My fair LADY

A heritage home has gained an elegant garden to match, with Paul Bangay designing this floriferous semi-formal eden

- SHELLEY TUSTIN

Outstanding architecture is often the hero of a heritage property, but a sympathetically designed garden can steal the stage, especially when it enhances the historic charm with a rosy spotlight. Such is the case of this home and surrounding gardens in a bayside suburb of Melbourne.

Built in 1892 to a design by architect George Jobbins, Fairfield Hall is exactly the sort of significant heritage building admired by homeowners Sandra (who is heavily involved in the National Trust of Victoria) and her husband Steve. True to type, Sandra jumped at the chance to explore this Italianate edifice when it came on the market in 2020.

She was especially excited to get a closer look at its stately brick form, cast-iron lacework and romantic turrets. These features piqued her interest, yet she didn't expect to completely fall in love. Recalls Sandra, "It's so original and well built – and it was just too special to let go."

While the building had been well preserved inside, the garden hadn't enjoyed the same tender care. Though its size had been largely retained, with a proportionate scale to suit the grand old building, it was really an oversized bed of weeds.