In 1974, UNSW established the first university Bachelor degree in Landscape Architecture in Australia. 50 years later, Director of Landscape Architecture, Dr. Sara Padgett Kjaersgaard, looks back on the program’s impact
The Diploma of Landscape Architecture was initially introduced, by Professor Peter Spooner, as evening classes in the 1960’s to support practicing architects, who, in the late 60s and early 70s, were developing a growing interest in planning for environmental issues and to ameliorate the visual impact of huge infrastructure projects of the era. Peter Spooner had both the vision and drive to bring Landscape Architecture to the forefront of architecture, planning and landscape design and resulted in the establishment of the first Bachelor Degree in Landscape Architecture in Australia. Two of the inaugural final-year students, architects Craig Burton and were employees of the ‘schools section’ of the NSW Government Architects Office in the Department of Public Works and completing the Diploma enabled them to apply landscape principles into their projects. Whilst final-year student became an internationally recognised and awarded architect and landscape architect. In 1977 Alumni Ron Powell (72’) went on to lead the Landscape Section of the NSW Government Architects Office, with one of his first tasks filling three positions of ‘Landscape Architect’ which had just been created within professional categories of the NSW public Service. This had implications for Local Government who were then able to advertise and employ against this professional category.
Oi Choong explains “Without a doubt, the landscape architecture programme at UNSW has been one of the best and most influential in helping create and nurture the rise of the landscape profession in Australia…the early programme re-imagined a new Australian landscape paradigm and pioneered fresh perspectives on designing with, and stewardship of, the Australian landscape.”
One of the program’s early academics, Helen Armstrong recalls.
“The first cohort became landscape stars, including Lorna Harrison of Bicentennial Park fame (which still stands as one of the most significant projects undertaken by the NSW Department of Public Works in the 1980s), of Mt Annan Botanic Gardens fame, and Barbara Buchanan of The National Gallery of Australia’s Sculpture Garden fame.
Another early cohort included , , , and . Their design studio was alive with lateral ideas and super creative representations. They similarly became well-known, successful and influential professional landscape architects.
Then there was the cohort that included , Richard Eddy, and – they were a wild and energetic bunch. They asked me if they could paint their studio. I said “Sure – great idea!” Later I was called into Professor Clough’s office – he was Head of School then – and I was asked if I had agreed for Richard Weller et al to paint their studio. I replied “Yes, isn’t it terrific!” Prof Clough replied “Not for all the cars parked below the studio window.“ Oops.”
The program has a strong history of engaging with communities near and far. The Creative Village program of the 1980’s supported professional and student teams working together within rural settings in Brewarrina, NSW. Today, our students are engaged with the regional communities of Coffs Harbour and Bourke, alongside many of the local government authorities across the Sydney metropolitan region.
The Program has changed so much over 50 years! Having started as the Department of Landscape Architecture in the Faculty of Architecture and undergone several iterations since, it is now two Landscape Architecture degrees (Bachelor and Masters) in the School of Built Environment, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture.
The program has contributed to impactful research across , , , , , , agricultural futures, and . Our research breadth and depth bridges partnerships with industry at the national and international scale, winning many awards along the way.
More recently a sustained commitment to building partnerships with First Nation People and Country has enabled deep reciprocal relationships and practices to emerge within the teaching and learning environment. The program’s commitment to relational practice has ensured our graduates are reflecting on, and engaging deeply with, the processes of unlearning and relearning (decolonising), and Indigenous knowledges and perspectives.
With over 1,400 graduates, the UNSW Landscape Architecture program continues to influence and improve environments locally, nationally and internationally and contribute to national leadership at the President, Board and Committee level within the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. Our alumni are now principals of practices of all sizes, locally and globally. They are also our colleagues at UNSW. We have alumni managing state and local government, NFP and NGO agencies.
The program has always produced leaders who took up key roles in the industry. The urgency for landscape architects to be strong leaders, advocates and collaborators is only increasing to meet the many challenges of our time.
In 1982, the program co-hosted the 20th World Congress of the International Foundation of Landscape Architecture. More recently, the program has participated as Creative Directorate of the 2017 International Festival of Landscape Architecture , as well as being host to the 2019 Association of Pacific Rim Universities Sustainable Cities and Landscapes Conference (APRU SCL) with participants from over 14 countries and 24 universities in attendance.
Internationally renowned landscape architect and alumni (86’) explains “For 50 years the program has cultivated a level of landscape awareness that is now mainstreamed in all aspects of industry and governance related to development. This is a big achievement and provides the basis for the program to expand its aspirations for the next 50 years.”
When I asked current academics and former students Simon Lloyd and Dr. Mike Harris to share their experiences, they said that the program “allowed a lot of freedom to pursue individual interests within landscape architecture, in scale and topics” and importantly that it “fostered a strong connection with the landscape architecture community and it is these shared experiences/memories with friends/colleagues that lasts.”
UNSW landscape architecture graduates are front and centre of creating better futures through strong advocacy and design. They are changemakers ready to tackle today’s biggest challenges. In the words of Donna Haraway, our graduates are ‘making kin’. It is their impact and subsequent legacy that represent the rhizomes, the tentacular practices, of entangled interconnections that manifest profound change and a reconfiguration of the earth through design (for the better).
Congratulations to our graduates, students and staff for influencing 50-years of landscape architecture pedagogy and practice, and for creating a more ecologically and socially just world. The program is indebted to our industry friends for their continuing support and insights into landscape architecture education and practice. The team and I deeply appreciate this opportunity to reflect on our success and drive transformative change through powerful collaborations across research, education, practice, and social engagement.
With thanks to Helen Armstrong, Oi Choong, Ron Powell, Richard Weller, Linda Corkery, Simon Lloyd, Mike Harris and Catherine Evans for their contributions.
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