The process of designing and creating a hedge maze is a long and laborious labour of love.
Approx 1995
Rik designed his first maze on paper. It went through about 10 modifications before he felt it was ready. He and his son, Tim, mowed it into the grass paddock at their house in Newrybar (between Ballina & Byron Bay). All their friends who visited became test dummies (or guinea pigs depending on who they were) and were required to walk the maze to test its difficulty and effectiveness.
It was soon discovered that a maze that works on paper doesn't necessarily work as a full sized maze.
A study of how the visitors trekked through the maze brought forth a new logic in designing the maze. The new maze was re-mown into the grass and again friends and relatives were used as guinea pigs to fine-tune the labyrinth. Many changes ensued and minor changes continued to be made even at the planting stage. |
July 1997
Rik & Lisa sold their business in Ballina and plans were made for their next endeavour.
The search for suitable land started and turned out to be very difficult indeed.
The ideal location would be on a main road or highway but this dream was soon rendered unobtainable as the authority that manages the highways (Roads & Traffic Authority) and/or the local Council would not allow a commercial venture to have entry & exits onto the main road due to safety concerns
Minor roads had the disadvantage of lack of exposure and wherever the venture was to be located some roadworks would be required to make the entry/exit safer.
December 1997
Cuttings were taken from plants at Rik's brother's wholesale nursery in Brisbane and 10,890 ‘babies' started life. Rik got to know these babies almost on a first name basis as he handled them so many times over the next couple of years. |
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