John Oldham (architect)
Encyclopedia
John Oldham at Subiaco, Western Australia
) was a landscape architect
in Western Australia
. Oldham a pioneer of landscape architecture in Australia, and his journalist wife Ray were founding members of the National Trust (WA) and were prominent in the fight to save some of WA’s iconic buildings during the 1960s and 1970s.
), whilst his mother, Susan, was a painter. Both Oldham's grandparents were also painters, his paternal grandfather, James Oldham, was the headmaster of the Central Training School in Ballarat and established the Ballarat Art Gallery.
Oldham was educated at Christchurch Grammar School and as a boarder at Guildford Grammar School
. In 1924 Oldham served an architectural apprenticeship to the firm Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown, which had bought his father’s business after the death of Oldham Senior in 1919. In 1928 he joined the staff of Rodney Allsop Oldham, where he worked on designs for the University of Western Australia
, he then went for a year of study at the Architecture Atelier at the University of Melbourne
. Oldham returned to Perth in late 1930 where he capitalised on his graphic skills to set up the ‘Poster Studio’ with Harold Krantz, where, even during the depression, he was able to make a living out of producing lino cut poster prints. In 1932, as a result of a family legacy, he moved to Sydney, where he established Oldham Publishing Company which produced lino cut posters and calendars. In 1934 he returned to Perth joining an architectural firm establisded by Krantz, as a junior partner. During 1934–37, Oldham established himself as an architectural designer, specialising in the rendering and presentation of architectural drawings. He drew heavily on his knowledge of the ideas of the Bauhaus
and the International School.
In 1936 he met Ray McClintok, a journalist with The West Australian
, who he subsequently married. In the late 1930s Oldham and Ray joined the Communist Party and embraced its programmes – especially the Workers’ Art Guild. He contributed substantially to the design and production of posters and programmes. They moved to Sydney joining the architectural firm of Stephenson and Turner, and in 1939, Oldham was given the task of designing the Australian Pavilion for the 1939 New York World's Fair
.
Oldham was appointed WA’s first Government landscape architect in the 1950s. Among his many achievements were the landscaping of the Narrows Interchange, Parliament House
, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
, Serpentine
and Wellington Dams, Western Australian Institute of Technology and developing a master plan for Kings Park
and the Swan River foreshores.
Internationally renowned as a landscape architect, Oldham was awarded an Order of Australia
in 1989. He died in 1999.
Subiaco, Western Australia
Subiaco is an inner western suburb of Perth, Western Australia, situated to the north west of Kings Park. Its Local Government Area is the City of Subiaco.-History:Prior to European settlement the area was home to the Noongar Indigenous people....
) was a landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. Oldham a pioneer of landscape architecture in Australia, and his journalist wife Ray were founding members of the National Trust (WA) and were prominent in the fight to save some of WA’s iconic buildings during the 1960s and 1970s.
Biography
John Oldham was born in Perth (19 December 1907), his father, John Oldham Senior, was a well known local architect, who had designed a number of buildings in Fremantle during the 1890's (including the Fremantle MarketsFremantle Markets
The Fremantle Markets are a public market located on the corner of South Terrace and Henderson Street, Fremantle, Western Australia.Built in 1897, the markets house over 150 shops for craftspeople, fashion designers, and merchants in the historic Hall, and fresh food producers, vegetable growers...
), whilst his mother, Susan, was a painter. Both Oldham's grandparents were also painters, his paternal grandfather, James Oldham, was the headmaster of the Central Training School in Ballarat and established the Ballarat Art Gallery.
Oldham was educated at Christchurch Grammar School and as a boarder at Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School, informally known as Guildford Grammar, Guildford or GGS, is an independent, day and boarding school for boys situated in Guildford, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
. In 1924 Oldham served an architectural apprenticeship to the firm Oldham, Boas and Ednie-Brown, which had bought his father’s business after the death of Oldham Senior in 1919. In 1928 he joined the staff of Rodney Allsop Oldham, where he worked on designs for the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, he then went for a year of study at the Architecture Atelier at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. Oldham returned to Perth in late 1930 where he capitalised on his graphic skills to set up the ‘Poster Studio’ with Harold Krantz, where, even during the depression, he was able to make a living out of producing lino cut poster prints. In 1932, as a result of a family legacy, he moved to Sydney, where he established Oldham Publishing Company which produced lino cut posters and calendars. In 1934 he returned to Perth joining an architectural firm establisded by Krantz, as a junior partner. During 1934–37, Oldham established himself as an architectural designer, specialising in the rendering and presentation of architectural drawings. He drew heavily on his knowledge of the ideas of the Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
and the International School.
In 1936 he met Ray McClintok, a journalist with The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
, who he subsequently married. In the late 1930s Oldham and Ray joined the Communist Party and embraced its programmes – especially the Workers’ Art Guild. He contributed substantially to the design and production of posters and programmes. They moved to Sydney joining the architectural firm of Stephenson and Turner, and in 1939, Oldham was given the task of designing the Australian Pavilion for the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
.
Oldham was appointed WA’s first Government landscape architect in the 1950s. Among his many achievements were the landscaping of the Narrows Interchange, Parliament House
Parliament House, Perth
Parliament House, Perth is located on Harvest Terrace in Perth, Western Australia. An important building of the Government of Western Australia, it is the home of the Parliament of Western Australia, including the Western Australian Legislative Council and Western Australian Legislative Assembly...
, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital is one of Australia's leading teaching hospitals, and is located in Nedlands, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia...
, Serpentine
Serpentine Dam
The Serpentine Dam is one of the major water supply dams for Perth, Western Australia. The dam is used to store water which is released at a controlled rate to regulate the level in Serpentine Pipehead Dam, which in turn feeds water to the metropolitan trunk main network depending on demand....
and Wellington Dams, Western Australian Institute of Technology and developing a master plan for Kings Park
Kings Park, Western Australia
Kings Park is a park located on the western edge of Perth, Western Australia central business district. The park is a mixture of grassed parkland, botanical gardens and natural bushland on Mount Eliza with two thirds of the grounds conserved as native bushland. With panoramic views of the Swan...
and the Swan River foreshores.
Internationally renowned as a landscape architect, Oldham was awarded an Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 1989. He died in 1999.