Garden Design Fest

Starting in 2004, the Garden Design Fest is a showcase of 46 of Victoria’s most spectacular gardens, highlighting the work of some of the most acclaimed garden designers in the country. Over 40 spectacular sites were exhibited across the 2 weekend event spread across Melbourne, Mornington, Euroa, Ballarat, Macedon, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland.

Designed to provide an interactive platform for designers and home owners to discuss ideas, design needs and to obtain all kinds of information and scope to create and improve their own gardens, the event featured open house viewings for some of the most fantastic, beautiful outdoor spaces in the state.

Acclaimed landscape designer and founder of C.O.S Design, Steve Taylor, exhibited his private Mornington garden over the weekend.

Featuring exclusive artistic installations, such as the well-known life sized Harry the Hippo (Matt Hill Projects) and sculptures by Lump Sculpture Studio, Steelscapes and Matt Drysdale, the property highlights a wraparound alfresco desk and stone pizza oven built below a modern pool and spa setting. An internal courtyard is the ultimate space for tranquility, with Japanese maple and simple water features to create the perfect calm.

A vision of Steve’s for more than 8 years and a physical effort over more than 5 years, he has built the space so that the home would be surrounded by a garden that could be lived in just as much as the house itself; the ultimate aim of the two moulding together as one and having the design as a complete package.

All proceeds for the event were donated to Monash Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation supported by the Kew, Brighton North and Central Melbourne Rotary Clubs.

The Garden Design Fest has now concluded, but you can check out their website at gardendesignfest.com.au