Perfect harmony: How Ellendale honours its natural surroundings

Ellendale’s masterplanned community has been created with a central focus on the local environment. Our premium homesites, located just 12 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, blend in beautifully with the surrounding natural bush corridors. 

Our Landscape Architect, Cathy Dibden from Place Design Group, says that’s thanks to a purposeful design that incorporates the area’s topography; and a dedication to our native flora and fauna.

“Ellendale’s design takes advantage of the natural landforms and celebrates the existing vegetation of the area, which adds to the bushland character of the community,” says Cathy.

“By keeping the existing vegetation and building on it further through additional planting, we’re able to maintain the habitat and species diversity throughout Ellendale — which allows our local flora and fauna to truly flourish.”

Cathy says all new planting within Ellendale is carefully selected to complement the existing natural environment. “By using native, endemic species within our open spaces, we create habitats and foraging opportunities that help our local animals to survive and thrive,” says Cathy.

Ellendale residents are encouraged to consider the local environment when landscaping their own gardens to further assist with species diversity. “Residents landscaping their front or back yards can have fun with form and feature planting to explore colour and provide additional habitat — creating a small haven within our larger environment,” says Cathy.

“Ellendale’s design focus is about connecting the surrounding community and local flora and fauna. With that in mind, we select native species and those that are local to the site including Eucalypt and Lophostemon species.”

While the species found across Ellendale may not be suitable for planting within a small residential garden, Cathy explains there are similar species that can be used in their place — like Grevillea, Callistemon, Leptospermum, and Syzygium.

“These bright, colourful flowering species will attract birds, insects and mammals of different types for their nectar or fruit and can be easily pruned as hedges, small trees or low shrubs. The use of rainforest and subtropical native species can help create a layering of colour and foliage types within the garden to screen areas or focus views into and out of different spaces.”

Ellendale’s bushland surroundings mean there are a few things residents should keep in mind when gardening in and around their homes. “Different styles of planting — vegetable gardens, cottage gardens or more formal gardens — can be created with a mix of both native and exotic plants. But be sympathetic to the local environment by keeping plant material within your block and don’t let plants ‘escape’ into the neighbouring bushland,” advises Cathy.

“If cuttings or pruning materials are left in the bushland to break down, it can lead to widespread bushland degradation. This can also happen when seeds are spread on the wind or by water flows that wash into wildlife corridors.

“Invasive species become environmental weeds and can be toxic to native species — as well as displace the native plant species that would normally grow in these areas to offer food sources and habitat for local animals.

“It’s easy to prevent. A simple way is to compost your own pruned material in a compost bin or dispose of it in a Council green bin. And when something flowers, remove the flowers and dispose of them in the same way. Local Council websites are a good source of information on planting that is suitable in your area as well as plants that are environmental weeds.”

More information can be found on Brisbane City Council’s website here.

If you would like to find out more ways Ellendale Upper Kedron honours its natural bushland setting alongside a vibrant Brisbane city location, please chat to our sales team on 1300 720 858 or drop by our sales centre on 324 Canvey Road between 11am and 4pm Saturday to Wednesday.