A stylish new garden that harmonises perfectly with the superb old historic limestone home.

Moorakyne is one of Robe’s fine old historic homes. Built in 1853, the twelve-roomed limestone house and several charming outbuildings sit in a prime position on an acre of coastal land.

In 2017, Margaret and Donald Ferguson bought the property and spent several years restoring the house before focusing on the neglected garden in 2020.

Early photos show there was originally a pretty cottage garden in front of the house, and remnants of original stone garden walls and borders remain, which have become the edging for paths and the lawned area in front of the house.  Around 1910, Norfolk Island pines were planted, and now, they provide privacy and personality to the property but also present challenging growing conditions! The trees have been underplanted with arthropodiums, agave and convolvulus; a clever combination of plants that cope with the shade and root competition. A border of hardy perennials maintains a touch of the original cottagey character.

Timber salvaged from the old Robe wharf was used to construct a substantial pergola, and superbly built limestone retaining walls beautifully complement the lovely old buildings. Paths wind through the adjacent planting inspired by the vegetation on the nearby clifftops. A fine-leafed frothy grass, Poa ‘Eskdale’, bird attracting natives including the lovely silver Eremophila nivea, purple statice, sedums, salvias, iris and cheery yellow kniphofia create a delightful mix of softly coloured foliage, flowers and form.

Bordering a path, Leptospermum ‘Foreshore’ has been clipped into a series of spheres, and a protective hedge surrounds a thriving vegetable garden planted in circular corten steel raised beds.

Toolache Garden is also open in the same street.