An extension of the Barrack Heights Community Garden, which was established in 2008, the bush tucker section contains about 90 native species planted in sections with the themes of bush tucker, "calendar garden" and medicine.

A seated learning circle is at the heart of the garden.

The bush tucker area was a vision of community garden member Terry Rankmore, an Australian native plant expert, and created with the support of Shellharbour City Council and indigenous groups including Shellharbour Aboriginal Community Youth Association.

Yesterday about 100 people attended the official opening.

Community garden member Darren Bell said the garden was maintained by about a dozen members with support from volunteers through the Work and Development Order program.

"It is an open learning space for both adults and young people," Mr Bell said.

"We hold a lot of arts and music-based events to engage the community holistically from infants to the elderly generations."

Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba said the community garden provided a space for social gatherings, fresh food for residents and a venue for community education.

Workshops held at the garden so far have covered no-dig vegetable gardening, permaculture, composting and worm farming, sustainable and organic garden maintenance, healthy eating and cooking, and frog habitat.

"For more than five years council has worked with a group of dedicated residents who have overcome many obstacles to develop the garden to how it is now," Cr Saliba said.