I like both gabon and picket. Not 100% if I'd have them with paling fence on top.

It would work fine but I'd probably look at another option first.

Cost could be a deciding factor too, so do some costings on the project.

We'd also need to know full story where it's going, heights, local area and landscapes, etc.

Thank you!! It's opposite a Sanctuary with a lake with a lot of pines, yellow box gums etc the garden itself has a trad rose garden atop a red brick retaining wall (leaning over ) Of one metre, but it needs to be higher as it is spilling over.

So a mishmash of bush and cottage, hence the confusion. I was hoping white flowering creepers would soften the gabion. And I wouldn't use the fully traditional pointy picket, something a bit more linear to modern it up. Like a lot of modern weatherboards I was going for a clean Hampton look for this 40's home.

I would do a stone wall but sandstone isn't really in keeping with the local look as it isn't beachside.

It has a freestanding old lamppost at the front that makes it look like you just arrived in Narnia sans snow (with roses), which is cute and I want to keep.

We wanted solid and cheap but I don't want sleepers as that would not look at all good with that 40's white fence look, no?

Hi again Tyrian,

The description helps a lot! If you have some brick in the house / garden already, i would suggest trying to match the stones to a similar tone as the brick, so it hangs together visually. I should also mention that if the retaining wall is over 1m in height, you will need a structural engineer to design the footing for it, regardless of what the wall is made of. Cheers, Wendy

Hi we are taking out all the red brick it's not really matching anything - thanks Wendy!

Thanks Lesley, as it is a retaining wall I don't think wood between the sections will be strong enough. What I might do to soften the look is:

1) Make a lower section and then do a second row of gabion cages that are stepped in 20 cm from the bottom row

2) grow creeping white flowers on the step to create a softness and also along the fence line

i hope this might create a gentle wildness that stops it being so formidable.

If I end up doing it I will post pics!

Tyrian, sandstone and other natural stone walls can look great anywhere.

There are a range of sandstone walls that can look modern or traditional.

A few photos of your house and surrounds would give us all a clearer understanding of what you're working with.

How high is the paling fence?

I'm not convinced that a white paling fence sitting on a gabion wall (how high) is going to look good.

Do you have the space to bring the wall forward of the fence?

Hi thanks Arthur this is the drive where there is not enough space

This is the front where there is a foot clear of space we can utilise. The photo stretched so it looks wider than in real life!

So narrow here so not sure what is best, we have to widen it a little at least.

We don't need the paling fence too high just for a bit of privacy as you feel quite exposed AND we have a climbing, freedom seeking boy.. I thought we could grow flowers over the gabion as exist there already? I haven't found a photo of such an idea but I don't think it would be awful. Is stone cheaper than gabion? I thought we might avoid an engineer cost and do it ourselves you see if we use gabion! Many thanks for your advice and interest.

Thanks for the photos, they help clarify your situation.

A few points.

The front wall, going by the brickwork, is approx. 700mm high. You could get this down to 600mm by sloping the lawn or garden slightly. Doing this should be fine and then you can pass the construction off as complying and replacement of existing wall.

I'd assume the garden in front is part of the council nature strip in which case you can't move forward. I can't see neighbouring front fencelines so it's not obvious.

Often there is up to 600mm between the boundary and the footpath but not always.

I think there would be too much gabion. Contact a landscaper for a comparative price with sandstone. Obviously it's cheaper if you were intending to build the gabion yourself.

The driveway is quite narrow. Widen it towards the lawn, not the boundary. You need to leave that narrow garden for softening of the fence in particular.

A picket fence along the front should look fine in white, if that colour appears on your house but the paling fence should not be white.

If you are doing a major reno of the house then the landscape items would be best left until the major work is complete. Then you can consider the landscaping in relation to the new look of the house.

Arthur I really appreciate your comments. And having scouted the internet unsuccessfully for more on this I think other people might appreciate your guidance too! This makes lots of sense and regarding the strip of garden on left of drive too.

We had a survey the other day and the foot of garden preceding the wall is on our land but I'd keep it if gabion is out.

I was hoping to grow something there actually! If we keep it what do think would grow there?

It seems from everyone's advice I may yet need a pro due to the height. Also I wouldn't want to slope the lawn.

The Bergenia seem to be happy in front of the wall.

The issue of submitting a DA to Council with engineering plans for a low wall can be legally avoided in a number of ways.

Firstly check with Council. You may be able to avoid a DA and engineering drawings if it's a replacement wall. If they insist on the process then the attached rough sketch is a legal way of avoiding all that expense and mucking around for the sake of 100mm. I know you said you don't want a sloping lawn and the sketch takes that into account.

(Of course the wall will need drainage and coarse backfill etc.)

This is so kind of you! Fabulous advice I really appreciate your effort Arthur. Will print this out and let you know what happens in the end. Cheers!