Garden Designer Chooses Timeless Over Trendy for Melbourne Retreat

When you need escape from the world, a leafy garden oasis is the perfect hideaway. Myles Broad of Eckersley Garden Architecture created this stunning design, recently featured in Australia's NGVWA Garden Day showcasing top designs in a Melbourne suburb.

Broad found an uninspiring classical garden fully visible from the back window. "Inspiration: create a beautiful, arousing garden for an active, social family." He divided the space into key zones for varied outdoor enjoyment.

The garden has a dining area and leafy retreat leading to a rear pool. Sectioning creates the illusion of more space. "It's a misconception that seeing the whole garden at once feels roomier. Breaking it into compartments that can't be seen all at once expands perception."

A striking feature: Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Virginia creeper' draping the dining pergola—whimsical, mysterious, inviting exploration.

Broad rejects trends, encouraging timeless, simple design—but embraces authenticity. "Making things look lived-in and carefree—hope that continues. I don't do 'wow factor.' A simple bubbling lily pond has timelessness without stainless steel, Grecian urns, or vertical gardens."

Spaces unify through repetition: Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), Liriope muscari 'Royal Purple', sacred bamboo (Nandina domestica). Seasonal bulbs—amaryllis belladonna, jonquils, Christmas lilies—add year-round variety.

Beyond dining, Japanese maples line a path to a leafy clearing for relaxation. "Creating mood is intangible but needs careful planning and brilliant execution over the first years."

Colorful wire chairs, table, and domed lights in beds contrast the natural setting.

Paving: reclaimed granite from old Chinese stone lanes—century-old tale in a modern yard. Random plank shapes add informality. Ground cover: white creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) softens the look.

"Clarity and greenery are key," Broad says. "Simple materials and plants, draped in greenery, responsive to seasons, creating a relaxed mood."

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