GardenSpace is a Canberra-based landscape design studio specializing in residential garden design projects across the region.
We are interested in garden designs that achieve places that are composed and settled—places that do not announce themselves immediately, but reveal themselves over time.
Success for us isn’t measured by size or cost, but by how well your garden enhances your life, providing you with joy and balance.
Our landscape design process is attuned to the particular conditions of Canberra - the specific climate, soils, light, and seasonal variance that all exert unique pressures. Our garden designs must withstand this, and in doing so, find its own equilibrium.
In residential garden design, decisions accumulate. Without a clear framework, they can do so unevenly—elements are added, budgets contract or expand, and the work becomes reactive rather than resolved. The result is often more construction than is necessary, and less coherence than was intended.
Landscape design, properly undertaken, resists this drift.
It establishes a structure early: defining a way of organising space, movement, and materials before they are built. Our process allows ideas to be tested, reduced, and clarified. In this sense, landscape design brings proportion, restraint, and continuity to your gardens.
For our Canberra clients, this has practical consequences. Canberra is a harsh environment for gardens. Clarity of design protects the project as it moves into construction. It reduces uncertainty, limits unnecessary work, and aligns decisions with a clearly articulated outcome. What is built is more precise, efficient, refined and often less than might otherwise have been constructed.
Seen this way, residential garden design is not simply an aesthetic exercise. It creates real value. Not only financial, though that matters, but also spatial and experiential—the way a garden supports your daily life.
Over time, a well-considered landscape design anchors the architecture of your home—extending it outward, grounding it, and giving it continuity.
Our role is to guide you through this process with care. To bring attention to what is necessary and possible, and to remove what is not. The skill is to design gardens that feel inevitable—shaped by their place, and able to endure within it.
The result is a Canberra landscape design outcome that allows you to fully enjoy your life and replenish your spirit.
"The greatest gift of a garden is the restoration of the five senses." - Hanna Rion
Frequently Asked Questions
What is landscape design? It’s the development and planning of outdoor spaces to be both functional and visually appealing but going further to provide nuances that provide strong personal appeal and meaning.
Why do I need a landscape designer? Designers bring expertise, experience and knowledge in layout, plants, hardscaping, drainage, aesthetics and an understanding of how a space will feel and resonate. They can help avoid costly mistakes and create a cohesive, sustainable plan.
What’s the difference between landscape design and landscape architecture? Landscape architecture is more technical and can often extend to larger-scale projects (parks, public spaces). Landscape design focuses more on residential or small-scale projects. Both should respond to the human and natural demands of the site.
How much does landscape design cost? This is highly dependent of the scope of the project and the details involved. Full installations can be significant investments. Evidence shows, however, that they add significantly to the value of a property, and enhance to the lifestyles of those who enjoy the spaces.
How do I set a realistic budget? Consider your goals, property size, and features (e.g., patios, irrigation, lighting). A designer can help break it down into phases. They can also advise on material options and alternative approaches that meet budget constraints.
Do I need a full master plan right away? Not necessarily. The cheapest part of any landscape development, however, is the design and planning. Many projects are done in phases. Having a detailed plan to help guide long-term development saves costly errors and helps maintain the vision of what is to be developed.
What is included in a landscape design plan? A landscape design plan includes scaled layouts, planting schedules, material selections, and construction details.
How long does the design process take? On average, 4–8 weeks, depending on the project size and complexity.
Can you help with construction? Yes, we provide construction support and coordinate with contractors.
Do your designs suit Canberra’s climate? Absolutely. We specialise in native, sustainable, and climate-friendly solutions.
People
Dom Galloway principal + landscape architect
I founded GardenSpace in 2009 with a clear vision: to create exceptional residential gardens that are as unique as the people who live in them, while deeply connected to the distinct environment of the ACT region.
With a Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Canberra, I bring both professional expertise and a passion for crafting gardens that enrich daily life.
My longer career is diverse and spans roles as a surveyor, remote sensing analyst, data modeller, and landscape project manager for both federal and territory agencies. This has provided me with a skill set that informs a thoughtful, technical approach to landscape design and ensures seamless delivery of beautifully crafted gardens.
I see gardens as more than just outdoor spaces - at their best they are emotional experiences that blend culture, aesthetics, and ecology into harmonious, meaningful environments.
“Gardens are for people.” - Thomas Church