Monday, March 21, 2011

the secret garden.


Years ago...
way before the term 'guerrilla gardening' had been coined...
there was a garden.
Tucked up on a small slice of Sydney harbour foreshore, that was decrepit and ruined by the State Rail Authority.
One woman by the name of Wendy Whiteley lived near-by... well actually... she was right next to this little bit of land, that had become a dumping ground for the Rail Authority. And one day she decided that she would make this ruined bit of land her new personal creative project, and rejuvenate and restore it back to the people and the environment of Sydney to enjoy.
So began this little tale... some 15 years ago and it is one of the most amazing places to go and visit, mediate, walk and discover on any given day of the week!
I have been coming here for a few years now, as it is like a hidden bit of paradise amongst the North Shore chaos. I love to smell the beautiful fresh smells of the tropical plant life, see all the birds that have come back to nest, and discover all the sculptures and bits and pieces of nostalgia that lie around the tiered spaces of the garden like an Easter egg treasure hunt!
Wendy sometimes can be found planting and pottering around the place from time to time and she has said that Brett and her daughter Arkie's ashes are scattered in secret locations, giving a deeply personal sentiment to Wendy's work in this amazing space.
I remember at my opening of the The Primrose Residency Exhibition last June that Wendy talked of this place as being her sanctuary and healing place, from addiction and grief. And when you are there you really do feel like the pace of life slows down and is far far away...
I hope you like my little photo essay of Wendy's Garden... and can feel some of that restorative energy of this place through your screen!
And this is just the beginning!



Old wooden benches are dotted around to create quiet places...
to sit + imagine.

The bronze shoes...

Make a lovely still life subject...
don't you think?

If you enlarge this you will see the plaster cast of a
woman's face that sits above the water out let...

Love of the architecture naturally created in the garden.


And every once in a while you will spy this...
asThe Bridge comes and goes from view...

Love this rock face... and the tiny wooden table that is dwarfed by
nature.

A dedication to May Gibbs.
Bib + Bub.... that many in Australia will recognise.


Mrs Kookaburra must be on holidays!

Do you recognise the palm trees?
They were made famous by Brett Whiteley many moons ago
from in his paintings of this place.
And as you go through the rail tunnel...
You are here.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lovely blog! I came here searching for photos of Wendy's Garden, and yours are beautiful. What a magical place it was. I was visiting from Melbourne last week, but it was dusk by the time I reached Wendy's garden so I missed most of it.

michele aka the tiny said...

oh thank you for coming to visit my tiny blog and for your lovely comments. Next time you come to town you've got to make it back to her garden as it truly is a beautiful place... and then walk around to the ferry at Milsons point and go over to the city. Its one of my favourite things to do... xx