The courtyard area near the front entry to the house (on the southern side) was regularly inundated by summer torrential downpour. This was only realised after the drought started to break well after the build was completed.  in hindsight our observation of the land before the build identified run off would be an issue by the natural gaps in vegetation indicating waterflow and during excavation which reveals natural channels in the shale although these were dry at the time.

we created a retaining wall design with drain channels initially and this proved in adequate.. the photos show the initial wooden retaining effort and then later (3 years later) the block concrete wall with spillover and ground cover native plantings Boobialla and tea tree species amongst indigenous spinosa and gums

the photo with the bridge shows construction of a pooling pond to reduce erosion along the side of the house (run off was going into the cellar at the bottom corner of the house from the courtyard)

next stage of maturity was to formalise the drain channels in the courtyard with ag pipe, sumps to directed outlets (watering other planted areas in the hot courtyard vista) and the pooling pond.

the last image shows a state of maturity for the courtyard after 5 years showing a 'pebble'garden with native plantings providing seeds to blue wrens and shelter to skinks (small lizards) and dryland frogs (who need moist areas but not necessarily water pools).  the fish in the pond provide fertiliser for use on other beds annually and now we have a native water plant that is also harvested for chook food and bedding mulch.  the pond spillsover about 2-3 times per year from down pours so the effort has been worthwhile and we have a lovely aesthetically calming entry to our home and families with small children never take us by suprise when they visit as the pond as the fish and 'brolgas' slow them down.  the local area provides a warm microclimate and safe nursery for the local kangaroos mums.