Memla Landscape Architects are currently developing a coastal garden for a family home in Blairgowrie, Victoria, responding closely to the character of the Mornington Peninsula’s unique landscape. The design balances productive and ecological outcomes, integrating a generous vegetable garden with a broader native planting framework inspired by local Coastal Alkaline Scrub (EVC) communities.

The garden is conceived as a series of interconnected outdoor rooms that support everyday family life while reinforcing a strong sense of place. Productive areas are carefully located for solar access and convenience, with raised beds, composting zones, and informal gathering spaces encouraging seasonal use and engagement. Surrounding these areas, a resilient palette of indigenous species reflects the structure and texture of nearby coastal vegetation, selected for their tolerance to wind, salt, and alkaline soils.

An important aspect of the project is its experimental and evolving nature. A diverse range of indigenous species is being trialled across different microclimates within the site, allowing the garden to respond and adapt over time. This iterative approach positions the garden as an ongoing process rather than a fixed outcome, with planting compositions expected to shift as species establish, compete, and self-seed.

A key driver of the project is the visual and ecological connection to the adjacent national park. The design intentionally “borrows” this landscape, extending sightlines and aligning planting typologies to blur the boundary between private garden and public reserve, supporting biodiversity and grounding the garden in its coastal context.