Camberwell Project – Garden Design and Construction

Eight years ago, back in 2012, we designed and constructed this landscape project in the leafy Melbourne suburb of Camberwell.  Our wonderful clients commissioned us to design and construct all garden areas surrounding their federation style home. Whilst an overhaul was required, it was important we stayed true to the property’s heritage throughout.
The front garden design is free-form and was based around an existing Camellia. The hedge to the side of this space introduces a structured element that we continued down the side of the property.

Although not as common today in modern landscape design, we chose to use traditional box hedges to frame the planting down the side of the Camberwell property. Giving structure and acting as a ‘living path’ to guide visitors to the existing feature 50+ years-old Pin Oak at the entrance to the rear garden. The contrast in textures between this formal clipped hedging and more relaxed planting makes this space interesting and helps to blend all landscape areas – slowly introducing a more traditional feel out back.


It was always our intention after initial inspection, to keep the front Camellia and the rear Pin Oak in our garden design. Designing around these elements, as well as level changes in the landscape were challenging but certainly worth the sketching paper. Compartmentalising the landscape into 3 distinct areas helped us overcome these challenges. We believe that the most successful garden design option came to fruition.



With regards to planting, we took cues from what already existed in the garden to identify what would work well (varieties such as Karume azaleas, Camellia japonica, Clivia miniata and Boston Ivy). We replicated this planting by multiplying it out to extend coverage.
Sawn bluestone paving was a hardscape element that we used throughout our landscape design to pull all three garden areas together – acting as an anchor for all planting.

We’re thrilled with this garden design in Melbourne, especially knowing that this space is well used and loved by our clients.

Garden design and construction – Ian Barker Gardens
Photography – Erik Holt Photography