The City of Armadale acquired the unique and precious Wirra Willa property in 2022 and have been restoring it ever since.
The four-acre property has a stunning heritage listed Paradise style garden, which the City is diligently restoring after it had fallen into neglect in the last 20 years prior to City ownership.
In 1838, Wirra Willa was known as ‘Katta Mia’. From 1950-1980, several generations of owners used the nearby brook and tree canopy to cultivate an extensive garden containing many unique species of flora.
Over a 70-year period, five female gardeners grew and developed Wirra Willa to become a flourishing Paradise Garden, featuring rare and unique flora.
By 2022, the site had fallen into disrepair and the City purchased the property, to ensure that this remarkable garden and historic site is restored to its former glory.
The City has begun the painstaking process of clearing and restoring the gardens. The restoration process is being meticulously managed to ensure the City protects and cultivates the unique tree and plant species found at Wirra Willa.
The property was purchased using reserve funds and was deemed a significant asset worthy of retention by Council.
Revitalising the Wirra Willa Gardens will secure and protect the unique tree and plant species, preserving an important piece of history within the City of Armadale.
The City is engaging with someone that has prior history with Wirra Willa, which is helping to identify and replace floral varieties that had been lost. This personal connection saw the donation of 15-year-old plants to assist with the reinvigoration of the gardens.
The City has undertaken an indigenous survey, embarking on community engagement, and the development of a masterplan, to ensure the future use of the site matches the needs of the community.
The Gardens will be a wonderful asset in the City’s public open spaces, and will connect the public open space to other City parks and assets.
The gardens were listed as a State heritage landmark in 2021, signifying the importance of the site amongst WA’s rich history. It is a garden of consequence, featuring many exotic plants that are rarely found in WA. It is the City of Armadale’s very own ‘Secret Garden’.
