Not so Secret Garden
Wendy Whiteley
In a labour of love and nature therapy, for nearly thirty years, Wendy Whiteley has worked to create a magical garden that is open to the public at the foot of her harbourside home in Sydney’s Lavender Bay.
In a wonderful book, ‘Wendy Whiteley and the Secret Garden’ written by Janet Hawley, published by Penguin Lantern and exquisitely photographed by Jason Busch, the extraordinary story of how this garden came into being and the whole of Wendy’s deep creative passion went into the process of transforming an overgrown wasteland into a stunning sanctuary. In turn the whole journey transforms Wendy herself – isn’t that always the way with gardens?
“I’ve loved making this garden. It’s been a great gift to my life. It let me find myself again, and it’s my gift to share with the public”
Wendy Whiteley was the wife, muse and model of acclaimed Australian artist, Brett Whiteley. Most definitely an artist herself, when Brett died, followed by the death nine years later of their daughter Arkie, Wendy threw her grief and creativity into making an enchanting natural wonderland out of derelict land owned by the NSW government. The epitome of ‘Guerrilla Gardening’ Wendy’s living artwork and legacy has become one of Sydney’s natural treasures – a Secret Garden (not so secret now) that is cherished by countless people in the local community, all over Australia and worldwide.
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