More than 100 years after it was established, Margaret and Chris Dockray purchased the historic W.A.G Walker Rhododendron Garden at Lalla.
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With the aim of preserving the grounds for generations to come, they started a 10-year project to reestablish the 100-acre property.
The long and rich history of the garden dated back to 1902, when seedsman and florist Frank Walker established the property as part of his apple and pear orchards.
The site was the birthplace of the renown Lalla Red Delicious Apple variety.
When the property was leased to the state government in 1982, the aim was to establish a public reserve that would celebrate the horticultural contributions the Walker family had made.
The property went up for tender in 2007, so Ms Dockray said they made the decision to buy it and restore the gardens.
“We thought, ‘this is a pretty significant property .. we’ll try and restore it to its former glory’, despite us knowing nothing about rhododendrons, or much about gardens,” she said.
“It was really in decline when we took it on.
“Now, I think we’ve discovered all that was discoverable - now it's just a matter of keeping it all maintained. For the moment, that means keeping it all watered.”
Ms Dockray said there are many aspects of the garden that set it apart from the rest.
“I would say that what distinguishes this garden from others is the way history dances with the contemporary ... the way the created garden moves seamlessly into native forest across the landscape,” she said.
“Beauty is found from the grand views right down to the minutiae.
“It sounds kind of crazy, but it’s the spirit of the place that I find the most pleasing. There is a peacefulness and a gentleness here and it’s hard not to be affected by when you’re in it.
“Chris and I both feel it's a privilege to be custodians of this property, and we feel part of a wider chain of dedicated people through history who have shared a vision and worked towards its development.
“People often tell me that our restoration work has brought the gardens back to their former glory, but I believe that the gardens are now moving into a new era.
“From a large commercial nursery, they transitioned into a public reserve, and now are entering a time of mature beauty and quiet fulfilment of their ultimate potential and purpose,” Ms Dockray said.
The garden is open from 10am to 5pm Friday to Monday in spring and autumn, and other times by appointment.
Entrance fees are $10 for adults, with accompanying children are free.
For more information, visit walkerrhododendron.com.