A Brief History

Who are the family behind Fairley’s Garden Centre?

Meet the McDonald’s! Yes, we too see the irony – but there’s a story, and quite a lovely one. So, sit back (with a coffee – ideally in our Restaurant – where we serve amazing drinks, food and baking) and let us begin. This story is told by George McDonald brother to Ian and uncle to Alexander – the partners at Fairley’s Garden Centre.

In 1901 the current site where we are now was Fairley’s Nursery. 51 Main Street, Cairneyhill was the house where James Fairley and his wife lived. They had come over the water from Edinburgh where he had been a potato merchant. From 1901 James and his wife expanded their nursery significantly, growing over 70,000 roses annually for sale. They expanded into producing fruit, chrysanthemums and dahlias and these were sold all over the country. During this period James sadly lost his wife in childbirth – the child also died. Years later he married his sister-in-law who had also been widowed. They never had a family and ran the business together. They employed Anne Appleford who was George and Ian’s grandmother and John and Martha McDonald, George and Ian’s parents.

In 1958 James Fairley passed away leaving his now elderly widow to run the business. It was at this time that John and Martha were given the opportunity to buy Fairley’s Nursery. At the time the neighbouring fields were owned by another nursery owner called…… well……McDonald – so, to avoid confusion John and Martha decided to keep the Fairley name after the purchase.

In the December of 1958 a then 15-year-old George was told his school days were over and he should go out into the world and get a job. He came home from school and promptly told his parents that he was now finished with the school and that he would work at the nursery. He was very firmly told NO! He had to go out and get a trade. So, at 15 George found himself as an apprentice panel beater while his evenings and weekends were spent helping out at the nursery as his mother was busy taking care of her other child Ian – who was a toddler at that point.

Business continued to steadily grow and in 1966 after completing his apprenticeship, George came on board full time at the nursery. Shortly after this his grandmother sadly passed away.

In the early 1970’s Ian finished school and while he studied horticulture at college he also worked at the nursery with his parents and brother. It was during this time that John and Martha built the first shop where they retailed the fruit, flowers and vegetables they were now producing. George’s wife Janette also operated a very successful florist in the building, located upstairs where La Vida Boutique is now, it closed in 2008.

In 1986 John very sadly died at the age of 64. At this point Martha became a sleeping partner, and George and Ian took over the business as both brothers and business partners. They decided at this point to wind down the nursery and move fully into retail meaning the transition from Fairley’s Nursery to Fairley’s Garden Centre.

A few years later Alexander was born and the business continued to develop and grow, expanding product ranges and services available. Now with Alexander at the helm, Fairley’s Garden Centre, Farm Shop and Restaurant is thriving and ready for the next exciting instalment of its almost 70-year history with the McDonald family.