Dream Gardens

Episode 1 - Friday 2 July

Woodend, Victoria

Michael and Karen decided to turn their back on cramped city living and left their two-bedroom apartment to build a sprawling farmhouse in the country. With their toddler on his feet and ready to explore, they can now create a family garden that includes a play area, vegetable patch and an entertaining space for parents and friends.

The one-acre property is full of potential, but a big space means big challenges. Landscape designer, Kathleen Murphy, will need to tackle a serious drainage issue and address major privacy concerns to turn this into the perfect family retreat. Her ambitious design will feature zones that meet the family’s individual needs, while endeavouring to maintain cohesion, not only within the garden, but also with the house.

It is a balance that has been achieved in Peter Shaw’s home garden, ‘Sunnymeade’, in Anglesea on Victoria’s coast. Michael visits the landscape designer to explore the functional space, which includes everything a family could want, while still maintaining its beauty. The strong design uses the meandering shapes of stringy barks, tightly clipped grey-green shrubs and sculptured mounds covered in turf to set the tone, while flying foxes and treehouses give the garden a warm, family friendly feel.

Michael and Karen are hoping to achieve a similar harmony in their garden, but can they pull together a cohesive design that will still satisfy all members of the family?