Westbrook Garden

Imagine having to create a garden on a steep, rocky hillside with very little soil, low rainfall and no town water. Against all the odds, Chris Coffey enthusiastically accepted the challenge of landscaping 1.5 hectares (3.5 acres) of land in the foothills of the lower Blue Mountains. Seventeen years later, Chris describes 'Westbrook' as a garden "built on perfume and intrigue". It is divided into contrasting formal and fun garden rooms including a murraya maze; a map of Australia mass planted with blue, white and apricot violas; a garden hidden behind a plumbago hedge; and a secret garden where wallabies picnic on annuals. Plantings of grevilleas and proteas line the path to the summer house and aviary garden, where there are more ponds and fountains to enjoy.   

Garden gym

Chris moved hundreds of tonnes of rock to construct paths and garden beds across the slope. She moved large rocks with a winch, crowbar and shovel. Before planting could begin, the impoverished soil was built up with manures and compost. Chris mulches the garden beds heavily with sugar cane, pine flake and leaf litter. The hillside was terraced to help prevent erosion, although erosion is not a serious problem because the garden is situated in an area of very low rainfall. However, watering the garden is a major chore. There is no town water, so water is laboriously pumped from a nearby creek.

Further information

Westbrook Garden
166 Cabbage Tree Road
Grose Vale, NSW, 2753
The garden is open to the public by appointment. For tour bookings or to hire the garden for wedding photos, phone (02) 4572 1291. Westbrook is also open on the weekend of November 18-19 2000 from 10-4.30 for the Australian Open Garden Scheme. Entry is $5.20. Longleat Farm, at Longleat Lane, Kurmond is close to Westbrook, and is open on the same weekend. For more information ring the AOGS Information Line on 1902 261 026.

Copyright CTC Productions 2000