Garden 11

If, as the Chinese proverb says, life begins the day you start a garden, then Mornington Peninsula consultant Nick Smith’s life began in earnest 20 years ago. He was driving back from his parents’ (Channel 9 personality Pete and Jacqueline Smith) holiday house at Portsea when he spotted land for sale that he imagined might fulfil his long-time ambition to own a farm.

Garden 10

Garden 4 Garden 9

Before he knew it he was signing the dotted line that made him the owner of a property perched high in the back blocks of Boneo, with sweeping views across the surrounding farmland and coastal settlements to Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait. But a farm was just the beginning for the appropriately named Panorama Estate, although it is host to a menagerie of native and domestic animals, including a herd of miniature Belted Galloway cattle. Nick also had a burning desire, obsession some might call it, to build a garden. Not just any old garden, mind you, because across the past two decades, Nick has cultivated more than 25 acres (10 hectares) of the 55-acre (22-hectare) property.

Garden 1

Garden 3  Garden 6

Before a single plant went in Nick spent close to two years installing four kilometres of post and rail fencing. Because his plans also included a wildlife sanctuary, fox-proof fencing was also necessary in certain parts. That achieved, he moved on to the orchard: seven terraces in total, each planted to 12 fruiting trees. This leads to a rose garden, then a walled garden opens out to a palm-studded lake. From there, the visitor walks through a vegie patch and several flower gardens then a boardwalk to a massive crater that spirals down to a reedy pond.

Garden 5

Garden 2

 

From there, it’s a stroll through the paddock where rare white kangaroos, wallabies and pademelons graze happily alongside deer and sheep to a fern garden, an olive grove, a wooded area just for gnomes, and a shed constructed from Oregon beams from the dismantled Geelong woolshed and timbers milled from trees cut on the property. In total, Nick estimates more than 20,000 plants have been introduced, 8000 tonnes of rock imported and 100,000 bricks recycled to build the 19 different display areas he has created. Paths link the defined areas and Nick estimates it takes about two and a half hours to walk the three-kilometre circuit that takes in the main features.

Garden 7

Garden 8

The complete story was published in Australian Country issue 19.6. Subscribe to our magazine here and never miss out on a story again.

Click here for more farm-life stories.

Words Kirsty McKenzie
Photography Ken Brass

More Like This

The Great Ocean Road’s Greatest Stays

The Great Ocean Road’s Greatest Stays

The Great Ocean Road is famous for the 12 Apostles and iconic rugged coastline, but there’s a whole lot more to […]

The Blooming Legacy of Treloar Roses

The Blooming Legacy of Treloar Roses in Portland Victoria

Just outside Portland Victoria, at the edge of the great ocean road, sits approx. 50 hectares of paddocks that are quilted […]

A Rising Phoenix: Rae and Guy spent 15 years developing their garden in the NSW Mid-West

The spectre of the bushfires of summer 2019 looms large over the garden at Keewaydin, the home of Rae and Guy […]

What Goes Around: Susan Duncan has learnt that the secret to life is as simple as surrounding yourself with good people

If the accepted wisdom about adversity revealing a person’s true colours is correct, Susan Duncan’s bushfire plan delivers the full rainbow. […]

A drive through the seaside town of Victor Harbor

A Sunday Drive: A drive through the seaside town of Victor Harbour, SA

This house has been waiting for me,” Tania Norman says as she recalls a conversation she recently had with a tradesperson. […]

Move to Myanbah

From Corporate Careers to Country Living: A Family’s Move to Myanbah

Jess and Hamish Webb embarked on a move to Myanbah to raise their three young children in a restored 19th-century homestead.

Tasmanian Family Farm

A Tasmanian Family Farm Built within Generations

Seven generations of the Medwin family have farmed at Black River, Tasmania. Phil and Fiona Medwin are ensuring the tradition continues.

Family business

A Sheep Farm Business Turning Whey into Spirits and More

This Tasmanian-based family has turned their common family business model on its head in pursuit of their values.

Follow Us on Instagram