The New Australian Garden ― Gardens for Living

The New Australian Garden is a survey in text and lavish photography of 18 gardens that represent a new movement in Australian landscape design. The relationship between architecture and garden is paramount, and in their work these new designers connect these elements by creating a seamless flow of levels and materials between indoor and outdoor. In place of the traditional rectangular lawn with perimeter beds, grassed areas are re-imagined as contoured sculptural forms. Plantings are experimental and non-traditional. Life is injected into these gardens with moving water, fire pits and wind sculpture, and by pets, friends and family life. Every exterior space is activated, and all elements work together to set the garden in motion. These are gardens as destination spaces, and Michael Bates gives an insider’s account of the journey of their design, creation, construction and planting.

Australia based Michael Bates started his career at the grass roots. He worked as a nursery apprentice before moving on to study horticulture and spent three years as the first student of Japanese master landscape architect, Masayoshi Uchiyama. He founded Bates Landscape in 1993, and the business has grown steadily ever since. After 30 years in the industry, Michael has built and designed well over 1,000 gardens. He collaborates with top architects, landscape architects and designers to craft both contemporary and traditional habitats.