IN UNDERWOOD, IN THE SHELTER of Brown Mountain,
about 15 mabout 15 minutes’ drive north-east of Launceston, this inutes’ drive north-east of Launceston, this
half-hectare garden alongside a 19th-century church half-hectare garden alongside a 19th-century church
has been created with imhas been created with impressive energy. It honours and pressive energy. It honours and
references its past in an English settler area that once references its past in an English settler area that once
served as a vegetable-growing hub for Launceston.
For the past nine years, partners Sally Bell and Jim Smith
have seen themhave seen themselves as custodians of the original Wselves as custodians of the original Wesleyan esleyan
(M(Methodist) Church. The rough-sawn timethodist) Church. The rough-sawn timber building was ber building was
Underwood’s first public structure, established in 1883 by Underwood’s first public structure, established in 1883 by
pastor John Ingrampastor John Ingram Thom Thomason, and restored mason, and restored most recently ost recently
by local builder (and previous owner) Dave Fuller. It was by local builder (and previous owner) Dave Fuller. It was
one of three churches built in the area in the 1880s, when one of three churches built in the area in the 1880s, when
dances were held in barns, cricket was the mdances were held in barns, cricket was the main sport ain sport
(there was even a ladies’ team(there was even a ladies’ team) and children played in ) and children played in
the swimming holes in nearby Pipers River.
Despite holding full-time jobs in Launceston, Sally and
JimJim are both north-east Tasm are both north-east Tasmania country people: they ania country people: they
are self-taught in the garden where they work hard and are self-taught in the garden where they work hard and
enjoy life by “getting on with it”.
“The garden was a paddock when we first bought it in
2008,” says Sally, “except for a couple of conifers which 2008,” says Sally, “except for a couple of conifers which
went quickly. Our starting point was inspired by what our went quickly. Our starting point was inspired by what our
last garden lacked. In town we had a formlast garden lacked. In town we had a formal rose garden al rose garden
with about 200 roses, but there wasn’t enough green with about 200 roses, but there wasn’t enough green
structure and that mstructure and that made winters bland. Wade winters bland. We thought if we e thought if we
ever had another garden we’d want it to be trans-seasonal ever had another garden we’d want it to be trans-seasonal
and structured, but without too much work.”
The loss of their daughter, Sam, in a tragic motorbike
accident in 2004 was Sally and Jimaccident in 2004 was Sally and Jim’s im’s impetus to mpetus to move, start ove, start
a new life and, with it, the garden they’d always wanted. a new life and, with it, the garden they’d always wanted.
Through caring for the rose garden at their previous homThrough caring for the rose garden at their previous home, e,
Sally and JimSally and Jim knew that they needed to concentrate on the knew that they needed to concentrate on the
soil, which was degraded black sandy paddock to start. soil, which was degraded black sandy paddock to start.
“Truckloads” of horse m“Truckloads” of horse manure fromanure from Jim Jim’s brother’s ’s brother’s
farmfarm in nearby Bangor were added, followed by ute-loads in nearby Bangor were added, followed by ute-loads
of garden-centre mof garden-centre mulch. “Ute-loads are easier because you ulch. “Ute-loads are easier because you
can drive to the garden bed and just shovel it off,” says can drive to the garden bed and just shovel it off,” says
Sally. “Plus, I can’t back a trailer. I’d rather do three
trips to town with the ute, thank you!”
When it came to first plantings, box hedges and broad
leaf privets were their choices, inspired by the books of Paul leaf privets were their choices, inspired by the books of Paul
Bangay and MBangay and Monty Don, as well as hedging at the famonty Don, as well as hedging at the famous ous
WWychwood garden in Mychwood garden in Mole Creek in Tasmole Creek in Tasmania’s north-west.ania’s north-west.
Their design has attracted open garden crowds who Their design has attracted open garden crowds who
appreciate its sense of romappreciate its sense of romance: formance: formal plantings, terraces al plantings, terraces
and soft sweeps of roses and lavender are broken up by and soft sweeps of roses and lavender are broken up by
weeping mweeping maples, cherries, standardised wisterias and aples, cherries, standardised wisterias and
clipped hedges of box, privet, pittosporumclipped hedges of box, privet, pittosporum and viburnum and viburnum..
Sally confesses she rarely buys one of anything and says Sally confesses she rarely buys one of anything and says
repetition works in larger gardens. “Wrepetition works in larger gardens. “We’ll buy $1000e’ll buy $1000 worth worth > >62 COU NTRY ST Y LE NOVEMBER 2017