Sweeping views of Victoria’s Yarra Valley greet Sharon and husband George each morning from their 10-acre property, which has changed immensely over the decades the couple have called it home. “It was originally an orchard with a big dam in the middle of the block,” recalls Sharon, a keen gardener, who initially worked with garden designer Jim Fogarty to landscape around the house and bring in an abundance of different plant varieties. “When we demolished the house and rebuilt, the garden was greatly impacted.”
The outlook from the new house was also hampered by the dam, which remained an eyesore. The solution was devised by landscape designer Phillip Johnson and his team, who in 2010 began transforming the dam and surrounding acre of land into a native haven.
“The build took about three months and involved draining the leaking dam, rebuilding the dam wall with clay and bringing in tonnes of boulders from a local quarry, which were strategically placed with a crane,” Phillip explains. A recycled timber jetty and bridge were constructed over the dam, which morphed into a billabong filled with water plants, mound garden beds and a tranquil waterfall that was created as a focal point and also aids in water aeration. The clay banks spring to life with pockets of native plants providing stunning foliage, colour and habitats for abundant bird life, small mammals, turtles and countless varieties of frogs. Meandering pathways were also woven into the design, adding to the organic free flowing feel of the vast landscape.
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Home Beautiful.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2023 edition of Home Beautiful.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
HOT PURSUIT
NEED A NEW OVEN? WE DIVE DEEP INTO EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE INVESTING IN WHAT IS OFTEN THE MOST-USED APPLIANCE IN THE HOUSE
PERFECT MATCH
THIS HOLIDAY HOME OF AN EXPAT AUSTRALIAN LIVING IN FRANCE IS THE IDEAL BLEND OF LAIDBACK AUSTRALIAN BEACH STYLE AND FRENCH CHIC
ENDURING ELEGANCE
THIS SMALL BUT MIGHTY PREWAR HOME IN BRISBANE WAS LIFTED AND EXPANDED, TOP AND BOTTOM, TO PRESERVE ITS CHARACTER AND ACCOMMODATE A GROWING FAMILY
ROOM TO GROW
WITH BOUNDLESS ENERGY AND A VISION FOR THEIR OWN SECRET GARDEN, THIS GOLD COAST FAMILY CULTIVATED THEIR DREAM HOME FROM THE GROUND UP
Shades of style
VIBRANT HUES AND A MIX OF VINTAGE, GLOBAL AND MODERN PIECES MAKE THIS BRISBANE HOME A SHOW-STOPPER
Beautiful SHOPPING
FASTA SAUCE DECORATING IDEAS AND STYLISH BUYS FOR YOUR HOME INOUBL
THE Art oF Sleep
Rest and rejuvenate with SleepMaker
PRINTS CHARMING
A LOVE OF BLOCK PRINTING, DISCOVERED IN THE HIMALAYAS, LED HOLLY FIRTH TO START HER RANGE OF QUILTED BAGS AND LINEN HOMEWARES
Holiday at HOME
FROM THE TOP END TO TASSIE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, DISCOVER 10 OF AUSTRALIA'S BEST TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
Small space masterclass PETIT PROPOSAL
A COMPACT APARTMENT GIVES AN INTERIOR DESIGNER THE CHANCE TO USE A CAREER'S WORTH OF TINY IDEAS