Creating gardens from around the world, for Australian conditions
Creating gardens from around the world, for Australian conditions
International Garden Concepts is built on decades of hands-on landscaping experience gained across multiple countries and diverse project types. Before establishing the business in Australia, Alan la Grange travelled extensively to study some of the world’s most distinctive landscapes, drawing inspiration from different cultures, climates and design philosophies.
Today, that international knowledge is carefully adapted to suit Australian lifestyles and the environmental conditions of Northwest Tasmania, creating unique landscapes that are both practical and visually striking.
Throughout a career spanning more than 45 years, Alan has delivered projects ranging from residential gardens to large commercial developments and environmental restoration works. This breadth of experience provides valuable insight into landscape planning, construction techniques and creative design solutions that benefit every client, regardless of project size.
From concept through to completion, every project is personally managed to ensure continuity, quality workmanship and attention to detail.
Alan has contributed to landscaping projects for shopping centres, hotels, apartment complexes and townhouse developments. These projects required thoughtful planning, durable construction methods and attractive landscape designs that balanced functionality with long-term visual appeal.
One of the most significant projects involved the restoration of a 1.3-kilometre stretch of coastline through environmental reclamation.
The project included:
- Establishing an on-site nursery to acclimatise native vegetation.
- Hydroseeding and manual seeding of reconstructed sand dunes.
- Installing natural and artificial windbreaks.
- Constructing timber cross-dune pathways to reduce erosion.
- Planting salt-tolerant native shrubs to stabilise the landscape.
This work demonstrates a strong understanding of sustainable landscape management and environmental rehabilitation.
Alan has also completed specialist landscaping for major sporting facilities, including work at the Newlands Cricket Ground. This project involved relocating mature plane trees weighing up to 15 tonnes, temporarily storing them during construction, and successfully reinstating them once the surrounding grandstand works were complete.
These technically demanding projects reflect extensive experience in landscape engineering, large-scale planting and project coordination.
Travelling throughout the world provided the opportunity to study a wide range of landscape styles, materials and planting techniques. This knowledge now allows International Garden Concepts to design landscapes inspired by global traditions while selecting plants and materials that thrive in Australian conditions.
This was a mammoth undertaking! A 2 year project condensed into 9 months. The landscape team consisted of the main contractor plus 2 landscaping companies (one being my company), an irrigation contractor, a turf company and a special effects company.
My team of 50 employees was responsible for the encircled areas seen below. It was divided into 4 zones, below is an example of the sheer quantities of materials required.
White Mountain Bill of Quantities:
1/ Site area ……..18 782 square maters
2/ Compost ………1 293 cubic meters
3/ Fertiliser ……..3 116 kilograms
4/ Shrubs……….. 8 412
5/ Ground covers..16 079
6/ Mulch/topsoil…669 cubic meters
(when you consider that the above figures is just for one zone you get to realise just how large an operation it was)
The civil contractor handed the site over once they had constructed the basic land-works. It was the landscaper’s job to turn the civil work in natural mountains with canyons and forests. (In the far bottom picture, you can see the area of Black Mountain on the right which is smooth, this area still needed to go through the landscaping process.)
The picture below is of the entrance to the park, natural rock weighing several tonnes were placed to form one of the many canyons. This canyon had a dog leg shape, the visitors could not see the park until through the canyon to build anticipation for the visitors.
Browse our gallery to discover a selection of international and Australian projects completed throughout Alan’s career. From commercial developments and environmental restoration to private gardens and specialty landscaping, each project reflects thoughtful design, technical expertise and a commitment to creating landscapes that stand the test of time.
