Harry Oakman
Encyclopedia
Henry Octave Cyril Vereecke (1906-04-04–2002-06-16), better known as Harry Oakman, was an Australia
n horticulturalist and writer. An immigrant from Belgium
, Oakman wrote numerous illustrated books on gardening
and, as a public landscaper, enjoyed enormous influence over the design of open spaces in Brisbane
, Canberra
, and Newcastle
.
Oakman was born in Lommel
, in the province of Limburg
, Belgium
. His mother died when he was two years old, and his father took him to England during World War I
, then to Australia in 1920. After moving to Australia, young Henry changed his name to Harry Oakman. Oakman first worked on farms in rural New South Wales
, then at the age of 17 moved to Pennant Hills
, in North Sydney
, where he worked in flower nurseries. After a few years he began to look after local parks for the Ku-ring-gai Council
. On 1938-12-31, Oakman married May Addison Clark, and they lived together happily until her death on 1990-04-11.
From 1940 until 1945 Oakman worked on parks in Newcastle, before being appointed Superintendent of Parks in Brisbane. Over a period of 17 years, Oakman transformed the parklands of Brisbane, built 120 playing fields, and assisted in designing and producing two botanic gardens
. He left Brisbane to work for the National Capital Development Commission
in Canberra, where he was largely responsible for the landscape
of Woden Valley
, Belconnen
and the area around Lake Burley Griffin
. He also assisted in the development of Commonwealth Park
.
In 1972, Oakman retired, and lived out the remainder of his long life in Brisbane. Over his life he published a number of books, variously reported as three, nine, or thirteen, but always regarded as highly influential within the Australian gardening community. His 1975 book, Tropical and Subtropical Gardening, is one of the most important works on gardening in Queensland. He was a Fellow of the British and Australian Institutes of Landscape Architects and the Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation. Oakman's own garden, which covered a one hectare block, was well known as being colourful all year 'round, despite receiving little watering. He died in Moggill
, in West Brisbane, at the age of 96.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n horticulturalist and writer. An immigrant from Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Oakman wrote numerous illustrated books on gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
and, as a public landscaper, enjoyed enormous influence over the design of open spaces in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, and Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
.
Oakman was born in Lommel
Lommel
Lommel is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg. On January 1, 2006 Lommel had a total population of 31,898. The total area is 102.37 km² which gives a population density of 312 inhabitants per km².-Lutlommel:...
, in the province of Limburg
Limburg (Belgium)
Limburg is the easternmost province of modern Flanders, which is one of the three main political and cultural sub-divisions of modern Belgium. It is located west of the river Meuse . It borders on the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg and the Belgian provinces of Liège, Flemish Brabant...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. His mother died when he was two years old, and his father took him to England during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, then to Australia in 1920. After moving to Australia, young Henry changed his name to Harry Oakman. Oakman first worked on farms in rural New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, then at the age of 17 moved to Pennant Hills
Pennant Hills, New South Wales
Pennant Hills is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Pennant Hills is located 25 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
, in North Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, where he worked in flower nurseries. After a few years he began to look after local parks for the Ku-ring-gai Council
Ku-ring-gai Council
Ku-ring-gai Council is a Local Government Area in the North Shore region of Sydney. It includes the suburbs of Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, St Ives, Turramurra, Warrawee, and parts of Roseville, and Wahroonga. The region is named after the Kuringgai tribe who once inhabited the area...
. On 1938-12-31, Oakman married May Addison Clark, and they lived together happily until her death on 1990-04-11.
From 1940 until 1945 Oakman worked on parks in Newcastle, before being appointed Superintendent of Parks in Brisbane. Over a period of 17 years, Oakman transformed the parklands of Brisbane, built 120 playing fields, and assisted in designing and producing two botanic gardens
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
. He left Brisbane to work for the National Capital Development Commission
National Capital Development Commission
The National Capital Development Commission was an Australian Commonwealth Government body created to complete the establishment of Canberra as the seat of government. It was created in 1957 through the National Capital Development Commission Act 1957.Under the control of the NCDC Canberra grew...
in Canberra, where he was largely responsible for the landscape
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
of Woden Valley
Woden Valley
Woden Valley is a district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Its name is taken from the name of a nearby homestead owned by Dr James Murray who named the homestead after the Old English god Woden in October 1837. He named it this as he was to spend his life in the pursuit of wisdom and...
, Belconnen
Belconnen
Belconnen is a district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, comprising 25 suburbs with 29,900 dwellings housing 82,247 people of the 311,518 people in the Australian Capital Territory ....
and the area around Lake Burley Griffin
Lake Burley Griffin
Lake Burley Griffin is an artificial lake in the centre of Canberra, the capital of Australia. It was completed in 1963 after the Molonglo River—which ran between the city centre and Parliamentary Triangle—was dammed...
. He also assisted in the development of Commonwealth Park
Commonwealth Park
Commonwealth Park is in Canberra, Australia, on the north side of Lake Burley Griffin. The annual spring Floriade festival is held in the park...
.
In 1972, Oakman retired, and lived out the remainder of his long life in Brisbane. Over his life he published a number of books, variously reported as three, nine, or thirteen, but always regarded as highly influential within the Australian gardening community. His 1975 book, Tropical and Subtropical Gardening, is one of the most important works on gardening in Queensland. He was a Fellow of the British and Australian Institutes of Landscape Architects and the Royal Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation. Oakman's own garden, which covered a one hectare block, was well known as being colourful all year 'round, despite receiving little watering. He died in Moggill
Moggill, Queensland
Moggill is one of Brisbane's western suburbs, about from the CBD. It comprises a mixture of small-lot and acreage residential homes along with a small number of remaining farms...
, in West Brisbane, at the age of 96.