Do you have a budget in mind? preparation is the key to success, I would consider maintenance how much time do you have to spend on the garden, hedgers are great but to look great require a fair amount of consistant care. Firstly I would do a ph test on the soil, that will determine what you will be able to grow easily, you then need to consider light, how much sunlight does the area get, it looks to be quite compact being a driveway, drainage is another issue as from the picture it looks the have quite a slope to the area, the laws of gravity will have an effect on water infiltration, so plants at the highest point will have less water and the plants at the bottom will be subject to being water logged. I would be mindful of plants with thorns being such a small area and getting in and out of your car scratches are inevitable and dangerous for little kiddies eyes etc. Australian natives are great but most wont tolerate water logging and most prefer alkaline soils and wont do well in heavy shade. My choice would be to find a climber to suit the area there are many to choose from I love Hardenbergia Happy wanderer, Jasmine, honeysuckle and stephanotis just to name a few. Camelias are also something to consider but again all comes down to your soil ph.

Schots have heritage style pencil tiles in black, dark green and burgundy https://www.schots.com.au/tiles-parquetry/ceramic-tiles.html#q=&idx=schots_production_default_products&p=0&hFR[categories.level0][0]=Tiles%20%26%20Parquetry%20%2F%2F%2F%20Ceramic%20Tiles%20%2F%2F%2F%20Bullnose%20%26%20Pencil%20Borders&nR[visibility_catalog][=][0]=1&is_v=1. Blue might be tricker to find.

Hi Blake, What an exciting time of your life. I would agree that painting the fence charcoal will be a great start. I would create a few zones. You like the idea of a fire pit, so get one of those fabulous metal dishes that can be custom designed such as Yarrawonga Custom Plasma Cutting does. You could put this outside the alfresco area and pave the space around it. PO Box designs do some amazing lazer cut decorative screens and sculptures. You could break up the fence and add more height and privacy by placing a decorative screen on it which can even be backlit to give a lovely atmosphere at night. Just be aware that you shouldn't block the neighbour's light, especially that high window which they wouldn't be able to see you from but will be providing important light for their home. I suggest having an edible garden. You can plant oranges, lemons and limes which are all evergreen, grow to a good height, and have the bonus of divine smelling flowers and fruit that you can use, and under them plant herbs such as rosemary, sage, and thyme. A bay tree is very useful, but they can grow huge so keep it in a pot or prune hard to keep it to a workable shape. You can use the leaves fresh or dried so cut away and give the prunings to friends! In a shady spot that you are happy to have anything grow, you could plant mint. It will spread but I use it by the arm full in summer in my drinking water, in salads and in fact most summer dishes, and even as fresh mint tea. It will bring in the bees. If you don't want it to spread them plant it in a tub. I would also make some raised beds for some home grown vegies such as tomatoes and annual herbs like basil and parsley. Water is great to attract birds and bees so find a small birdbath and place it by a plant so that the birds can feel safe. I have a lovely one that is on a pedestal with little wrens around the edge but a wide shallow dish on a ground of pebbles looks lovely too. It is lovely to have fresh flowers inside so adding gardenias, daphne, lavender, native shrubs like grevilleas, banksias, correas, bulbs such as daffodils and jonnies, also iris and roses are all lovely. You can train climbers up the fence too such as jasmine, wisteria, and native hardenburgia. None of these plants are difficult to grow though the citrus will like some frost protection to start and I grew them all with great success in the bitter frosts, a number of floods and the scorching heat of the North East Victoria. As you can see, I like my garden to be a work horse not just a show pony. If I am investing my money and time then I want to be able to get perfume or produce from each plant.

Hi Polly, I live in SE Qld, so completely different climate from you. Where I live, Lomandra are incredibly hardy and will grow in shade or sun. Westringia are also hardy, They will take part-shade and adapt very well to being clipped to size. I'm also happy with my dianella. They are really great for getting green 'lushness' in shade. I grow quite a few grevilleas. The hybrid ones flower all year round and give great colour to the garden - and the birds love them. I also grow leptospermum, melaleucas and callistemons in areas where my drainage isn't good enough for grevilleas. I also like Chrysocephalum apiculatum as a ground cover. According to the experts it grows in Melbourne. Where I live it's very long-flowering and spills onto paths nicely. I'm growing a few lilliepillies in shady areas, but we had lots in our last garden so I wanted a change. We have no lawn at all in our garden. No kids or dogs so don't need it. There are so many wonderful natives. Our local Bunnings actually stocks quite a few, or you can find a specialist native nursery that will have an even bigger selection. They can give you advice on what will grow well in your situation.