Photography: Brigid Arnott
In terms of making a memorable first impression, this Sydney garden is in a luxuriant league of its own. Throughout the seasons, a resplendent frangipani, its towering bough cantilevered theatrically above the front gate, greets passers-by just as it did in decades past.
From here, framed by hand-shaped sandstone ballast walls, sandstone steps rise to an unfolding oasis that stages an immersive show.
“The frangipani remains a valued feature of the new garden,” says landscape architect Hugh Burnett, who was responsible for the redesign.
“Using a local Sydney sandstone helps place the garden immediately in its setting and context.”
Behind the new matchstick-timber fence, a loose-screen planting of feijoa enjoys a shimmering moment of its own, the silver foliage harmonising with the silvered tallowwood.
“We replaced the lawn here with layers of grasses and perennials, along with two olive trees, a white flowering crepe myrtle and smoke bush to provide privacy and an outlook from the front windows,” says Hugh.
“We also included a shallow copper bird bath set in the flowering groundcovers that welcomes birdlife.”
For the owners, whose dream was always to create a magical outdoor space for their grandchildren, the garden entices and enchants year-round.
“There are spaces to meander through,” says the owner. “It’s a garden you really want to spend time in, rather than rush by.”
Of course, though, this is just the first act, with Hugh having performed his magic not only on the entire wraparound garden, but also on the carport and exterior of the house – a restored California bungalow.
“The largest component of the work was the demolition of a very large but unusable concrete garage that offered a heavy and austere ‘bunker-like’ presentation to the street,” says Hugh.
“I designed an open timber-framed carport with a Zincalume roof to match the house roof replaced in an earlier stage by TE Build, with details mimicking a section of the original gables that remain on the side of the house.”
Hugh also got to work designing a new front door and sidelight panel, as well as an expansive porch. Inside the home, he replaced a small window with French doors, unlocking the interior to a leafy courtyard – “a welcoming spot for a chair to take in the sun and garden”.
“The courtyard is planted with layered, shade-tolerant flowering shrubs and perennials, along with a camellia hedge, existing kentia palm and a new Michelia alba that helps provide privacy and its perfume to the open dining room,” he says.
“It’s a garden you really want to spend time in, rather than rush by.”
THE HOMEOWNER
Turning his attention to the rear yard, Hugh complemented the existing canopy of a large jacaranda, crepe myrtle, lemon tree and several camellias – which he shaped – with rich, textural ground cover of flowering shrubs and perennials.
Meanwhile, a new limestone-paved entertaining terrace connects to a sculptural sandstone-ballast seating wall by Outside Signatures.
“The rear garden and terrace are offered privacy and some shade from the afternoon sun in summer through staggered woodland-style planting of river birch (Betula nigra ‘Dura Heat’). The dappled light on the limestone paving and gardens below is a pleasing sight,” says Hugh.
For the thrilled owners, the flourishing garden brings daily joy to every member of the family.
“There’s seasonal change to watch, as well as the evolution of the garden itself,” she says. “It’s a garden that’s really beautiful and growing with the grandchildren.
The Design Team:
Hugh Burnett: hughburnett.com.
Outside Signatures: outsidesignatures.com.au.
TE Build: tebuild.com.au.
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