17/08/2026
Simone and Peter have been working together on ORL for over 30 years. Together, they’ve gradually developed, expanded and grown the work they do, always renewing themselves to adapt to what’s ahead in life and work. Never really saying “we’ve made it” or “we’ve done it” keeps them on their toes and stay flexible and adaptable in the way they think and run the business.
ORL is a values-based business, where people come before profit. That starts close to home: with family, with the team, and with the people they work for. People matter most. Look after the people, and the people will look after the work.
Today, our team consists of:
🍃 12 garden care team members working across the gardens we look after regularly
✍️ A team of 6 landscape architects, garden designers, and irrigation specialists, with a broad mix of experience and a strong thread of being hands-on running through all of them
🌿 Plant specialists and horticulturalists
A garden building team of 14 who plan and build every garden we create
We most enjoy the projects where we design, build, and then care for a garden long-term, but we also love detailed design-only work anywhere in the country, as well as smaller renovations, stand-alone irrigation, and lighting projects.
Trusted, long-standing team members are involved in every part of the business, from managing the teams to organising the day-to-day work.
These days, Simone and Peter spend more time on the bigger picture of the business, and staying involved in wider industry events and conversations. Peter writes and draws, carrying several creative projects at once alongside his work with the team - including his book Soulscape: Connecting Gardens to Landscape, a journey through ten gardens along the Great Ocean Road and the values behind them. He also enjoys speaking at events and to groups who share his particular passions. Simone and Peter also open their own home garden, Sunnymeade, to visitors, including through Open Gardens Victoria
