John Gray interviewed by Margaret Park [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 5598847
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Gray, John, 1930-, interviewee
- Online Access:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 2011
- 8 sound files (ca. 485 min.)
- Technical Details:
- Mode of access: Online.
- Summary:
-
John Gray speaks about his family background; the Depression (1929); Canberra Philharmonic Society; WWII and its impact; Sydney Harbour Bridge; ferries; his early childhood and growing up in Mosman; the move to Lindfield (1939); his schooling; Davidson State Recreation Area; 1st Lindfield Scout Troop; attending University of Sydney including work experience in forests of NSW and training at the Australian Forestry School in Canberra; NSW Forestry Commission; national parks; sustainable forests and era of management plans; sawmillers; Charles Weston and Westbourne Woods Arboretum; Canberra, brickworks, Civic and suburbs at the time; the Molonglo River, Lennox Crossing; Lake George; field trips; graduating (1953), with degree and Diploma in forestry from the forestry school in Canberra; a five year bond with the Commission; his highlights of work with forests from the tablelands to the coast; Eucalyptus oil and euco-cutters; his pilot license; Canberra Aero Club; Lake Burley Griffin; National Capital Development Commission (NCDC); his marriage (1959), his wife's family background; Sir William Holford; Prime Minister Menzies; the Holford Report; landscaping projects including formal parliamentary triangle tree plantings, street trees, neighbourhood parks, ovals; working in Parks and Gardens until 1968; securing a Commonwealth Public Service Scholarship to study landscape architecture at University of California, Berkeley; lecturing at Canberra College of Advanced Education on his return; Lindsay Pryor; PhD thesis; Haig Park, Turner.
Gray discusses Asian landscape and recreation areas; the different park management styles between Australia, United States and Asian countries; urban design, urban planning; landscape studies in Australia, introducing a summer school of park management; School of Environmental Design; his appointment to NCDC as Principal Landscape Architect; new approaches to recreation planning in ACT working within regional parks framework and establishing a new town; public concern over environmental and heritage issues; water quality control ponds; issues of current and future development of new Canberra suburbs; open space; function and conflicts over memorials in parks; Glebe Park; self government for Canberra (1989); Regatta Point; Australian Institute of Landscape Architects; his reasons for leaving the NCDC (1988); his interest in heritage and history, consultancy work and documentation of the Canberra landscape; ACT Heritage Library; documenting the history of Old Parliament House Gardens, including hedge plantings; Magna Carta Place; his involvement with professional institutions; work outside Canberra; the design of memorial park in honour of rural broadcaster, Lorna Byrne; Rotary Club and projects; life in retirement, overseas travel, family history; his children; his role of an adjunct professor at University of Canberra; Dame Sylvia Crowe; Australian honours.
- Notes:
- Recorded on 23 and 25 August 2011 at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, A.C.T.
- Related Material:
- Portraits of John Gray during an oral history interview with Margaret Park; Located at; National Library of Australia Pictures collection PIC Online access #NL40820
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Detailed summary (14 p.) and corrected transcript (typescript, 181 leaves)
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Landscape architects
- Other authors/contributors:
- Park, Margaret, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2081 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2011
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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