MIFGS – Australian Case Study Garden

To mark the occasion of Australian House & Garden magazine’s 70th anniversary, editor in chief, Lisa Green invited longtime collaborators Eckersley Garden Architecture to design a contemporary garden that pays homage to the Australian backyard, and its many incarnations and uses over time.

Our response was to propose an Australian Case Study Garden, “a bit of a mongrel”, referencing plants and materials seen in our gardens over the past seven decades to create a contemporary garden.

Importantly, the design used materials and plants accessible to all. From the veggie patch to the fruit trees, native plantings and ornamental shrubs to an outdoor fire/BBQ, recognisable elements have been given a modern makeover. There’s enough lawn for a cricket game, a brick front fence, a pond and gum trees. Naturally.

Please enjoy some behind the scenes action below:

The amazing crew at Canterbury Landscapes – hard at work. Mulch and gravel from Burdett’s, Luca crazy paving from Eco Outdoor and San Selmo Reclaimed bricks from Brickworks.

Finishing touches – glorious furniture from Grazia & Co, lighting from Light on Landscape, plants and pots from The Plant Society and The Balcony Garden, custom cushions by Bindi Howarth, Angry Ant Gin – important to stay hydrated – from Bass & Flinders Distillery.

The plants – we couldn’t do it without the support of the nurseries: Smith and Gordon Nursery, Warners Nurseries  Established Tree Transplanters, Australian Seed & Turf Farm, Rupert Baynes, Plant Tiles Australia, Living Sculptures, Botanix Plant Supply, Oz watergardens, Merricks Nursery, The Tree Shop 

We had an absolute ball working on MIFGS – thank you to all who helped make it possible.