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Mt Wilson, just two hours northwest of Sydney, 3000ft above sea level and ringed by by cool green rainforests, is a landscaped oasis bounded by world heritage area Blue Mountains National Park on one side and the Wollanganbe Wilderness on the other. The mountain has rich volcanic soil and is noted for its cool climate gardens, which attract visitors all year, but especially in Spring and Autumn. The garden at Windyridge dates from 1877, when it was part of the Jesse Gregson's Yengo Estate. Gregson was one of the pioneer settlers here. In 1921, this vast property was subdivided and the sweeping timbered slope that became Windyridge was taken by Gregson's daughter Helen. A year later, she built a weatherboard house on the top of the hill. In mid 1940, the property changed hands. Fred and Hanny Huber, migrants from Switzerland, took over. Fred planted his first tree, a Swiss Christmas Tree (Abies amabilis) in August 1945 and this was soon followed by other trees - Cedrus deodara, copper beech, pin oaks, maples, ginkos, dogwoods and nyssas - which today tower in splendour over the gardens. The green-thumbed Hubers also planted many azaleas and rhododendrons which they purchased from Wai Davidson, who propagated them 25 years ago when she worked for George Valder at Nooroo, another of Mt. Wilson's classic gardens. During Easter 1995, Rodger and Wai Davidson, of Davidson's Nurseries at Galston, in Sydney, purchased Windyridge to accommodate their expanding collection of cold climate plants. Work commenced under Wai's supervision to transform Windyridge into a grand garden. After tree maintenance work, Landscape Architect Gordon Sykes was retained to terrace and plant a vast grassy slope and give substance to the new owners' vision.
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