Birches Residential Care

The Birches Residential Aged Care Facility, managed by Western District Health Services (WDHS) in Hamilton, Western Victoria, offers high-quality permanent and respite accommodation for elderly and disabled patients, including those with dementia.

The primary objective for the garden design was to create spaces that remind residents of their former gardens, often farm gardens. The gardens feature simple, familiar elements like picket fences, clotheslines, chook sheds, workshops, accessible gardens, pavilions (including a shearing shed-themed shelter), and a familiar plant palette. Additionally, the gardens include memory-stimulating features such as a golf green, exercise equipment, a bus shelter, and directional signs to surrounding townships.

A standout feature of the garden is a large-scale photo of a local farming scene, including sheep, paddocks, trees, and Mt. Napier, an extinct volcano. This backdrop, combined with constructed drystone walls made from locally sourced volcanic stone and a Sunshine farm gate, is loved by residents, staff, and visitors. It provides significant memory triggers, such as for one resident who believes the sheep are his own. The mural, visible from inside the facility, offers a view beyond the garden and is designed to be replaced every few years.

Our team listened carefully to the client about their specific design requirements, and the WDHS staff and residents are delighted with the results.