John Burgess
Bruce Echberg FAILA, September 2010
John Burgess qualified as an architect at the University of Melbourne as a landscape architect at RMIT in Ron Rayment's post graduate diploma course. He was an AILA member.
From the 1970's, John was a lecturer in architecture, interior design and landscape architecture at RMIT.
John played a vital role in the establishment of the full time undergraduate landscape course at RMIT at the start of the 1980's where he taught until retirement at the turn of the century.
There are many RMIT landscape graduates who will remember him fondly for his quirky sense of humour and as a supportive teacher and quiet achiever.
Since his retirement he worked as freelance landscape perspective artist for a number of Melbourne practices including ours, Urban Initiatives.
John had a special sensibility for the landscape which made his drawings very evocative.
His drawings will probably be the last of the pre digital age that will never be equalled as a means of communication, especially with the general public.
John Burgess died of lung cancer on Sunday September 26th. He was a young and healthy 73 until going to hospital about 5 months earlier.
His funeral, on Thursday September 30th, was a very special celebration of his career as a design teacher, artist and dedicated husband and father.
