A sloped backyard in northern Sydney has been turned into a layered garden retreat, blending natural features with a custom pool and low-maintenance plantings. The transformation addresses the site’s tricky terrain while creating distinct zones for relaxation, play, and outdoor living. The design respects the existing topography and uses local stone to enhance the sense of place.
The homeowners, Georgia and Andrew, had long admired their Federation-era house but found the garden underwhelming. “The garden wasn’t landscaped and didn’t work well with the sloping block,” says Georgia. “My favourite pocket of the garden depends on the time of day. I love the back corner when the sun is going down and the barbecue area is beautiful in the morning.” “We’d done a lot to the house over the years, and the garden was the final but very important stage.” Environment architect Luke Baldwin and his team at Formed Gardens tackled the challenge by working around existing bedrock and limited access, ensuring the pool felt integrated rather than forced into a corner.
Key to the design was a lagoon-style pool accessed via sandstone steps. The pool’s edge includes a sandstone ledge for diving, while surrounding merbau timber battens add texture. An expanded courtyard features a custom concrete barbecue bench, bespoke joinery and built-in timber seating, creating a focal point for morning gatherings. The highest corner now holds a deck offering views over the garden, while a lush lawn sits adjacent to the pool.
Plantings focus on evergreen varieties for minimal upkeep, including Alpinia henryi, a silver-hued trailing licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare), tractor seat plant and cascading rosemary. “It’s the delicate detail of things, like the crawl of native violet between the natural sandstone steps, that excites me,” Baldwin noted.
The garden now serves as a family retreat, accommodating both humans and pets—their Golden Retrievers, Bear and Bluey, included. “The garden has made such a huge difference to how we all enjoy the house,” says Georgia. While they’re temporarily relocating to Ireland for work, they look forward to returning to their garden.
Bangalow Palm Frames the Rear Pool and Curved Fence Defines the Swim Zone
Nature leads the tiered garden, with a glossy green sheen from dawn to dusk. At the rear, a lagoon-style pool rests beneath a Bangalow palm.
A raised corner window and curved timber batten fence draw attention to the swim zone.
Georgia says her favorite garden pocket shifts with the light, and a tractor seat plant adds interest among the evergreen plantings.
