Why Camberwell Homeowners Choose John French Landscape Design
Camberwell is shaped differently from its inner-east neighbours. The big family blocks, the village character of Camberwell Junction, and the deep tree canopy running through Riversdale Road and the streets off Burke Road have produced gardens that need to handle daily family life — children, pets, entertaining — without losing character or maintenance discipline. We have been designing landscapes across Melbourne’s east since 1981, and our work in Camberwell reflects a genuine understanding of how these gardens get used.
John French Landscape Design is multi-award-winning and rated five stars on Houzz. Our team handles every stage of a project in-house, from initial concept through construction and planting, so your Camberwell garden is delivered without the handovers and miscommunication that can stretch a project out by months.
From Camberwell Junction through to Sumner Park, we design landscapes that suit how Camberwell families live and stand up over decades. You can also visit our Kew page to discover more of our bespoke landscape design projects and creative outdoor spaces.
Four-tile feature block (small icon or image + heading + 1 line each):
- 40+ years designing gardens in Melbourne’s east
- Multi-award-winning, 5-star on Houzz
- Heritage overlay and Boroondara Council experience
- Full design, construct and project-manage service
Speak to Madina about your Camberwell garden — call 0419 725 344
Designed for Camberwell's Family Blocks and Heritage Streets
Most Camberwell gardens come with constraints that less experienced designers underestimate. Heritage overlays through significant pockets of the suburb, mature root protection zones, established boundary hedging and Boroondara Council planning requirements all shape what is possible — and a designer who understands those constraints from the first site visit will save you months on the project.
Heritage Overlay and Boroondara Council Permits — Handled With Care
Camberwell has substantial heritage overlay coverage, particularly around Cookson Street, Trafalgar Road, Prospect Hill Road and the streets running off Burke Road. Permits are often required for significant tree removal, retaining walls, deck construction and structural changes. We have worked through Boroondara’s planning process repeatedly, and we prepare landscape plans that meet the council’s guidelines first time. Where a permit is required, we manage the application and council liaison for you.
Working With Mature Trees, Period Homes and Established Gardens
Many Camberwell gardens feature mature European trees — plane trees, oaks and elms — that anchor the entire design and cannot be touched lightly. Working around tree protection zones, respecting Federation, Edwardian and Victorian architecture, and choosing plantings that complement period homes rather than compete with them is a craft we have refined over four decades.
Soil, Aspect and Family-Use Considerations in Camberwell
Camberwell’s soils tend toward heavy clay-loam, similar to its Boroondara neighbours, with drainage that varies between elevated streets and lower-lying blocks. The bigger consideration on most Camberwell sites is how the garden handles daily family use — wear from children and pets, durability of paving and turf, shade for outdoor living. A north-facing back garden will reward a tough lawn alternative blended with structural shrubs like clipped Buxus and Westringia; west-facing courtyards do well with Magnolia ‘Little Gem’ and ornamental grasses such as Lomandra ‘Tanika’. We choose every species deliberately, for both performance and visual character.
Explore our landscape design and construction projects across Camberwell, from homes near Maling Road and Toorak Road through to properties around Highfield Park.
See real examples of contemporary gardens, pool landscaping, paving, planting, and outdoor living spaces.
View our completed landscape projects across Camberwell, including gardens near Through Road, family homes in Hartwell, and outdoor spaces surrounding Camberwell Sports Ground.
Discover how we transform everyday backyards into functional, beautiful outdoor living areas.
Our Landscape Design and Construction Services for Camberwell Homes
We deliver every stage in-house, from concept to construction, so your Camberwell project moves smoothly without handovers between contractors.
Custom Garden Design
Every Camberwell home is different, and every garden design we create begins with the property — its architecture, aspect, soil and the way you actually use the outdoor space day to day. We deliver detailed landscape and garden design plans suited to your home, your family and the long-term character of the suburb.
Pool Landscaping and Pool Surrounds
Pool surrounds matter more in Camberwell than in most suburbs we work in. Big back gardens, family entertaining, summer afternoons — the pool is often the heart of the garden. Our approach to pool landscaping includes working with limestone, travertine, bluestone and timber decking, blending pool zones with planting, lighting and shaded outdoor living to create a cohesive whole.
Heritage and Period-Home Garden Restoration
Restoring a heritage Camberwell garden requires both horticultural skill and architectural sensitivity. We work with clipped formal hedging, parterre layouts, period-appropriate species and existing structures to bring tired gardens back to life without losing their character.
Hardscaping, Patios and Outdoor Living
Stone paving, retaining walls, fire pits, timber decks and outdoor kitchens — the structural elements that make a garden usable year-round. We design and build hardscape that fits your home’s material language and stands up to Camberwell’s climate over decades.
Drought-Tolerant and Native Garden Design
Sustainable design is not a trend for us — it has shaped our work since the early 1980s. We specialise in drought-tolerant and native garden design, selecting plant palettes that thrive on Camberwell’s natural rainfall, reduce ongoing maintenance and contribute to the wider ecology of Melbourne’s east.
Construction Project Management
Managing a landscaping construction project means coordinating trades, schedules, permits, and material deliveries. We handle all of it directly, so you have a single point of contact from the day construction starts to the day we hand the finished garden back to you.
Ready to Plan Your Camberwell Garden?
Transform your outdoor space with custom landscape design tailored to your property and lifestyle.
Call Madina: 0419 725 344Recent Landscape Projects Near Camberwell
Our project history across Camberwell, Kew, Hawthorn and the inner east covers everything from compact courtyard restorations to large family-estate redesigns. We bring photographs and references to every consultation so you can see how our approach translates to gardens of comparable scale and style. The gallery below shows recent projects from across Melbourne’s east — feel free to ask about anything you would like to discuss in more detail when we meet on site.
Explore our landscape design and construction projects across Camberwell.
See real examples of contemporary gardens, pool landscaping, paving, planting, and outdoor living spaces.
What Camberwell Clients Say About Working With John French
We are five-star rated on Houzz with a track record of multi-award-winning projects across Melbourne’s east. The reviews below come from real clients describing real work — design conversations, construction experience, and the way the garden has lived since handover.
What Our Camberwell Customers Say
William Fisher
We have received many compliments from friends, family and neighbours on the quality of design and execution of workmanship. Cheers.
CHERYL SAWIRANO LAMPU
good
john walsh
We’re thrilled with the final result. The design completely transformed our home. The team at John French Landscape Design along with their installation team did a fantastic job and exceeded expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Landscape Design in Camberwell
How much does landscape design cost in Camberwell?
Costs vary with scope, site complexity, hardscape extent and chosen materials. Most Camberwell design-and-construction projects we deliver fall in the $50,000 to $300,000 range, with full estate redesigns sometimes reaching higher. Camberwell’s larger family blocks often translate to larger budgets than smaller inner-east lots — every property is different, so book a free on-site consultation for an accurate quote.
Do I need a permit from Boroondara Council for landscaping in Camberwell?
It depends on the scope. Heritage overlay properties, retaining walls above one metre, significant tree removal, large decks and substantial structures usually require a planning permit from Boroondara Council. Minor garden changes generally do not. We assess the specifics on site and handle the permit process and council liaison for you.
How long does a landscape design and construction project take in Camberwell?
Allow four to six weeks for the design phase and detailed documentation, then ten to twenty-four weeks for construction depending on scope, materials and weather. Camberwell projects often run slightly longer than smaller inner-east blocks because the scope is larger. Heritage overlay properties may add time for council approvals — we factor that into the schedule from day one.
Do you design family gardens, pool surrounds and big blocks in Camberwell?
Yes. Family-friendly gardens, pool surrounds, durable lawns, established hedging and outdoor living areas are at the centre of much of our Camberwell work. We have been delivering this kind of project for forty years across Melbourne’s east.
What does a free on-site consultation include?
A site walk through your garden with Madina or one of the senior team, a discussion of your brief, ideas and budget, an early view on design feasibility, and a written follow-up summarising what we have discussed and what the next steps look like. There is no obligation and no cost.
Areas We Also Service Near Camberwell
We work across Melbourne’s east and inner east. If you live near Camberwell, you may also want to look at our work in Kew, Hawthorn, Canterbury, Surrey Hills, Balwyn, Box Hill, Glen Iris or Ashburton. Each suburb has its own character and our pages for each describe how that shapes our approach.
- Kew
- Hawthorn
- Canterbury
- Surrey Hills
- Balwyn
- Glen Iris
- Ashburton
Call Madina on 0419 725 344 or email info@johnfrenchlandscapes.com.au to discuss your landscape design project.
Studio: 3/29 Susan Street, Eltham VIC 3095.
Book Your Free On-Site Consultation in Camberwell
Tell us about your Camberwell property, your garden ambitions and your timeframe. Madina or one of the senior team will get back to you within one business day to arrange a free on-site consultation. There is no cost, no obligation and no pressure — just a clear, useful conversation about what is possible.
