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Proteaceous plants in clay soils

I'm planning a west-facing bed with a number of Banksias (Australian 
members of the Proteaceae): Banksia grandis, B. speciosa, B. spinulosa 
var. cunninghamii, and B. spinulosa 'All Gold.' I plan to include the 
South African plants Protea 'Pink Ice' and Berzelia langinosa as well as 
the Australian Chamelaucium uncinatum 'Purple Pride', a member of the 
Myrtaceae. 
I've been growing these plants in pots for a year or so, but want 
finally to get them into the ground. The problem is my soil is heavy 
clay, so I'm planning to do more than merely amend. 
I'm thinking I'll remove the top foot of soil entirely, to be replaced 
with a sandy loam mixture, and that I'll incorporate some of that mix 
into the subsoil before I put the new topsoil in place. Does that sound 
to you all as if it will work? 
I plan to give no phosphorous at all and to water only occasionally and 
deeply in summer. I'm in Sunset zone 17 (Berkeley, CA), USDA zone 9, I 
believe.
Any advice will be appreciated.
Wallace Gorell
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