Shhhhhhh!

"What makes you happy?"

I was posed this question recently by my girlfriend. Being put on the spot, I thought for a moment, then rattled off (in no particular order of preference) the following reply: "You of course, the girls (my daughters), listening to and discovering new music, books, coffee, lying on the beach with the sun on your skin (as long as it's not too hot), plants & gardens too."
The last point made me think of an outing we had as part of my recent birthday celebrations. I love finding (or in this case being brought to) new & different gardens, where you can see collections of various plants on display and where you can have your sense of wonder restored. On this particular day we took a little trip. Not knowing my destination, I looked forward to the adventure that lay ahead.

After a short ferry ride from Circular Quay, we arrived at Milson's Point, we hopped off at the terminal and were greeted by that large (and somewhat creepy) iconic smile at the entry of Luna Park. We followed the Peter Kingston Walkway around past Luna Park. This path, also known as the Comic Walk is lined with miniature statues commemorating the golden age of Australia comics and children's literature, it's worth taking your time to see them all.

At the path's end we came to an underpass, as we walked through to the other side we were met by an impressive set of stairs, to the right of these stairs, an oasis amongst the urban sprawl waited for us.

The ghost who talks - the Phantom greets you on the
other side of the underpass.

Wendy Whiteley had a vision - to turn a run down, weed infested, sloping block into an urban paradise that would be as beautiful as the neighbouring harbour and panoramic views. Wendy is the ex-wife of the late Brett Whiteley, the famous Australian visual artist and painter. Wendy who also has considerable artistic skill, a talent which Brett believed to be superior to his own.

In 1992 after Brett's passing, Wendy channeled her grief into something creative, a 'green' therapy for both her and the derelict piece of land adjacent to her home in Lavender Bay. The 'Secret Garden' wasn't much when Wendy, at great personal expense, took on the arduous task of beautifying a much neglected piece of land belonging to the then New South Wales (NSW) Railway Corporation.

In the beginning - the early years of the Secret Garden.

The site was a mess, littered with old train carriages, broken down machinery and equipment and choked with Lantana, the owners had no intention of doing much about managing their land but luckily didn't mind Wendy's plan to beautify the area, even helping remove some the larger, bulkier pieces of rubbish from the site.

Wendy wasn't alone in her endeavor for long, she has had two long-term helpers to aide in this guerrilla gardening operation, Firstly, Corrado, a Sicilian pizza chef who was walking past the site one day. The other, Ruben, a house painter from Uruguay, both men have been involved for the long haul and are still involved today with a part-time team of gardeners.

Wendy - literally up to her ears in it!

When you visit and I urge that you do, you'll be amazed at the garden for it's current day state but also when you realise what Wendy and her small team faced in the early days. It is one project that any landscape contractor would have had to utilise much more labour and machinery to create the same result, as they say "Rome wasn't built in a day" and Wendy herself says, it couldn't of been created any other way than the way they did it.

Choose your own adventure.

As you make your way through the garden, to the left and right, up and down the carefully crafted winding pathways, framed by natural bush rail balustrades and supported by timber or rock retaining walls you start to appreciate the effort and detail put into this garden. Materials for the project were, bought, salvaged, donated or "borrowed". At every twist and turn there are little trinkets, antiques, sculpt and statues - I think it would take a few visits to find them all.

The garden has it all - even the kitchen sink.

There are many tables and chair settings, benches and picnic tables strewn throughout for those who want to take a breather and soak in the garden or if you are just tired from exploring. On our visit the weather was perfect, as as my company and we had some goodies to savour as we hit the clearing at the bottom, a great spot for a little picnic or a cheeky beverage - we highly recommend it.

"Cheers!"

Take a seat, rest awhile.

Wendy’s efforts were recognised in 2009, when she was awarded the Order of Australia for “Services to the community through the establishment of a public garden at Lavender Bay”.

More recently, in October 2015, the NSW Government (which owns the land) agreed to grant a 30 year, renewable lease on the land to North Sydney Council. This will help ensure the garden remains for the public to enjoy.

Lavender Bay through the trees.

The view from the top.

                                             

The secret garden is truly a work of art, produced by an artist who poured her heart and soul into this project (and still does today). The site is also of spiritual significance to Wendy, the ashes of her ex-husband Brett, her daughter Arkie and her parents have been scattered within the garden.

Wendy’s ‘Secret Garden’ isn’t much of a secret, it is visited by many people throughout the course of the year, but I think the secret part is in the individual’s experience. It’s a place where you can feel a million miles away (even though the Harbour Bridge is almost right beside you) and it feels like you are alone, at peace, once you immerse yourself within it.

Lush garden framed by rock walls.

It's a jungle in there.

The most satisfying about this garden for me is that it feels like gardens of a time not that long ago, when backyards were much bigger, like times spent in my Nan's garden. The narrow, winding pathways will awaken the adventurer within young and old, there is something to find at every turn. Wendy's planting scheme? Well I think Benjamin Franklin said it best "A place for everything, everything in it's place" truly my type of garden!

So go a few hours to spare? Need to recharge the batteries? Fancy a trip on the harbour? Want to go for a little walk? Forget the bright colours of Luna Park, the real attraction is around the corner a bit further and up the stairs! This is a place that is both enriching and enchanting, somewhere to stop and reflect. Oh and don't forget to pack a picnic!

Check out Wendy's Secret Garden for more info.