Rodney Owen Beames FAILA

(1947 - 1994)

Rodney Beames was born and bred and educated at Clare in South Australia. His professional career started when at the age of 17 he joined the Highways Department in South Australia.

Rodney's 30 years involvement in landscape architecture included major contributions to significant landscape projects in South Australia including River Torrens Linear Park, the Bicentennial Conservatory, the O-Bahn Busway and contribution to numerous publications and services with the National trust and Carrick Hill Board of Trustees.

During the mid-1960s, while working as a landscape officer at the SA Highways Department, Rodney enrolled in the pioneering Landscape Design course at SALT, where he was one of its first graduates.

At Hassell and Partners Architects from 1973, some of his major responsibilities included connecting the new Adelaide Festival Centre with nineteenth century Elder Park, plus landscape analyses and ongoing involvement with the River Torrens Linear Park, a very popular wildlife habitat and recreation facility.

In 1979 Rodney, through Land Systems, undertook a survey of historic properties in South Australia for the Australian Heritage Commission, which culminated in the publication by the National Trust of SA of the book 'Some Historic Gardens of South Australia' co-authored by J.A.E. Whitehill, Botanic Gardens, Adelaide. In the meantime, the landscape section of Hassell and Partners became Land Systems Pty. Ltd., and then Land Systems EBC.

Two years at the City of Wollongong, NSW, saw Rodney as Landscape Architect revamping urban parks and squares and upgrading pedestrian streets, shopping precincts and children's playgrounds. Rodney returned to Land Systems (Adelaide) in 1981.

Rodney was on the organising committee of the 1971 AILA Adelaide Conference and he chaired the 1986 AILA Conference Committee. Having served as State Secretary, Rodney was President of the SA Group 1982-84 and a National Councillor 1984-87 and 1991, where he was responsible for developing the AILA Awards Program.

Thoughtful, gregarious and enthusiastic, Rodney was an ardent advocate of landscape architecture and its many benefits to the Australian environment and the community. Some of his other interests included theatre, music and promoting high quality design.

Rodney was an accomplished and talented piano player and a significant contributor to establishing the South Australia Collaborations Group and ensuring that public art is incorporated as an integral component of public spaces.

Rodney Owen Beames contributed significantly to landscape architecture on National Council, through State and local governments, through teaching and private enterprise. Rodney was a dedicated and involved member of the SA Group.

Rodney was made a Fellow of the the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects in recognition for his personal commitment to the Institute, the environment and the profession.

The Rodney O Beames Award

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