Overview
“People wrongly assume the council or the government pays for Wendy’s Secret Garden and wrongly assume it is permanent and secure,” says journalist Janet Hawley. “But Wendy has paid for everything, and, alongside her four gardeners, done all the work from day one. And now that she’s 74, she’s worried about the garden’s future.”
Thousands of people spend time strolling, picnicking and organising wedding shoots among the sinuous valley and terraced slopes of Wendy’s Secret Garden, on the harbourfront in Lavender Bay. But few realise that it is a guerrilla garden occupying land belonging to NSW RailCorp. Its existence depends on a temporary beautification lease. So, as reported on Australian Story this week, campaigners are calling for the garden to be turned into a public park.
“Wendy and those who love the garden fear the lease could be revoked at any time, the land sold off to a developer and the garden bulldozed, to be replaced by high rise buildings,” says Hawley, who spent thirty years as a senior feature writer at Good Weekend.
Over the past two years, Hawley has been documenting the garden for her book, Wendy Whiteley and the Secret Garden, published by Penguin and to be launched on September 23. “Wendy's garden has never been properly documented. The book tells the full story of Wendy's 23 years transforming a bleak rubbish dump, covered in noxious weeds, into a unique and magical sanctuary, designed like a living painting. It’s a huge philanthropic gift and provides a wonderful cultural heritage, to join Brett’s legacy.”
Richly illustrated with photographs, artworks and maps, Whiteley and the Secret Garden argues that the garden should be “preserved in perpetuity”. “It’s a no-brainer that we should treasure it and keep it forever more. People need to escape from air-conditioned blocks and screens, immerse themselves in nature and fresh air, reset their brains, feel connected with grass, trees, flowers, birds and be reminded of nature's wonders every day.”
Janet Hawley and Wendy Whiteley will appear in conversation at venues all over Sydney and further afield during the next few months:
September 26 – Kinokuniya Bookshop, 2pm, free bubbles and sweet treats, RSVP essential (promotions-aus@kinokuniya.com)
October 7 – Art After Hours, 5.30pm, The Balcony 2, free
October 8 – Stanton Library, 12.30pm free
October 14 – Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, 10am, $25 with morning tea (organised by Bowral Bookshop)
October 20 — MUSE Food, Wine and Books, 7.30pm, East Hotel, Kingston, ACT
October 23 — Avalon Community Hall, (organised by Bookoccino Bookshop)
November 11 — The Queens Club, Sydney, 10.30am, members and guests of members only
November 12 — Member’s Talk, AGNSW Domain Theatre, 10.30am, $15 /$25 , includes refreshments
November 24 — Berkelouw Books, 6.30pm, $10, includes $5 credit
December 7, 9.30am – Kirribilli Club, includes tour of Wendy’s Garden, organised by Foundation and Friends of the Botanic Gardens, for members and guests of members only