Looking at the shadows, I am wondering whether the wall with the plaques on it faces north. If so, can the height of this be reduced? If it is north facing, the room beyond the courtyard would be extremely dark in winter - miserable and cold. If this wall could be dropped so that it is 1.5 metres tall, possibly with a line of fastigiate deciduous trees on the far side to then provide DECIDUOUS height, winter would be lighter and the solid mass of the wall would be reduced. It really is a rather difficult spot. And the paved base of the courtyard only allows for pots unless you want to dig up the pavers and put in tree ferns etc. But then it looks as though the area would get the full blast of hot midday sun. I live in coastal SW Victoria where our climate is similar to yours. But we still get hot days during summer which can scorch plants that haven't acclimatised to this heat.

How beautiful Faye,so lucky to have your Mum near you, statice has a papery type flower, use also as a cut flower and it is such a hardy plant, it is such an underrated plant but itstarting to be used more often , great colours will go well mixed with the others, gaura ‘butterfly plant’ is gorgeous, so named as it looks like little butterflies in the breeze, it’s taller and blends in perfectly.

Hi Chris, yes garden 4 would look stunning and compliment your house beautifully, the magnolia’s have an upright rounded look, I have them in my garden and they are gorgeous , I have both little gem and teddy bear, little gem seems to be hardier, have you thought of a small gabian wall maybe incorporating a seat with rock colour similar to the house, or Corten steel that ages beautifully , a stacked stone again in colours of the house could look great.

No photos are attached.....and what is a beachside toe house?