In the flow

Heritage harmony
When Phillip Withers and Molly Shelton bought an early 1900s weatherboard home in East Geelong, on Wadawurrung Country, in 2023, they inherited little more than a modest front patch and a disjointed split-level backyard with no garden to speak of. What they saw, however, was an opportunity to craft a distinctly Australian garden for themselves and their young children, one that wove recycled materials and indigenous plantings into a family-friendly landscape grounded in its local roots.  “Period homes are usually paired with a certain style of garden. I believe it’s time we start connecting Australian gardens to period homes. There’s absolutely a place for it – and I’m calling it the Australian meadow,” Phil says, who owns and runs a landscape design consultancy.

Family-friendly 
The front garden was designed to feel welcoming and to enhance the home’s heritage-style architecture. The back garden is designed for outdoor living and unfolds into distinct zones: pool, entertaining, lounging and kids’ play area. Planting is tiered to suit the conditions; the block is close to the beach, sitting where sandy soils give way to clay, and the garden reflects that mix. All plants support local insects, lizards and birds, of which there are an increasing number in the garden. The children’s area features a lawn, cubbyhouse and ‘discovery garden’ where they have free rein to plant vegies, herbs or wildflowers, and to pick what they grow. “They can get their hands dirty, learn in nature and not be playing on the computer,” Phil says.   

For more of Phillip and Molly’s ideas, key plants and design notes, get your copy of the February issue – on sale now! 

Header image by Simon Griffiths