The layout for this Kirribilli garden was derived from the remnants of the old garden which was demolished during the renovation of the house. A straight standard brick wall retained the top terrace beneath a large existing angophora. This wall was replaced with a sweeping serpentine dry-stacked sandstone wall built from old blocks found on the site.

Two ponds were built above and below the wall and a spill creates a waterfall about two-thirds the way along, giving a focal point to the garden from the loggia below. The ponds are simple oblong shapes contrasting with the curve of the wall and are made of large dimensional sandstone blocks salvaged from an old building in Redfern.

The top pond is backed by a lush planting of cordylines, dracaenas and ferns. A background planting of sesanquas to screen the fence and a general planting of gardenias (florida and radicans) and citrus (lemon, lime, kaffir and cinnoti) combine with a few specimen trees (macadamia, magnolia, brachychiton). Added tree ferns with an under planting of hellebores, ajuga, scaevola and helexine give the top terrace a dense, rich, refulgent look.