How a rock legend found peace in the soil
In short: After five decades of stadium anthems and heavy crowds, Jimmy Barnes turned to a different kind of rhythm. Since 2020, the Australian music icon has been cultivating a riverside cottage garden, discovering that the quiet growth of a rose can be just as transformative as a rock concert.
For nearly 50 years, Jimmy Barnes has been a pillar of the Australian music industry, known for his work with Cold Chroll and a prolific solo career. However, the global shutdowns of 2020 prompted a shift in focus for Barnes and his partner of 40 years, Jane. While the couple had owned their Southern Highlands property for 15 years, the pandemic provided their first opportunity to experience the region's full four seasons, leading to the birth of a dedicated gardening passion.
The garden serves as a sprawling, riverside retreat designed for family connection. It functions as a productive landscape, featuring honeybee hives, an expanding orchard with recent additions of three new beds, and a 'picking garden' rich with borage and greens for midday salads. For the Barnes family, the garden is a culinary resource where Jimmy even experiments with eating flowers—a departure from his Scottish roots.
The horticultural landscape is a seasonal cycle of blooms. Jane finds restoration in watching everything from winter hellebores and over 50 fragrant daphne varieties to spring magnolias develop. Meanwhile, Jimmy has taken on the role of a beginner rose grower. His collection grew significantly for his 60th birthday when guests contributed individual roses, including the 'Double Delight' variety. The garden even holds a symbolic connection to his musical past through an Illawarra Flame Tree, a gift from horticultural expert Costa, which serves as the subject of one of Cold Chisel's most iconic songs.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Touring Jimmy Barnes' stunning country garden | Garden Design and Inspiration | Gardening Australia
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