Hi there
Have only just seen your post. Am in Melb too, in a house with south facing front yard and north facing back yard. We have spent last couple of years improving both gardens with some hits and misses! Our criteria for front was nice looking, low allergen, native, drought tolerant plants which will give privacy and bush up to give the feeling of not being in the burbs. Lots of options available.
As a starting point I would strongly suggest spending a little bit of time and money on improving soil if you can. Most plants espec drought tolerant native type plants dont like clay.
You will prob need to add and dig in some (alot! depending on how clay the soil is) gypsum and other organic material. Its also worth digging through some water saving/holding crystals. It will depend a little bit on what plants you select as to exactly what you need to add, some soils like acidic soils, some like alkaline soil.
Go and talk to your local garden supplies, they will have some suggestions, its cheaper to get materials in bulk from places like that than in bags from somewhere like bunnings.
In looking at low maintenance low water plants - think grey foliage copes better in heat.
Succulents such as sedums like shade and cope well with minimal water too.
I have had great success with correa alba in my front yard, they are under the eaves and get minimal sun. They have bulked up . Certain native grasses manage on minimum sun too.
Along front fence you prob can't go wrong certain natives such as geraldton wax or westringia (there are various kinds of each). I have both in my garden. They both flower almost all year but I must admit I have not noticed a heap of bees. They both bulk up and could be hedged, eventually they will give a great deal of privacy. They could be utilised in the back yard too along your eastern fence if you wanted a uniform hedge. They both do need a trim from time to time which is a worthy investment of time in the early years to stop them getting leggy.
Kyliehd is right, the hebes are good although some do have flowers which are very bee attracting. Talk to your local nursery guy.
sounds silly but have a drive around your local area and take pics of plants you like and which are thriving in similar positions to your garden too. that process can really help.
Re the herb garden - again, improve your soil if you can with manure/organic matter. Most resilient plants most of the year for me, which are planted under the back window facing due north getting sun pretty much all day - sage, big leaf parsley, chilli, mint (grows like a weed if you would let it!). There are some seasonal herbs which need a bit more care but which we use alot - eg basil.
Insofar as cost is concerned, it is worth checking out wholesale nurseries who sell direct to the public, also the site gardenexpress is very well priced for certain things. If you can wait its much cheaper to plant smaller sized plants rather than bigger more developed pots - alot of the plants i have mentioned are very fast growing. Also if you buy a number of plants together you can often squeeze a discount from your local retailer.
Good luck!
Belinda.