Southern Highlands Estate

Designing a garden around a Base Architecture home in the Southern Highlands is a brief that demands a particular kind of restraint. The architecture sits low in the landscape, uses stone, weathered timber and muted metal cladding to reference the local palette, and was conceived from the outset to belong to its setting. The landscape had to follow that same logic. The client wanted impact without the upkeep that comes with a 2500sqm property at altitude. That tension between visual ambition and practical reality shaped every decision. A native and naturalistic planting scheme was developed to work with the Southern Highlands climate rather than against it, with species selected for their sculptural quality, seasonal character and ability to thrive without intensive maintenance. Inspired Exteriors managed the plant sourcing and full set out personally, ensuring the scale and character of each specimen was right for a property of this proportion. The result is a garden that reads as an extension of the surrounding landscape rather than an imposition on it. The lap pool sits within generous lawns and layered native planting, the stone and timber of the architecture echoed in the material choices throughout. From any vantage point inside the home, the garden and the Southern Highlands beyond feel like a single continuous view.