As a young girl, one of my favourite books was Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, The Secret Garden. I would often whittle away an afternoon or two rereading the pages of my copy, transporting myself into the garden with Mary, Dickon and Colin where I would join them as they played within the walls. I even tamed a magpie, thinking Dickon would be impressed.
Burnett’s story has stayed with me throughout my life and I have long desired my own secret garden to explore. Earlier this week I was amazed to discover that one exists right here in Sydney. I must admit that I was initially hesitant to write about it, fearful that it could perhaps lose some of its charm if lots of people knew about its location. But this is one garden that needs to be shared.
For over twenty years, Wendy Whiteley has been creating and maintaining what was a derelict piece of land behind her house in Lavender Bay, the same house she once shared with artist husband Brett Whiteley and daughter Arkie. The garden has been brought to life, transformed in fact to a magnificent oasis, a retreat, a sanctuary.
I almost missed finding the garden as I walked from the foreshore of Lavender Bay, through a tunnel and up some stairs. If it wasn’t for a giggling couple who ‘popped’ out from some bushes, I may have kept walking. But I wanted to explore, my curiosity driving me to change paths and walk the way they had appeared.
The garden is truly spectacular. Don’t be fooled into expecting an english ‘secret garden’, it is anything but. My eyes found an Australian wilderness with rickety stairs leading to many different levels, benches in a range of unexpected spots, stunning figs spanning their branches to provide a hidden splendour. I believe that the garden is on a mere hectare, but I by weaving through the various layers and winding around the paths, you can easily be fooled into thinking it spans acres and acres. It is a living masterpiece, an artwork that lives.
Just last year, the NSW government agreed to give the North Sydney Council a thirty year renewable lease of the land meaning that Wendy’s hard work has been protected and all of us can continue to enjoy Wendy’s Secret Garden (if we can find it).
Have you visited Wendy’s Secret Garden yet? You can find the location on our Kid Bucket List map.
