Lachlan Harbury

Lachlan began his bonsai journey at a young age, his interest sparked by a school project in early high school. He attended a Newcastle Bonsai Society (NBS) meeting at the time, and nearly a decade later, he still regularly joins the club’s monthly gatherings. While he was initially drawn to the traditional Japanese styles of junipers and pines, a formative memory of a striking eucalypt bonsai at a club show left a lasting impression—igniting a lifelong obsession with the idea of native Australian bonsai.

A kind interaction at one of his earliest club meetings also had a profound impact on Lachlan’s bonsai journey. Wayne, a long-time NBS member, gifted him a small ficus tree. It’s safe to say Wayne passed on the “fig bug,” as Lachlan is now affectionately known as Ficus Boy.

Thanks to his eye for a bargain, Lachlan’s collection has grown to nursery-like proportions. While it features a wide variety of species, he readily admits that figs and native trees remain his favourites. Passionate about sharing his love for bonsai, Lachlan aims to dispel the myth that bonsai are difficult to grow—demonstrating that bonsai is accessible to everyone, regardless of experience, background, or budget.