With sweeping views over native bushland and out to the Pacific, this spectacular site on a NSW Central Coast headland is sparkling and tranquil one day, wild and windswept the next. And that intimate connection to nature’s rhythms proved both a plus and minus for its garden designer, Adam Eurell of Nature’s Vision Landscapes.
The owners bought the property in 1996. “We loved its closeness to the beach, the bush setting beside a reserve, the jaw-dropping views and the constant sound of the surf,” says the owner. But occupied by a derelict home and untamed undergrowth, it required imagination to realise its potential.
Robust plantings of mat rush (Lomandra fluviatilis ‘Shara’), coast tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum), coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa) and kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra ‘Mingo’) on the NSW Central Coast in a garden designed by Adam Eurell of Nature’s Vision Landscapes.(Photography: Nick Watt)
Boulders from a local quarry create texture among burrawang (Macrozamia communis) and native flax (Dianella caerulea ‘Little Jess’). (Photography: Nick Watt)
Their plan was to build a home that would evolve into a weekender when the couple eventually returned to Sydney. But with the pressures of their professional lives and the arrival of two children, the site sat idle. “We thought about selling it, but we knew we would never be able to buy such an exceptional block again,” says the owner. In 2018, its time arrived. They enlisted local architect Dianna Thomas to design their long-anticipated weekender and she, in turn, referred them to Adam. The overriding brief for both was for the home to blend into the landscape.
“They wanted to create a sophisticated garden that connects with the bushland setting and ocean escarpment,” says Adam. “The garden had to showcase the natural beauty of the site and add to it, not detract or contrast.”
On such a sloping site, it had to include a series of levels, both open and secluded, to connect seamlessly with the home and bask in the panoramic views. And the garden had a further task. “The architecture was impacted by the fire-risk rating, with limited construction materials and no timber, so we needed the garden to do some aesthetic heavy lifting,” says the owner.
With its sandstone flagging sourced from a local quarry and handsome gabion wall system from Maccaferri, the home’s parking area creates a strong sense of arrival. Plants, both structured and loosely flowing, include trimmed Aussie box (Westringia fruticosa ‘Aussie Box’), creeping boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium) groundcover, native flax (Dianella caerulea ‘Little Jess’) and saw banksia (Banksia serrata) trees.(Photography: Nick Watt)
This site presented other headaches for Adam, such as salt-laden winds, sandy soils that would limit the plantings and the logistics of accessing the site by crane. Not to mention the wild lantana, cassia and “solid mat” of undergrowth, which would require removal by hand.
“The garden had to showcase the natural beauty of the site.”
ADAM EURELL, GARDEN DESIGNER
An aerial view of the idyllic site. (Photography: Nick Watt)
He created a series of spaces in a C-shape, with the home on the inner and the escarpment and cliff on the outer. Not surprisingly, considering the brief, the plant palette is almost entirely native and includes banksias (Banksia integrifolia/serrata/ericifolia), coast tea tree (Leptospermum laevigatum), turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera), coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa), burrawang (Macrozamia communis), mat rush (Lomandra longifolia), grey spider flower (Grevillea buxifolia) and flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi).
“While the planting palette is restrained, the hardscaping brings boldness and strong lines,” says Adam. “The entire garden works on easing you through the landscape to arrive at a final destination at the top of the site, the final reveal, allowing full immersion in nature.”
A striking staircase ‘floats’ above strap wattle (Acacia holosericea), lomandra (Lomandra longifolia ‘Tanika’), native flax (Dianella caerulea ‘Little Jess’) and round-leafed navel-wort (Cotyledon macrantha) (Photography: Nick Watt)
At the front, a handsome Corten-steel gate in an off-form concrete wall interrupts a striking Corten-steel fence of vertical pickets randomly arranged in a curve. “I drew inspiration from a timber stake fence previously used to shut out bush turkeys,” says Adam. A sandstone flagging driveway winds up to a parking area defined by a mighty gabion retaining wall. From there, a marine-grade steel floating staircase, etched in steel and concrete and leading to the front door, hovers above the garden and passes through a canopy of soapbrush wattle (Acacia holosericea), underplanted with lomandra and dianella grasses.
PLANT LIST
TREES
GRASSES
Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra ‘Mingo’)
FEATURE PLANTS
GROUND COVERS
Banksia (Banksia integrifolia ‘Roller Coaster’)
SHRUBS
Coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa)
Grey spider flower (Grevillea buxifolia)
SUCCULENTS
Pig’s ear (Cotyledon macrantha)
Coastal rosemary (Westringia fruticosa), Banksia integrifolia ‘Roller Coaster’ and native flax (Dianella caerulea ‘Little Jess’). (Photography: Nick Watt)
Past the entry, the garden opens to a mid-level lawn. This area is surrounded by native flax, lime flowering kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus ‘Landscape Lime’), acacias and coastal tea tree. Then a boulder staircase flows up to a pausing point for soaking up the views, in brown granite aggregate.
Hardy plants, perfect for a windswept clifftop, include coastal rosemary, mat rush, heath myrtle (Baeckea imbricata), red spider flower, flannel flower, coast tea tree and hoary guinea flower (Hibbertia obtusifolia). Wide steps of Corten steel with sandstone flagging connect with the home’s verandah and entertaining area. Further steps lead to the ultimate destination, a clifftop fire pit.
The firepit area offers spectacular views. Heath myrtle (Baeckea imbricata), native flax (Dianella caerulea ‘Little Jess’) and grey spider flower (Grevillea buxifolia). Firedrum, Hibernate. (Photography: Nick Watt)
The grassed area, offering blissful shade, is the owner’s favourite hideaway. “That enclosed space on such a steep site makes me feel grounded and gives me a sense of calm,” she says. By contrast, her whimsical “forest” of Corten-steel fence posts makes her smile. “When you walk past that and down to the beach, you feel you are going on an adventure!”.
The Design Team
Nature’s Vision Landscapes: naturesvision.com.au.
Dianna Thomas Architect: diannathomasarchitect.com.
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Writer
Chris Pearson
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