SA’s hidden cactus garden you’ve probably never heard of
IT’S tangled, overgrown and all-but-hidden from the roadside — but once, this truly unique garden had constant visitors that couldn’t believe it was in SA.
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A DISTANT but very distinct childhood memory of mine, from many trips to and from Adelaide, is the cactus garden we would pass on Port Wakefield Rd.
It’s strange, the things that stick with you over the years, but the sight of all the cactuses along the side of the road was the indicator that we were near the end of another long road trip.
It was one of the highlights of the journey and, if it was early evening, the glow of the Adelaide lights would soon be visible on the horizon.
I often wondered about the cactus garden, who started it and for what purpose?
I don’t ever recall actually stopping there (although many people did), but recently came upon a reader’s letter in The Advertiser archives (year unknown).
The letter was written by one “PB” of Bolivar: “I would like to know about the Arizona Cactus-Ranch Garden. I am new to this area, and a few weeks ago, driving northbound on the Port Wakefield Rd, we came across this lovely garden. It is beautifully laid out with hundreds of cactuses and succulents, amid old pottery and many statues”.
The Advertiser replied: “The garden was started by Mr Joe Lowey in 1952 as a hobby. Mr Lowey who died recently had always wanted to be a landscaper and built up the garden entirely by himself after he had worked on a farm at Windsor. He first thought of the idea of a cactus garden while in America, where he lived for some years. As Mr Lowey left no will, the garden is now in the hands of the State Government’s trustees”.
Further investigation of the garden led me to the Mallala Museum’s “Now and Then” website that told more of the story.
“Mr Joe Lowey came to Windsor with his parents and brother in 1929. He purchased section 492 Hundred of Dublin in 1935. Joe Lowey constructed the garden and rockery on his section in 1951 on the property abutting Highway One about 5km north of Windsor.
“The stone for the rockery was collected from the ruins of the Hollam’s cottage on Secomb Rd near Windsor and other items collected from around the district were incorporated in the displays.
“The rockery covered about three acres of land and Mr Lowey had 50 to 60 varieties of cactuses — all watered only by natural rainfall.
“The rockery was visited by people from all around the world and the visitors’ book confirms this to be correct.
“In November 1978 the Cactus Garden appeared on the national television show Ask the Leyland Brothers.
“Mr Lowey died (date not recorded) and the property was eventually sold.
“Following a church service to commemorate the centenary of the Windsor Institute on Sunday, August 12, 1984, a plaque on the site of the Cactus Garden was dedicated by the Rev. Kelvin Benn in memory of Mr Joe Lowey.”
When the Port Wakefield Rd was turned into a dual carriageway in the early 1980s, it was moved away from the cactus garden and new owners were unable to continue operating the property as a tourist attraction. It was eventually closed to the public.
Throughout the garden there were many statues, rockeries and displays. It was neatly landscaped with fences and paths, concrete animals and other curious attractions.
Later additions included the Cactus cafe, which sold light refreshments and even advertised liquor for sale.
Readers of the Adelaide Remember When Facebook page posted their own memories of the Arizona Cactus Garden recently including Peter Tubb who felt that “a lot of love went into that garden. I remember driving past it many times when I was younger but my parents would never stop”.
Carmel-Anne O’Rielly posted a series of photos of the garden and wrote: “We always stopped there on our way to Port Augusta back in the 1960s. There were all sorts of interesting displays”. Les Sumner reported: “It’s still there but now overgrown and in a sad and sorry state”.
Another reader, Eugene backman, sent a photo from his Flickr collection showing what the garden looks like today after years of neglect.
And Darrell Gordon recalled: “I was there in the 1960s many times. As a truck driver, it was my stopping point on my way to Perth. I passed it four times every month as I parked my semi-trailer out front on the dirt area to sleep and rest. I met Mr Lowey many times … I often think of him, such a nice man to chat to, he loved all the things there, the plants and cactuses.”
Joe Lowey’s cactus garden it seems was a pure labour of love. There was never any charge to enter, just a recycled deep sea diver’s helmet sitting there to accept a small donation from visitors. It was a welcome stopping-off point for so many travellers and a timely diversion for countless bored kids nearing the end of a long and tedious trip.
Few people driving past the now abandoned and neglected garden would even notice it, nor have any idea that the overgrown and derelict patch was once the pride and joy of a modest cactus lover, and one of the highlights of a child’s trip to the Big Smoke.
Bob Byrne is the author of Adelaide, Remember When? and posts memories of Adelaide every day on facebook.com/adelaiderememberwhen/
