Perth's weed-infested Secret Garden loses its 'fairytale look' in favour of native plants

Jason Soon used to take his clients to the Secret Garden for wedding photos. (Supplied: Jason Soon)

By Isabel Moussalli

In the 2010s, a suburban wetland in Perth's north became a hotspot for social media influencers and photographers, eager to share their adventures online.

For those who visited, it was hard to believe the "fairytale" scene was located just a short walk away from homes.

The so-called Secret Garden was actually the site of degraded native wetlands infested with exotic weeds such as morning glory, a vine with purple flowers.

Whether they knew this or not, it didn't deter influencers and photographers who came from far and wide to take photos of what they called a "magical" and "fairytale" garden.

Photographer Jason Soon recalls bringing clients to the site for wedding photos and family portraits.

"The Secret Garden was such a magical location, full of greenery," he says.

"[I've] captured some beautiful memories there."

At first, those posting online were reluctant to share the location. But when it was revealed, crowds visiting the site in the Careniup Wetlands became a nightmare for Gwelup locals.

"[It was] crazy, I mean we couldn't even get down our driveways, people were asking to use our toilets," says resident Julie, who does not want to provide her surname.

She is concerned about the impact of the crowds on animals in the wetlands and wants the area closed to the public.

"We don't get the ducks, the swans, the turtles, we don't get that anymore because they've been absolutely crucified." 

A music video and a film adaptation of Tim Winton's The Turning were also shot at the site.

A film adaptation of Tim Winton's The Turning starring Callan Mulvey was filmed at the site. (Supplied: Arenamedia)

But residents became fed up with the crowds and more than 400 locals petitioned the council for some changes.

"It was nice camaraderie, we met a few times … [then] council voted to get rid of the weeds," Julie says.

Regenerating the bush

Restoring the site to its natural state became the biggest and most unique challenge of Ryan Flint's career.

The City of Stirling environmental officer says the project began with "two to three years of heavy weed removal".

"There was a lot of fallen trees that were covered in invasive weeds, and that's what gave the Secret Garden the look of that kind of enchanted forest that everyone came here for," he says.

First published at ABC News January 10, 2024

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