A lush entertainer’s garden in Sydney’s inner west

Article from Australian House and Garden

writer: Elizabeth Wilson

photographer: Anson Smart

 

A hidden gem set in Sydney’s inner west, this layout offers a special journey through beautifully landscaped levels to tranquil water views.

tropical garden

David Yates and Stan Savellis love to entertain. This was part of the motivation to move from their tightly packed inner-Sydney terrace to a more spacious address further out of the city. They fell in love with a renovated Federation home just a couple of suburbs away, in the inner west.

While the house itself is a gem, it was the generous outdoor space that won their hearts.

Green elephant's ears (Colocasia esculenta), distinguished by their large, heart-shaped leaves, grow en masse under the jacaranda trees on the lower level.Green elephant’s ears (Colocasia esculenta), distinguished by their large, heart-shaped leaves, grow en masse under the jacaranda trees on the lower level.

The long back garden is 12x32m and backs onto a wide bend of the Cooks River, with sweeping views across the water to a golf course on the other side. “We couldn’t believe the size of the garden,” says David. “And the borrowed landscape was a major attraction.”

The garden was a blank canvas, a vast stretch of lawn with a 1.2m gradient extending down to green space alongside the river. It was exposed to public view and had only a few existing trees, including two jacarandas and a Japanese maple, which the new owners were keen to maintain.

Oversized bluestone stepping stones, embedded in a lush carpet of Dichondra repens, encircle the lower lawn.These lead to a seating area shaded by an olive tree and a 'Bloodgood' Japanese maple.Oversized bluestone stepping stones, embedded in a lush carpet of Dichondra repens, encircle the lower lawn. These lead to a seating area shaded by an olive tree and a ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese maple.

Initially, David and Stan thought they’d install a pool. “But then we realised we already had a spectacular water feature – the river,” says David. Their focus shifted to creating a lush and inviting entertainers’ garden that would relate to its surroundings but also provide a private sanctuary. They turned to the team from Think Outside Gardens.

The jacaranda has been underplanted with elephant's ears.The jacaranda has been underplanted with elephant’s ears.

In response, landscape architect Sophie Greive designed a multi-level layout consisting of distinct but connected zones. Her contemporary scheme manages to complement and soften the home’s modern rear extension while also framing views to the river and screening out neighbours.
Importantly, it creates generous, private outdoor entertaining areas that are suitable for year-round use.

The journey begins at the back door with two large split-level decks built from spotted gum. The top deck is covered by an upstairs balcony and perfect for alfresco dining. Steps lead 30cm down to the lower deck, which is screened by a row of slender weavers bamboo (Bambusa textilis ‘Gracilis’).

The vegie beds yield an abundance of produce, including zucchini, cucumbers, silverbeet, corn, carrots and radishes. "We share our crops with friends and colleagues," says David.The vegie beds yield an abundance of produce, including zucchini, cucumbers, silverbeet, corn, carrots and radishes. “We share our crops with friends and colleagues,” says David.

From here, wide steps lead down a further 30cm to a level square of lawn. Wrapping around the base of the deck is a path of white river pebbles, merging with large 240x50cm concrete stepping stones leading to the lower lawn. “The back of the house is quite geometrical and modern, so the materials used in the top part are more bold and contemporary,” Sophie says. “As you go down further, it becomes more ‘gardenesque’ and the shapes are more organic.”

The garden transitions from geometric shapes at the top to curvilinear forms on the bottom level. Multiple zones are unified by a planting palette that mixes silver-green foliage, such as that of Helichrysum petiolare (licorice plant) and Echium, with splashes of purple in the form of Alternanthera dentata and a 'Bloodwood' Japanese maple.The garden transitions from geometric shapes at the top to curvilinear forms on the bottom level. Multiple zones are unified by a planting palette that mixes silver-green foliage, such as that of Helichrysum petiolare (licorice plant) and Echium, with splashes of purple in the form of Alternanthera dentata and a ‘Bloodwood’ Japanese maple.

Around this lawn sprawls a lush carpet of kidney weed (Dichondra repens), dotted with large bluestone stepping stones leading to a sitting nook and kitchen garden. The plantings in the lower garden continue the mix of grey-green and purple hues, as highlighted by the feature Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’) and an olive tree. Other standout species here include a moptop Indian bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides) and Norway maple (Acer ‘Globosum’), both featuring rounded canopies that echo the clipped shapes below. At the very bottom of the layout are vegetables and herbs, growing in raised beds made from treated-pine sleepers. “The kitchen garden is a lovely destination point in the garden,” says Sophie.

Along the back deck, Sophie designed a low sitting wall built from sandstone, reprising the material of an existing retaining wall. Slender weavers bamboo forms a living green screen. A Mandevilla 'White Fantasy' climbs up stainless-steel wires to soften the geometry of the renovated house, while a Dichondra 'Silver Falls' spills down.
Along the back deck, Sophie designed a low sitting wall built from sandstone, reprising the material of an existing retaining wall. Slender weavers bamboo forms a living green screen. A Mandevilla ‘White Fantasy’ climbs up stainless-steel wires to soften the geometry of the renovated house, while a Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ spills down.
While David and Stan adore their green space, David is the passionate gardener. “There aren’t enough hours in the week,” he says. “It takes a lot of work, but is well worth the effort.”
And yes, the garden has become the perfect backdrop for their regular soirees. “We love having canapé events when people walk around and mingle,” he says. “Everyone loves being in this garden, out among the trees and foliage.”
  • writer: Elizabeth Wilson
  • photographer: Anson Smart