Thank you all for your comments. Well, it's been a few months since my original post and we have since finished putting up the retaining wall and planting the hedge. We decided to go ahead with Murrayas - planted about 34-40 cm apart. I gave them a good trim about a week after planting at the end of Autumn and another quick trim at the start of Spring. They have really filled out in warm weather and I think the gaps between individual plants should close by the start of winter. I'm really happy with the choice - the hedge looks glossy and lush and the sweet smell of Murraya flowers is just beautiful. We didn't do any underplanting, but I'm still thinking about putting in the dwarf agapanthus for the inside border. A couple of weeks ago we planted some Rhaphiolepis "Snow Maiden" and Rhoeo along one side of the retaining wall to provide a border for a footpath and I'm really happy how it turned out.

Hi there the second photo I posted is to show what could be done, as you mentioned leveling the lower part of the garden. If you were to use a bobcat to push all of that soil to the top and right hand side of the garden it could be planted similar to the second photo, This would give you a bit of privacy from the street. As per the first photo large formal planters beside the driveway and large floating concrete steps beside that, plus lawn and formal garden planters close to the entrance. It would be far cheaper to keep and use the soil than to have it removed. You may need a low retaining wall below the new mounded garden cheers

Which Perth suburb? nearly all Perth is awful sand, takes years to get it good. Sabrina Hahn is the best for advice here in Perth; Josh Byrne on Gardening Australia is also wonderful. Succulents are brilliant low care plants, and I was in Bunnings Melville today and saw they have have good sized plants for under $12, so much cheaper than they have been. if you don't want to bring in massive loads of good soil, compost etc, go for the stunning succulents which are now available. North sun in Perth is pretty hot, but it is lovely to have warming your house in winter. perhaps try a tough small deciduous tree like Manchurian Pear - make sure it's not one of the skinny ornamental pears though. if using succulents I am not sure they would complement each other though. Do you really want lawn? It is lovely but quite time consuming. Whatever you do don't forget we only get 2 waterings of 10 minutes each a week; or three waterings if you have a bore, so don't buy anything which is a water guzzler. Josh Byrne, of Gardening Australia, has put in lovely WA natives in his garden - I love our banksia, grevilleas etc, and you can get fabulous different coloured kangaroo paws now too, you could fill in the front area with these, and use one iof our lovely Pepper trees, or one or two or three of the stunning Ficifolia Eucalyptus (smallish trees with blossoms of hot orange or dark red), or a wonderful Eucalyptus Macrocarpa with its large silver leaves and huge red blossoms - google it, you will love it. Orange gravel rolled into bitumen is a lovely driveway finish, if you can find someone to do it in Perth! I can't, only can find a coloured gravel which I hate. I also love the way smallish stones or gravel are used as driveway surfaces, but a bit tricky for older people like me to walk on. if you are going for lawn, perhaps a circle in the centre of the lawn, with a Meyer Lemon, which is quite low care, and would look lovely with tough blue and agapantus surrounding it - a simple garden, easily maintained. The lemon would love the north aspect. Improve the soil for the lemon though. Rosemary hedges are lovely, you could edge the drive with that. Also a tough plant which grows well in Perth.

lilypilys are lovely... I think some more lush green small trees and shrubs (there are plenty of native options) would help cool and soften the hard landscaping. Have you considered a small butterfly garden with a little path of steppers that wanders through? Your little one will love that as they get a little bit older. It will become a special little spot to wander and explore. I've converted my entire front lawn into a nature play space, the kids climb the lilypily and pick and eat the berries, they have a little cubby house they built under the front stairs. there are strappy grass plants and timber pathways that go across a 'creek' of river stones. the kids balance on the river stones and there's a big wooden log to climb. There is no lawn out here, and it seems to inspire a very different sort of play they watch the insects, and look for frogs and the flowers attract butterflies. stepped pavers mean hopping and jumping, wooden timber walkways help with balancing... all in all its still pretty safe though. plants flower regularly, there are bulbs that pop up and surprise the kids, and all the plants are rugged enough to withstand the occasional accidental falling into the garden. grasses that have silky tops, anything with berries and seeds and interesting seed pods things like lilypilys, a small area with river pebbles, the kids love playing with all of that, and lots of little bushes with small flowers that can be picked regularly and harvested into baskets. my favorite cheap and cheerful flowers include dogbane, nasturtiums, calendular, marigolds... herbs with interesting smells that can be crushed like rosemary, mint, lemonbalm. you can even make a safe fishpond in a tall pot... little guppies are fascinating to watch! And a bird bath would be nice. the back yard can be a more of a rowdy rough and tumble play area, but a little front yard can be a special place for wonder and exploring nature. Our front yard is really not a massive space but there's just enough to bring the butterflies and tiny birds and create an extra play option.