S
urferandkeensailorJimWoodsis happiestwhen
he’sneartheocean.“It’swild.It’sraw.Whenthebig
south-westerliesblowin,thepowerofthewaves
is unbelievable,”hesays.
JimandhiswifeSamanthahadbeenregularvisitors
toPortsea,onVictoria’sMorningtonPeninsula,formany
years.Whena blockoflandbecameavailableintheir
favouritepartoftheworld(andjustminutesfromthe
beach),SamanthaandJimfeltit wasa now-or-never
moment.Theyboughtthelandandproceededtobuilda
contemporarybeachhousethatis idealforrelaxedliving.
Thecouplelovedtheirstrikinghome,butrealised
somethingwasmissing:a gardentohelpsettlethehouse
intoitssurroundings.Jimfavoureda mutedcolourpalette
featuringcoastalscrub.“Ilovethelookofcoastalshrubs
thattwistandadapttotheenvironment– theyevoke
a senseofstrengthina prettysavagelocation,”saysJim.
Samanthahadanothervision,however.“Iwantedtobe
abletowalkoutthedoorontosomelawnandtheninto
the garden,” she says. The couple’s son Max fancieda>