Tract celebrates 50 years

Landscape architects are coming together around Australia in 2023 to celebrate Tract, one of Australia’s most seasoned leading firms.

Established in 1973 by founders David Yencken and John Ridge, at a time when few landscape practices were on the scene, Tract looked to bring landscape architecture, planning and urban design under the one roof.

As one of the early players it has fostered the careers of some of Australia’s most respected practitioners.

Linda Corkery, founding director of the Landscape Foundation of Australia, and former Australian Institute of Landscape Architects president, worked with the Sydney office from 1988-1990.

“At the time Tract already had an acknowledged signature and style,” she says. “I learned from Julie Lee, Director of Landscape, the precise combinations and layering techniques to achieve the quality of Tract’s colour-pencil rendered drawings.”

Corkery recalls the 1980s had brought a national breakthrough for the then-Melbourne-based company, with their success in the 1982 Newcastle Foreshore Landscape and Urban Design Competition, which she also attributes as unprecedented exposure for landscape architectural practice in Australia.

She says, “This team of landscape architects had taken out the top prize in a national urban design competition. Notably, they were selected over four teams of architects. The jury included renowned professionals including American landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, and Australian architect Bruce Mackenzie.

“Covering the competition results in the February 1982 issue of Landscape Australia, editor Ralph Neale was ecstatic for the profession. But so new was this practice, a few paragraphs into the story he asked, ‘Who are Tract?’

“This new player had demonstrated the capacity and a distinctive approach to creating a large-scale urban landscape design that respected the unique history and contemporary context of Newcastle, as well as its physical and natural systems.”

Tract Founding Director Rodney Wulff says, “We were pioneers when we started, and the evolution that followed has helped to grow the profession. The fundamentals have stayed the same, but the tools have changed and are more sophisticated.”

The landscape architecture community has celebrated the 50-year milestone across Tract offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Geelong.

Annabel Murray, recipient of the 2023 AILA NSW President’s Award, says the Sydney gathering saw mentors and recent graduates sharing stories, insights and large doses of laughter.

“It really speaks to a bright future for Tract and the whole discipline of landscape architecture. As you celebrate this 50th year milestone, it is heartening to experience what could be called ‘the culture of landscape architecture’ thriving in your office.”

Celebration at the Melbourne office.

Julie Lee and Linda Corkery speak at the Sydney celebration.

Next generation of landscape architects at the Tract AILA Fresh anniversary party.

Street Furniture Australia and the CM+ team attending in Sydney.