OK, wattleblossom - your garden sounds absolutely spectacular, but there are several points I'd like to make: 1. 'Your mileage may vary' : many of the species you have successfully grown, be they from Oz or wherever, simply wont do well in large parts of Queensland/Northern NSW/NT. Thats commonsense, but its easy for new gardeners to get drawn into the images presented by the (south-dominated) gardening media. Its a tribute to you that you have found the plants that thrive in your area. 2. Both sets of plants will be as 'low maintenance' as you want them to be, and that comes down to your preferred presentation. For example, pruning is a must for many shrubs, but how many need to be topiarised ? We can create hedges with exotic conifers or a species such as Melaleuca, but how can we prevent dieback in the centre of our new hedge ? This is one area where an informal planting scheme wins hands down, at least IMO. 3. From your description, it seems that you have two clearly delineated areas, and plants belong in one or the other by courtesy of their origin. I accept that this works for you, but have to ask if we need to build such arbitrary boundaries. I've made the point several times that I believe many of our rainforest plants are good companion plants for Vireya Rhododendrons, Gardenias and similar glossy-leaved exotics, and mixing dry climate plants from similar latitudes is already a well-worn path. Proteas are a slightly different story, although my 'high NPK' experiment still hasnt killed my tropical grevilleas :) 4. I also struggle with the insect-attack issue : none of us likes to see their evil handiwork, but I've been very lucky to date. Grasshoppers and caterpillars currently seem to be be enjoying exotics and natives alike in my garden, but its also rewarding to watch a magpie flying off with one of the marauding bugs protruding from its beak. Its currently very dry in CQ, and I suspect that this has pushed the insects into our gardens in larger numbers - they werent a problem in Summer. None of this makes my opinions any more valid than the next persons, but I do think that tight integration between Australian and imported plants is the key for the future of our native plants in commercial horticulture (as opposed to conservation). It will be a sad day when city kids can only see native plants in a botanical garden or arboretum. You or I could build an incredible garden using only plants from Madagascar, but would we be willing to limit ourselves to that one (admittedly sensational ..) island ? Who knows - Bunnings might start shipping truckloads of Madagascan plants after our gradens make the glossies :)

Myporum voscosum and Acacia accinacea are particularly susceptible to this, although it is not a disease process rather a characteristic of the species. The only way to prevent it is regular pruning during the growing season and not allowing the plant to reach its mature size. Occassionally it is necessary to cut them back to their stumps and allow them to re-grow.

From memory, Ulladulla and the rest of the South Coast get a tad chilly in Winter : do you get any serious frost ? If not, most of the aforementioned coastal plants should work well. I could tell you what they have on the coast here, but comparing your warm temperate climate and high wind/ salt spray environment to the relatively becalmed subtropical climate of the Capricorn Coast doesnt seem terribly valid. Take a walk around your area and check other people's gardens : most people are happy to share their triumphs and disappointments.

Rhagodia spinescens (from the Victorian Mallee country) and Eutaxia diffusa (from south eastern Australia) are ideal for this sort of thing and are very drought tolerant Correa glabra is another plant that will take on a pleasing rounded shape if pruned regularly. Pelergonium australe will grow naturally in a small knee high domed shape with little or no pruning.