While the clients initial brief was for “a beautiful garden to enjoy with the family” a sustainable, bio-diverse garden that seamlessly merges with the surrounding larger landscape was also achieved.

The upper formal garden is adjacent to the Victorian landscape of the heritage home, and at the highest area a lap pool is nestled into the slope. This multi–layered garden is structured with bands of low hedges populated with a diverse range of display plantings between them. Light canopy trees are punctuated throughout, and tall dense trees provide important screening.

A contemporary addition on tall pillars creates an under-croft microclimate for a lush fern planting below. Pioneer plantings of floriferous Acacia and Myoporum cultivars offer early protection and visual effect- these will be removed as the slower long-term framework develops.

An immersive forest of Tristaniopsis laurina creates a transition to the informal lower garden that includes a generous events lawn and deck surrounded by the bio-diverse garden with meandering pathways.

The immersive and layered garden provides privacy from the adjacent houses while affording views to the river landscape.