Landscape design by Caroline Hyett Gardens & Design
Designed for a family passionate about Australian native flora, this garden brings together lush biodiversity and contemporary style to suit a heritage home that has been architecturally reimagined.
The garden reflects the home’s architectural fusion, with classic Edwardian elements meeting sleek modern additions. The result is a landscape that balances timeless elegance with a relaxed, natural atmosphere.
The layout divides into three distinct ‘garden rooms,’ each planted with native species that invite birdlife and ensure year-round colour and interest. These spaces serve as garden sanctuaries, and also frame key views from within the home, strengthening the connection between indoors and out.
The Brief
With an extensive architectural overhaul planned for their Edwardian home, including a two-storey rear addition, pool and alfresco dining area, the homeowners saw the garden as an essential component of the redesign. The garden’s visibility from every angle of the home made it critical to create a visually captivating landscape that would also support local biodiversity.
The owners, busy professionals, wanted a low-maintenance, inviting garden where they could relax with family and friends. Their vision extended to sustainability, with a preference for durable, natural materials that would develop character over time.
The Transformation
To complement the home’s strong lines, curved garden beds bring a soft, organic feel to the space. A layered planting scheme enriches each garden area, adding depth and seasonal colour with contrasting textures and foliage.
Native trees were carefully selected to frame the property and bloom at staggered times, creating year-round interest. A copse of blueberry ash trees (Elaeocarpus reticulatus) offers scale and an established feel, while a five-sided seed pod sculpture brings instant intrigue to the poolside.
Repeated plantings of hardy species like Dianella and Plectranthus anchor the landscape, with vibrant clusters of Kangaroo Paws (Anigozanthos) adding striking red and yellow accents.
The original tessellated tile path at the entrance had endured over a century of wear, leaving it damaged. Wanting to preserve this piece of the home’s history, the team collaborated with a master tiler from the National Trust of Australia to restore it. The tiles now gracing the pathway were salvaged from a historic homestead tragically lost in the Bush Saturday fires. Framed with bluestone, the path now invites new steps and stories to unfold.
Lighting was thoughtfully integrated to bring the garden to life after dark, enhancing evening enjoyment whether viewed from the home’s windows or while being outdoors.
A water bowl was created for the front garden, planted with Nymphoides geminata (entire marshwart) for a touch of natural elegance and large planters were placed strategically throughout the garden to introduce varying levels and create focal points.
The Result
As it matures, the garden has become a haven for native birds, especially during peak flowering periods. The design’s relaxed, layered aesthetic has softened the home’s architecture, melding heritage and modern elements. The family now enjoys an ever-evolving landscape that speaks to their love of native plants and their desire for a sustainable, enduring garden.
Key Plant List
- Leptospermum obovatum ‘Starry Night’
- Anigozanthos flavidus ‘Yellow Gem’ (Kangaroo paws)
- Anigozanthos flavidus ‘Big Red’ (Kangaroo paws)
- Corymbia ficifolia ‘Baby Orange’ (red flowering gum)
- Elaeocarpus reticulatus (blueberry ash)
- Eucalyptus pulverulenta ‘Baby Blue’
- Dianella tasmanica ‘Emerald Arch’
- Plectranthus argentatus (silver spurflower)
- Nymphoides geminata ‘Water Fringe’ (entire marshwart)
- Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ (spider flower)
