Lawrie
Smith AM FAILA
Landscape
Architect and
Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape
Architects
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
For
service to landscape architecture, particularly in the development
of major Australian botanic gardens through contributions to
professional and community organisations. 14 June 2004
Lawrie
Smith is currently the Director of EDAW Gillespies.
Lawie has built his career around a strong personal belief in two major
areas, the unique quality and value of the Australian
environment, the provision of quality open space facilities for the
general public.
This
combined philosophy is evident in some of the more significant projects
for which he has been responsible: World Expo 88, the Australian
Gardens at Liverpool International Garden Festival 1984 and International
Garden and Greenery Exposition Osaka 1990. Regional Botanic Gardens
in Gladstone, Bundaberg, Darwin, Mt. Isa, Longreach, Gold Coast,
Barcaldine, Townsville, Marcochy, Tweed, Dubbo and Mackay.
Since
1974 Lawrie has been instrumental in promoting the staging of an
International Garden Festival in Australia and was an integral part
of the team responsible for the planning and feasibility study for
the 1996 International Garden Festival proposals, initially for Brisbane
and then Melbourne. He continued this role through his involvement
with the planning and designs for Planet Earth 2000 in Sydney (Gosford)
and then Botanic & 2000
in Brisbane. He continues to be involved with several other potential
city sites and it his firm intention to ensure that in due course
the Festival will be hosted by Australia.
Lawrie
was jointly responsible, as a member of the p.a.r.c consortium, for
the planning and design of Rome Street Parkland and Gardens. Located
on 16 hectares of disused railway land and parkland in central Brisbane,
This specialised parkland showcasing the subtropical flora of the world,
promises to be the most dramatic and significant of all his projects
to date.
His extensive knowledge and use of native plant material was acknowledged by
appointment, for a three year term, to the board of the Australian Flora Foundation,
which is actively promoting specific research into native plants as well as the
establishment of new botanic gardens throughout the regions of Australia.
His
experience and expertise in horticultural planning was recognised by appointment
to the Australian Horticultural Corporation Marketing Forum where he enjoys,
the stimulus of working with a multi disciplinary team to plan new initiatives
promoting innovative use of plant material through the nurseries of Australia,
Lawrie
was presented with the Australian Plants Award (Professional Category)
by the Society for Growing Australian Plants for his dedicated services in
the use of native plants in urban landscape during the past 30 years of practice.
Information as published by Australia Government's IT'S AN HONOUR
