Cranlana, Myer family garden, Toorak, Vic

The name Myer scarcely needs introduction, but their exceptional house and garden flies largely under the public radar

Cranlana, Myer family garden, Toorak, Vic. Picture: Simon Griffiths

The name Myer scarcely needs introduction, but the exceptional house and garden that is still the family seat in Melbourne flies largely under the public radar. Cranlana is hidden behind grand wrought iron gates on one of the largest residential blocks in Toorak. Built in 1903, it was purchased in 1920 by retail giant Sidney Myer. He and his wife Merlyn remodelled the Edwardian house, where they raised their four children. Sidney died in 1934; Dame Merlyn lived here until her death in 1982.

Lady Marigold Southey – the youngest Myer child, who came to Cranlana 90 years ago at the age of one – is full of stories as we stroll through the grounds. The former Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria has a deep affection for the property, as do the five generations of the family who regularly gather here.

Cranlana, Myer family garden, Toorak, Vic. Picture: Simon Griffiths

Cranlana’s garden is considered to be one of the finest in Victoria. Architect Desbrowe Annear designed the formal, sunken garden in the Italianate style. The strong axial lines of his design are highlighted by Italian marble statues, clipped topiaries, urns and water features, balanced by park-like grounds of generous lawns and specimen trees.

The trees are the glory of the garden, from the huge pin oak at the top of the driveway to copper beech, golden elms, tulip trees and a stately deodar cedar. Standing under a rare white oak (Quercus alba), Lady Southey recalls her brother, the late Ken Myer, planting it as an acorn from the nearby botanic gardens. Its growth in 40 years is astonishing.

Cranlana, Myer family garden, Toorak, Vic. Picture: Simon Griffiths

“The soil is fabulous here and we suspect it found one of the underground springs,” says her daughter Lindy Shelmerdine, who is chairman of the family’s house and garden committee and a genuine plant lover. Ken also planted a Californian redwood in 1942 that is now a feature of the south lawn.

In the sunken garden, flower beds overflow with dahlias, cleomes, zinnias, marigolds, amaranthus and salvias. “My great-grandchildren love playing in the garden, just like we did,” Lady Southey says.

Cranlana, Myer family garden, Toorak, Vic. Picture: Simon Griffiths

A formal walk along the north boundary is flanked by Italian cypress, the adjacent beds planted with shade-loving shrubs and perennials, and carpeted with bluebells in spring. A small, formal vegetable garden lies east of the house, behind a pair of rare medlar trees, while the sunny tennis court garden is a riot of colour.

Head gardener Anna Thompson propagates many of the flowers and vegetables and makes copious amounts of compost. In concert with the family, her challenge is to balance conservation with renewal as they approach their centenary at Cranlana in 2020.

The Myer family shares the property with the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, a not-for-profit dedicated to cultivating wisdom in leadership. Cranlana The First 100 Years by Michael Shmith (Hardie Grant) will be out in September.

Q&A

What makes a good mulch? Sarah Fairly, Melbourne

Soil guru Kevin Handreck says mulches should have at least 80 per cent of particles larger than 5mm, be water repellent and be spread no thicker than 50mm. The finer the particles, the thinner the layer should be. Fine, organic mulches are more likely to allow weed seeds to germinate than coarse mulches. Fruit trees, roses and vegetables benefit from nutrient-rich, organic materials. Cacti and succulents are best with non-organic mulches such as pebbles. In bushfire zones, organic mulches can increase fire intensity. Woody mulches last longer than soft ones such as lucerne.

Ants are attacking my Panama Gold passionfruit flowers, which die before forming fruit. How can I deter the ants? Mary Woolley, Bribie Island, Qld

Some ants eat nectar but they don’t harm plants. Flowers drop before fruit form when they don’t get pollinated. Rain and lack of bees are factors. Try hand pollinating, using a soft paintbrush to transfer pollen between flowers, but Panama varieties are better with cross-pollination from another vine. Ants are associated with sap-sucking pests; check for scale or aphids and treat with Eco-Oil. Control ants with Ant Sand or ant baits.

Is it true that I should remove all fruit from my new lemon tree for the first two years? Graham White, Sydney

Removing fruit before they develop allows a young tree to put all its energy into growing a strong root system and branch framework. If you bought an advanced tree you could keep a few fruit, but strong growth will benefit you more in the longer term.

Garden Lust by Chris Woods

Send your questions to: [e-mail] or Helen Young, PO Box 3098, Willoughby North, NSW 2068. Website: helenyoung.com.au. The best question for May wins a copy of Gardenlust: A Botanical Tour of the World’s Best New Gardens by Chris Woods (Timber Press, $70) 