Landscape architecture by Rob Waddell of Waddell Landscape Design
This garden is set against the rugged coastal backdrop of Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island, Australia. A popular surfing spot, the island is also known for its dramatic pinnacles, vast ocean views and native coastal vegetation.
Designed by Rob Waddell of Waddell Landscape Design, the project began with nothing but a new house on a plot of grass – even a driveway was yet to come. From this blank canvas came a garden shaped by place, purpose and daily life.
The brief
The young homeowners wanted more than just neat landscaping. Their brief to Rob was to create an “interesting and beautiful” garden that would attract bees and butterflies, and impart a sense of calm upon arrival. Designing a good flow through to a functional entertaining area at the back and a practical driveway were also important elements.
The transformation
The design began with structure. In the front garden, a granite herringbone path curves through wide garden beds, offering shifting views and a measured pace. Pink and purple flowers mix with silver and green foliage.
At the entrance, a Gleditsia ‘Sunburst’ offers partial screening, and clipped Westringia fruticosa spheres line the path, appearing to float above the Brachyscombe multifida.
Through spring and summer, the tall pink blooms of Agastache ‘Sweet Lilly’ rise above the silver tones of Stachys lanata ‘Lamb’s Ears’ and Nepeta x faassenii, followed in autumn by Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, deepening in colour as winter approaches.
At the path’s end, a Nyssa sylvatica tree anchors the garden, while Pyrus ‘Capital’ trees provide shelter from strong south-westerly winds and seasonal interest, holding its leaves well into the colder months.
The narrower rear garden continues the same rhythm of planting and form. A paved dining area flows into soft borders where Agastache, Sedum, Nepeta and Stachys are joined by Gaura lindheimeri and Pratia pedunculata, weaving between granite stepping stones.
The movement of taller blooms and the play of light through maple leaves bring lightness to the space. Here, the garden becomes a private retreat, tucked away from the road and the noise of the world.
The result
The final layout is both practical and composed. The paved terrace extends to hold an outdoor kitchen and dining area, ending with a circular void where an Acer palmatum takes pride of place. Its fine canopy casts dappled shade across the stone, creating a natural roof without enclosing the space.
What was once a bare site is now a thriving garden for gathering, cooking and lingering through summer afternoons. The design responds to its coastal setting, while celebrating the life that now flourishes within it.
Key plant palette
- Agastache ‘Sweet Lili’
- Brachyscome multifida
- Gaura lindheimeri
- Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’
- Nepeta × faassenii
- Nyssa sylvatica
- Pyrus calleryana ‘Capital’
- Pratia pedunculata
- Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’
- Stachys lanata
- Westringia fruticosa
Landscape design, build & maintenance by Waddell Landscape Design
Photography by @garden_shots
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