Monash University
Overview
MONASH UNIVERSITY, MELBOURNE
Landscape Architects : John Stevens with Grace Fraser,
Mervyn Davis, Robert Skeritt, Lindsay Pryor, Gordon Ford with
Peter Glass as well as Beryl Mann.
Year: 1958- present
The development of Monash University commenced in 1958 and was
the stage for the native versus exotic debate being played out
in the profession. It also indicates how a powerful and
forceful personality can have a strong influence on development
of the campus character.
A number of Landscape Consultants worked on the early development
of the campus – these included John Stevens with Grace
Fraser, Mervyn Davis, Robert Skeritt, Lindsay Pryor, Gordon Ford
with Peter Glass as well as Beryl Mann.
John Stevens from the multi-disciplinary firm, Bates Smart McCutcheon
(BSM), developed the overriding principles for the campus. The
built form and landscape were to create a unified composition. This
is in direct contrast to Griffith University in Brisbane where
a conscious decision was made for the buildings to contrast with
the landscape. BSM determined that the landscape should
include a mix of Australian natives with exotics. The exotics
would provide the Autumn colour while native trees would be used
in a formal manner.
This idea was hotly contested by the colourful character, Professor
AJ (Jock) Marshall of the science faculty. He advocated
for the almost exclusive use of native plants. At one stage
he sabotaged Poplar plantings by Fraser and Stevens, removing
them from the site. Marshall’s vision was for Monash
to be the first Australian university to showcase a wide range
of Australian flora. According to research by Dr Andrew
Saniga, Marshall managed to alter BSM’s master Plan from
a parkland based on British ideals to an Australian scheme. Slight
concessions were made with non-natives under 3 foot in height
allowed as well as the use of exotics in select courtyards.
More recently Landscape Architects, Loder & Bayly, Jim Sinatra
and Landscape Designer, Paul Thompson have designed areas of
the campus. Thompson was responsible for establishing a
self supporting native garden in a cold shaded site. Selecting
shade-adapted forms of a range of plants Thompson created a visually
attractive space which no doubt Jock Marshall would approve of.
Images of the campus today reveal a mature well tended landscape
with a predominantly native plant character dominated by mature
plantings of Eucalyptus.
Edwina Richardson AAILA 2006
REFERENCES
Saniga, Andrew (200?) ‘Chapter 8: Private Practice’. Unpublished
PHD thesis.
Thompson, Paul (2002) Australian Planting Design Lothian Books:
Melbourne
