Page 150 - Australian House & Garden (January 2020)

H G gardens

hestreetviewofCranlanaofferstantalisingglimpsesof Cloaked by the canopy of old
the splendour within. Framed by sandstone pillars and trees, this sheltered pocket of the
wrought-irongates,thepark-likegroundsstretchoutas garden is bathed in dappled light.
far as the eye can see, divided by a gravel driveway that OPPOSITE Clockwise from top
left Vibrant potted marigolds.
TsweepsuptotheporticoofanEdwardianhome.Manicured The wrought-iron gates designed
lawnsareoutlinedbyrowsofhedgingandpunctuatedbycolossal by Harold Desbrow-Annear at the

trees reaching into the sky. It’s an extraordinary sight. But then, street entrance feature the family
there is nothing ordinary about this property. crest, Sidney and Merlyn’s initials,
‘M’ and ‘S’, entwined; a glorious
LocatedintheprestigiousMelbournesuburbof Toorak,Cranlana pin oak stands at the top of the
was the home of businessman, philanthropist and founder of the driveway. Classical statuary and
Myer department store, Sidney Myer, and his wife, Merlyn. They urns are found throughout the
garden. The tennis court fence is
bought the 1903 home and property as a newly married couple, in draped in wisteria. The beautiful
1920, and immediately began planning and planting around the variegated foliage of calla lily.
home, intent on creating a ‘house in a garden’. An Italianesque water feature.
The Myers welcomed their first child, Ken, in 1921 and within The delicate flowerhead of
several years, they had four young children running around the pink spider flower (Cleome).
grounds. As their youngest daughter, Marigold – now 92 and
known as Lady Southey – wrote in the foreword of Cranlana:

Thefirst100years,arecentlyreleasedhistoryontheproperty:“The
house and garden grew and matured together, and in those
two places a happy family was raised”.
In 1928, Sidney engaged architect Harold Desbrow-Annear, an
exponentoftheArtsandCraftsMovement,tooverseearefurbishment
of the house and to revamp the design of the garden. The aim was
to create a cohesive layout in which the home would connect with
its surrounds. Harold responded by creating a series of terraced
lawns and garden beds that fan out from the house, with a grid of

stone paths and retaining walls dividing the expanse into zones.
In 1932, Sidney and Merlyn acquired an adjoining paddock,
expanding their plot to just under one hectare. Desbrow-Annear
was asked to transform this new parcel of land. He had a grand
vision: a formal sunken walled garden in the Italianate style.
Designedwithstrongaxiallines,thesunkengardenfeaturesalily
pondwithcentralfountain,marblestatuaryandclippedtopiaries.
SidneyMyerdiedsuddenlyin1934,attheageof56.DameMerlyn
continuedtoliveatCranlanauntilherdeathin1982andtheMyer
descendants still own the property. The entire clan holds a deep
affectionforthisspecialplace: Lady Southey still walks the grounds
every day with her dogs. >