Wombarra Sculpture Garden owner and artist Gaby Porter has opened her lush bush property once a month for almost 15 years so others could enjoy her work.

Over the years other artists have contributed works, but most of the 60 plus sculptures that dot the one hectare garden are her own labours of love. But after almost 20 years living on her idyllic sub-rainforest property, the time has come for Gaby and husband John to downsize. 

“For 19 years I have been landscaping, weeding, labouring, moving rocks, removing dead trees, building sculpture and maintaining sculpture and I just feel at this stage in my life it will be nice to just concentrate on my sculpture work, and not running a sculpture garden as well,” Ms Porter said.

“Creating something that people enjoy so much has been wonderful for me. I’ve been really loving it, but I am over 70 now and I am really struggling to keep up with it.”

“It is a huge thing labour wise. There is a lot of work in maintaining the sculptures.”

Selling agent Tony Dribbus from Ray White Thirroul said the property at 57-59 Morrison Avenue, Wombarra was set on seven acres of stunning sub-tropical rainforest with pathways of partially cleared land meandering through the land. 

“The property has Australian natives, towering sub-tropical canopies and gullies of turpentine gums,” Mr Dribbus said. Nestled between the escarpment and the sea, accommodation on the property includes a spacious open plan cottage on a separate 891 square metre title. There is also a studio loft/ home office/ gallery, a detached studio workshop and three separate cabins. The property is zoned E3, allowing for some development but with limitations to safeguard the surrounding environment.

Ms Porter said she would be happy to negotiate leaving sculptures on the property if a buyer wanted to take on running the sculpture garden. “It would be really wonderful if somebody wanted to take the sculpture garden on and even develop it further so it could really thrive.”

Ms Porter said while she is sad about selling her beloved property, she is excited about the future and hopes to continue holding exhibitions of her work, but on a smaller scale.

“I would like a much smaller property with a big workshop and a little cottage. I would still want to put smaller sculptures in the garden. I want to just focus on the sculpture and not have to worry about maintaining the garden.” 

The property is for sale, with expressions of interest welcome. It is open for viewing on Saturday from 1pm to 2pm or by appointment.