Coast with the most
By Lynne Testoni
This lush coastal garden has allowed the homeowners to expand the entertainment space in their holiday house.
The owners of this holiday house have created a coastal haven designed for entertaining and relaxing. Located on the NSW South Coast, this was a large and ambitious project for the owners, who wanted a beautiful space where they could escape from the daily stresses of life, relax, and have their children play.
The garden, named ‘Coastal Retreat,’ was a gold winner for landscape company Manuka Gardens in the Residential Construction $250K – $450K category, and Bronze in Residential Design Over 500sqm in the 2024 Landscape Excellence Awards.
The brief
The clients’ brief to Manuka Gardens was to expand their entertainment space beyond the house and create an inviting garden area tailored to their lifestyle. They wanted to include a lounge area, pool and sun lounges, fire pit and plenty of grass for the kids to run around.
Design-wise, the owners wanted to emphasise natural elements, utilising stone and concrete for a durable, yet elegant aesthetic. A fire pit area surrounded by native and tropical plantings has created a lush, inviting atmosphere.
The brief also included an irrigation system for efficient maintenance, ensuring the outdoor space remains vibrant and thriving.
Scope of works
The scope of works included creating a retreat for family gatherings and relaxation, integrating a swimming pool, covered entertainment area, and fire pit within the contemporary home’s U-shaped layout. The works also included large lawn areas for children, and ensuring ride-on mower access, as well as preserving existing plantings for privacy.
The first step involved designing a pool that harmonised with the home’s architecture. Nestled along the residence’s wing, the pool maximised sun exposure and proximity to indoor areas. Manuka Gardens designed the pool’s location, style, and landscaped surroundings, while Narellan Pools Southcoast executed installation. Travertine paving extended from the house to the pool, enclosed by custom steel post fencing. At the pool’s far end, a sun lounge area with a hidden cover offered relaxation with oversight of children.
The entertainment area included a pergola with timber posts and louvred panel roofing. It served as the outdoor gathering hub, complete with a custom concrete kitchen, barbecue bench, timber panelling, built-in barbecue and fridge, seating, dining area, and outdoor television.
Plantings
Preserving existing plantings and ensuring privacy from the street were paramount to Manuka Gardens’ design. Integrating new elements with the property’s front bank plantings involved protective measures to safeguard mature trees and vegetation during construction.
Trees added included two Aloidendron barberae (aloe trees) as well as two Corymbia ficifolia ‘Fairy Floss’ (dwarf flowering gums) underplanted with selected grasses – Festuca glauca, Pennisetum alopecuroides, and Poa labillardieri ‘Eskdale’.
Other planting choices included six Agave geminiflora, the addition of the rich purple hues of Alternanthera dentata, some Leucophyta brownii, Westringia fruticosa ‘Jervis Gem’ and a generous planting of Senecio serpens, allsurrounding the dining area and firepit.
Groundcovers include Casuarina glauca ‘Cousin It’, Eremophila glabra ‘Kalbarri Carpet’, which has dense soft grey foliage and yellow-gold flowers, as well as Myoporum parvifolium, another dense groundcover, this time with white star-shaped flowers.
Winning work
While the garden was award-winning, it wasn’t the only Manuka Gardens win that evening. Jude Hobson, a Manuka Gardens employee, won Apprentice of the Year – Parks & Gardens at the Awards night. Jude will attend this year’s Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show (MIFGS) with The Landscape Association 25 as part of his prize.
Manuka Gardens singled out Jude’s versatility, which combines his horticultural knowledge and construction expertise to create a valuable asset for the business. The company said that Jude’s can-do attitude and professional work ethic made him a reliable and dedicated team member.
The Landscape Association’s (TLA) 2024 Landscape Excellence Awards winners were announced at the Landscape Excellence Awards Gala Dinner
These Awards celebrate the very highest standards and achievements in Landscape Construction, Design, and Maintenance in the Residential and Commercial sectors. They recognise innovation, creativity, and outstanding craftsmanship and are the highest accolades in the industry.
The Awards are just one of many TLA benefits included in a TLA Membership. To find out more about membership or contact the team directly, visit www.landscapeassociation.com.au