Temporary closure of the Secret Garden

With the overwhelming popularity of the Secret Garden currently placing pressure on the infrastructure and natural environment, it will be closed from today until the end of the school holidays.

The City understands the Secret Garden (Gwelup) is a highly popular location and we appreciate the value it holds in the local community and across Perth.

However, it is not able to cope with such large numbers of visitors, which has resulted in negative impacts on the reserve and for local residents.

Director Infrastructure Michael Littleton said the closure was temporary and that the Secret Garden and the entire Careniup Reserve were important natural resources that should be looked after well into the future.

“We understand it’s a really popular location for visitors from across Perth but its condition and the supporting infrastructure is simply not able to keep up with the number of visitors coming through,” he said.

“There is a draft Careniup Reserve Management Plan in development that has been informed by extensive community consultation and this will consider the future direction for the reserve, including the Secret Garden.”

The plan aims to balance the environmental and conservation needs of the reserve while meeting the ongoing recreational needs of the community. It will be considered by Council before the end of 2020.

While the Secret Garden is closed, the City will be taking the opportunity to clean up any debris.

For those looking to entertain the kids or simply enjoy the natural beauty outdoors, there are more than 400 parks throughout the City of Stirling to discover this school holidays.  

Dianella Regional Open Space will be a hub of activity while the Stirling Tree Trail runs during the school holidays, offering free activities suitable for children aged 4-11. 

Nearby parks and reserves also include Carine Regional Open Space, Lake Gwelup Reserve and Star Swamp Reserve.

For more information on the Careniup Reserve Management Plan, head to Your Say Stirling.