Jamie Durie to design the gardens of Hayman Great Barrier Reef

by Hayman Great Barrier Reef on 16 May 2011 Two great Australians are being brought together to recreate a stunning garden landscape which, for so long, has provided an incredible backdrop to one of the top tourist playgrounds of the world.

Hayman, Australia’s idyllic nature island destination in the Great Barrier Reef, has engaged award-winning landscape designer, horticulturalist, and personality, Jamie Durie, to rejuvenate and refresh the beautiful garden surrounds of the acclaimed resort.

Jamie will be drawing on his unconditional passion for the outdoors and a deep connection with nature and its many qualities, to guide him in recreating the breathtaking and tranquil Hayman garden landscape setting which was severely impacted by recent Tropical Cyclones Anthony and Yasi and forced the temporary closure of the resort until the end of July 2011.

Joining Jamie and his award-winning design studio, Durie Design, in this significant rebirth of the spectacular gardens, is an excited group of Hayman team members who have chosen to remain on the island throughout the period of closure and are eager to assist with this project.

Among the many pleasures of staying on Hayman over many years has been the natural landscape and garden surrounds. This masterpiece of 14 hectares of resort gardens is home to an amazing diversity of fascinating and colourful characters.

The birdlife is vast and guests have most likely caught sight of White Cockatoos, Kookaburras, Stone Curlews, Pheasant Coucals, Herons and Egrets amongst the many varieties, while, from May to December each year, butterflies have traditionally formed a kaleidoscope of colour and vibrancy feasting on nectar of the Eucalyptus Trees. A truly spectacular sight is the resort’s Butterfly Trail, where these exquisite creatures gather to flutter in their thousands in spectacular glory.

Graceful swans and ducks continue to reside in the peaceful lagoons and ponds which meander throughout the gardens and Proserpine Rock Wallabies occupy the bush surrounds. A colony of the wallabies has populated the island over a number of years since Queensland Parks and Wildlife deemed Hayman to be the most suitable Australian location for establishing a new and thriving colony of these shy animals with the ongoing program hailed a great success.

'We are delighted to have Jamie involved in the design and evolving stages of our beautiful gardens on the island,' said Lloyd Donaldson, Head of Hotel Investments, Mulpha Australia and Managing Director, Hayman.

'It is wonderful to have a highly respected and talented professional in Jamie bringing his incredible energy and immense knowledge and expertise to Hayman, which over many years, has been acknowledged as one of the top resorts of the world.'

Jamie said he was 'proud to be involved with one of Australia’s most prestigious and iconic resorts'.

'Over the years I have visited Hayman many times and have always been in awe of its natural beauty. Designing for Hayman certainly won’t feel like work for me. It will be an honour, privilege and pleasure to design for Hayman. And with the support of the owners, management team and staff on the island, my team at Durie Design and I are committed to not just rejuvenating the existing gardens, but offering six new exciting outdoor destinations for the guests to enjoy in Hayman’s classic, sophisticated, yet under-stated style.'

Jamie is the author of eight best-selling garden design books, including The Outdoor Room, which continues to dominate Australian sales and has hosted over 32 prime time, top-rating overseas and Australian television programs, including The Outdoor Room, Australia’s Best Backyards, Backyard Blitz, The Block, with Backyard Blitz receiving seven Logie Awards. Jamie is currently filming the much anticipated Top Design for Channel 9 where architects and designers compete and Jamie is the host and judge.

Jamie hosts makeover shows in the US and is a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. He designs a range of outdoor furniture and gardening products, PATIO by Jamie Durie and Jamie Durie signature products. Jamie has won over 30 awards for his design work throughout the world. Jamie’s career began in 1998 after completing four years of study in horticulture and landscape design. Jamie and his team design prestigious resorts in the Middle East, Singapore, Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. He is an Ambassador to organisations including Plan International, Children’s Cancer Institute and Planet Ark and is an official Al Gore Climate Project Presenter.

The rectification works currently being undertaken on Hayman encompass the gardens and key guest and accommodation areas, activity facilities and essential infrastructure.

Hayman will re-open on 1 August 2011 and is accepting new reservations arriving from this date.
Hayman is owned and operated by Mulpha Australia Limited and is a member of the prestigious organisation, The Leading Hotels of the World.