streetchat

Fairbridge Children’s Park tells a story through landscape design of almost 1000 forced child migrants sent from Britain to Molong in regional NSW between 1938 and 1973. The reality of life at Fairbridge Farm School proved very different to promises made before setting sail. The children experienced hardship, betrayal and limited opportunity. In recent years the Prime Ministers of Australia and Great Britain, and the Premier of NSW, have offered apologies in their Parliaments, recognising the suffering of so many under the Fairbridge scheme. Clouston landscape architects have designed an experience that tells the childrens’ story through landscape, at a park and highway rest stop adjacent to the original farm site. The park was officially opened by senior Old Fairbridgians in March 2020. Leonard Lynch, Clouston Associates’ Founding Director, says, …

Michael White moved to Darwin as a landscape architect with CLOUSTON Associates on a two-year plan. Nine years later, he tells StreetChat about life and practice in the Northern Territory. What are some challenges when bringing projects to life in the Top End? Despite being a capital city and the supposed ‘gateway to Asia’, Darwin and the Top End can be very remote. Some of the challenges associated with this remoteness include costs to deliver a project, lack of a skilled workforce and a willingness to try something new. Being slightly removed has its benefits as well. We don’t seem to be occupied by the latest design trends or seeking self-gratification through ‘sexy design’. If we manage to get one tree planted in a small patch of grass in a remote …

Marrickville Public School is the winner of the $100,000 My Park Rules competition playground transformation. The contest, hosted by AILA and 202020 Vision, encouraged schools to submit ideas on how to reinvigorate their outdoor spaces. Jury Chair Kylie Legge, from Place Partners, says the winning New South Wales school’s community spirit inspired the jury of landscape and greening experts, which included Lucy Turnbull. “The community of students, staff and parents illustrates how the creation of a shared vision can also be a call to arms to be the change you want to see in the world,” she says. Expanses of hard asphalt will be lifted to make way for green space, including an orchard zone to grow food with the local community. Tract Consultants designed the new space in collaboration with the school. Proud sponsor …