniac”

Tim’s forestry “seed was sown” in an unlikely location- in Ecuador whilst paddling the Jondachi River. Whilst stretching his legs, he met some American foresters. After spending time with them, he realized forestry was his calling. After studying forestry at the Australian National University, he was given two choices for work- Roma, Qld or Bombala, NSW. Due to the charming Rosie whom he’d just met, he moved to Bombala. He started his career in the silviculture stream, then had a brief taste in harvest sales and marketing before finishing his time in roading. This experience convinced him there was much wrong with the industry. He wouldn’t accept the various principles practiced so his focus and effort returned to agroforestry- what Tim believes is the truly sustainable form of forestry.

Early Memories
Playing aussie rules footy and cricket (including tense backyard games with my brother), holidays at Newport Sydney, grandad’s billycarts, dodgy backyard flying foxes, mum’s Nutmeg cakes, fishing for carp and feeding them to pelicans, “mum’s taxi service” to sporting commitments, body surfing contests with Dad.

Early Adult Years
Kayaking, gap year spent travelling and discovering forestry in Ecuador. Consumed by farm forestry whilst at university in Canberra. Meeting Rosie. Moving to Bombala. Working in plantation forestry. Developing a love of sequoias and constructing a small nursery to grow trees. Marrying Rosie. Spending lots in renovating.

Now
Helping in the family owned farming enterprise. Visualising a very different and great future for those involved in tree growing … anything’s possible!

Happily married. Travelling the world. Realising my passion in growing trees.
 

My name is Rosie Gillespie-Jones
and I’m also a “dendromaniac”

Rosie was born and raised in SE NSW in the small beautiful town of Delegate. Growing up on a beef and sheep farm she has always had a close affinity with nature and the outdoors but it was meeting Tim almost a decade ago that opened her eyes up to the world of a dendromaniac.
Starting off as an observer, it wasn’t long before she was right beside him cutting, pruning and buying “rooting hormone”. Nothing could be more different than her day job as a nurse, but she’s definitely caught the bug! The nursery brings amazing joy, as does watching Dendromania grow into the reality they so firmly believe in.

Early Memories
Helping on family farm. Family camping trips to the Snowy River. Fishing on the Bendoc River. Raising poddys. Grass boarding… don’t ask! Mum’s lasagna and Dad’s “roley-poley”. Playing the drama queen and keeping everyone on their toes. Adventures with my little brother on the Gold Coast. Aspirations to be a movie star.

Early Adult Years
Moved to Canberra for university. Met Tim. Studied Nursing. Did the long distance relationship thing. Frequent trips to the Middle East to visit Mum. Married Tim. Realised that all pine trees were not evil. Caught the dendromanic bug and fell in love with our little redwoods.

Now
Happily married. Helping in the family owned farming enterprise. Enjoying beautiful SE NSW. Working with Dendromania.