Ray Street – Sunshine Beach

Year-Round Colour and Lasting Privacy on a Sunshine Beach Corner Block

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A colourful, low-water garden wrapping a sloping Sunshine Beach corner block, with stone walls, smart irrigation, and privacy from the road and rear pool areas.

Designing a Garden That Works From Every Angle

This Ray Street property sits on a large corner block, so the garden is on show from more than one street. That shaped the whole design. Every bed, wall, and plant had to look good from several viewpoints, not just from the front door.

We wrapped the planting around the home to soften its edges and give something worth looking at from each side of the block. The layout flows naturally, drawing the eye through the garden rather than stopping at a single feature.

Working With a Sloping Site

The block slopes, which meant we were working with several different heights across the property. Left as it was, that slope would have made the garden feel disjointed.

Our solution was a mix of Corten steel and natural stone clad walls. These raised the new garden beds and gave the illusion of a level site. The stone work adds texture and a sense of permanence too, tying in with the client’s wish for hard materials throughout.

Colour in Every Season

The client wanted colour all year, not just a burst in spring. We planned the planting palette around that.

By mixing foliage tones with seasonal flowering, the garden holds its interest no matter the month. Some plants earn their place through bold leaf colour, others through their flowers. The result is a space that always has something happening.

A Low-Maintenance, Water-Wise Approach

Low upkeep and low water use sat high on the list. We chose hardy species suited to the Sunshine Beach climate, plants that stay full and healthy without constant attention or heavy watering.

To back that up, we installed a fully automatic irrigation system across the lawns and garden beds. A rain sensor pauses the system when the weather does the job, keeping water use efficient through the year.

Privacy Where It Matters

Two areas needed screening: the road frontage and the rear pool. We used planting to build a green barrier along the boundaries, giving privacy from passing traffic and from neighbours without closing the garden in.

Around the pool, that screening creates a private retreat while still feeling open and connected to the rest of the space.

Planning Around Existing Services

Corner blocks often carry stormwater, power, and telephone lines that run straight through the work area, and this site was no exception.

Before any digging started, we used the Dial Before You Dig service to map every line. That step kept the project safe and on schedule, and let us design the garden around what was already in the ground.

Integrated Lighting and a Finish Built to Last

Garden lighting was built into the beds and stone work from the start, so the space carries its appeal into the evening. From the walls to the irrigation and the finishing details, the whole project was delivered by skilled trades who care about getting it right. The result is a colourful, water-wise garden that looks good from every angle and gives this Sunshine Beach home privacy, structure, and year-round character.

Project Objectives

  • Create a colourful garden that provides privacy from the road.

  • Design a low-maintenance garden that needs minimal water.

  • Make the garden look good from every angle of the large corner block.

  • Include stone work and integrated garden lighting throughout.

  • Put the lawns and surrounding garden on an automatic irrigation system.

  • Provide privacy from neighbours for the rear pool area.

Project Details

  • Project Location: Sunshine Beach, Queensland
  • Project Cost: $150,000 - $200,000
  • Project Year: 2025
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Before Photos