For Bangay, replacing the tennis court was a wise decision. “A tennis court is lifeless,” he says. “Replacing it with planting makes it soft, alive and full of interest. The only challenge is the compacted soil underneath, but with care, it can be made fertile again.”
The renewal redefined the way the house connects to its grounds. From the front rooms, views now draw the eye to a central fountain, framed by lush borders and a trailing pergola.
Who doesn’t love some well-placed pavers? Credit: Robyn Lea
“The new sight lines entice you out into the garden,” Bangay says. “It lures you, visually and physically, into a space that feels both formal and full of life.”
Yet even as Fairfield Hall blossoms, Bangay concedes such choices remain rare. “Sadly, most still prioritise recreational fixtures like trampolines,” he says. “Fairfield Hall shows what can happen when green space comes first.”
For Robyn Lea, NGVWA vice-president and Garden Day co-convenor, Fairfield Hall embodies the essence of this year’s theme: Saving Gardens, Saving Homes.
Wouldn’t you prefer to come home to this rather than a tennis court?Credit: Robyn Lea
“The more complex and tech-driven the world becomes, the more we need to connect with nature,” she says. “It brings balance and beauty.
“There’s a myth that coveted suburbs like Brighton are all oversized mansions and concrete, but many significant homes are being preserved and surrounded by inspiring gardens.”
Eckersley Garden Architecture has built a stone stairway to heaven. Credit: Tom Blachford
Other gardens in this year’s program echo that ethos. At Kelso, built in 1853 and one of Brighton’s oldest homesteads, Eckersley Garden Architecture has revived its farming origins with an edible garden grown from heirloom seeds.
At another property closer to the foreshore, the owners bought and cleared a neighbouring block to create an expansive garden, which Lea describes as being “full of plants that feed the spirit, just as the vegetable beds feed the family”.
Each of the gardens on display embraces a love for the natural world and its beauty and biodiversity.Credit: Tom Blachford
While each garden on display is unique, they all reveal a love for the natural world and the beauty and biodiversity it brings.
At Fairfield Hall, Sandra reflects that their garden was “not just for us, but for the future” – a reminder that such places are more than private luxuries; they are living legacies planted for generations yet to come.
This article was originally published by Domain.com.au. Reproduced with permission.
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