Landscaping in Menzies Creek

Locals know Menzies Creek as a stop on Puffing Billy. Fewer know that a landslide between Selby and Menzies Creek in 1953 blocked the old narrow-gauge line and helped close it, until volunteers brought it back as a heritage railway. That bit of history says a lot about building gardens here. These slopes are steep, the rainfall is high, and wet ground moves.

Passengers on the platform at Menzies Creek station with the station name board and a Puffing Billy train behind

Photo: bartbrp, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Timber raised vegetable garden beds with gravel paths in a backyard

Retaining done properly, every time

Most retaining walls that fail do so because of water, not the wall itself. On a Menzies Creek slope we plan every wall around drainage:

  • Footings and posts sized to the wall height and the ground.
  • Ag pipe, drainage gravel and geotextile behind the wall, so water can escape instead of building up pressure.
  • A safe outlet for the water at the end of the wall, not dumped onto your neighbour.
  • Materials to suit the job: timber, concrete sleeper, block or rock. See our retaining walls.

Other jobs that suit Menzies Creek properties

  • Terracing a steep backyard into usable levels
  • Safe steps and paths for wet, leafy conditions
  • Decks to create flat space without major digging
  • Planting and mulching banks to slow erosion
  • Fixing scoured garden beds and washed-out paths

Puffing Billy steam locomotive 14A hauling red carriages through Menzies Creek

Photo: nzsteam, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Two councils, one set of hills

Menzies Creek is split between Cardinia Shire and the Shire of Yarra Ranges. Rules for trees and bushfire overlays can depend on which side you're on. A free VicPlan property report will confirm your council and any overlays.

Browse our services, our Dandenong Ranges page and the gallery.

Nearby: Belgrave, Emerald and Clematis.

Travertine-look paving around an in-ground swimming pool with timber fence

FAQ

My bank keeps slipping after heavy rain. What can I do? Get it looked at before it gets worse. Depending on what's going on, the fix might be a low retaining wall with drainage, regrading, or planting. For a large slip, get in touch to discuss.

Can you take away the soil and debris from a slip? Yes. We remove soil, rubbish and green waste as part of the job.

Do you come to Menzies Creek? Yes, and quotes are free.

Worried about a slope? We're often booked a month or two ahead, so it pays to get in touch early. Call 0466 211 273 or contact us.