Set on a generous coastal site close to Port Phillip Bay, this holiday garden is conceived as a secluded, immersive landscape that balances recreation with a strong sense of place. The design is anchored by an existing Golden Elm, around which the house and garden are carefully arranged, establishing a central focal point that grounds the project in its existing landscape character.

The site sits within a natural depression typical of the remnant sand dune systems of the southern Mornington Peninsula. This subtle landform informs the spatial organisation of the garden, with built and planted elements responding to its topography to create a sense of enclosure, shelter, and immersion.

A series of interconnected outdoor zones—including a pool terrace, tennis court, expansive lawns, and outdoor entertaining areas—are unified within a cohesive coastal framework. Dense indigenous planting forms a protective “hideaway” envelope, softening built form and enhancing privacy while shaping curated views.

The planting palette is drawn from local ecological communities, specifically Coast Banksia Woodland and Coastal Alkaline Scrub. Layered vegetation of banksias, moonahs, and coastal grasses provides structure, texture, and resilience to wind, salt, and sandy soils. The result is a contemporary coastal garden that supports leisure and gathering while reinforcing a connection to the ‘scrub woodland’ of Rye’s coastal foreshore.