My thesis research concerns Thomas Charles George Weston (1866-1935). Its principal
focus is his landscape vision for Australia's national capital in its founding days and his
innovative horticultural and arboricultural work in that vision's execution. Between 1913
and 1926 his work involved reversing, by afforestation planting and conservation measures,
the existing process of degradation of the site's landscape. He also achieved for the
new city a densely planted landscape using indigenous and exotic trees and shrubs.
Weston's pioneering work made a significant contribution to Canberra's contemporary
'city in the landscape' image.
Part of my research is about understanding the context of Weston's earlier professional
experiences in Britain and New South Wales in the period 1878 to 1912. A brief
insight into his personal life and career shows how the people he worked for, the skills he
acquired, and the type of landscapes he worked in shaped his approach to his landscape
activity at Canberra. Of particular note are the valuable influences of David Thomson
and Joseph Maiden, respected figures in botany and horticulture in Britain and Australia
respectively.
My research on Weston's achievements in Canberra demonstrates his technical and
professional thoroughness. I have documented all his work on a project-by-project basis
to provide accurate reference material for on-going professional practice and research.
His afforestation and conservation work from 1913 onwards and his urban planting in
the crucial 1921 to 1926 period reflects the depth of his training and skills and understanding
of landscape. Analyses of disputes between Weston and others including Walter
Burley Griffin demonstrate the soundness of his professional judgment.
I have concluded that Charles Weston had a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve,
the necessary skills and experience to achieve that vision and a thorough understanding
of the national capital site. He also possessed the necessary personal qualities to achieve
his vision which responded sensitively to the aspirations of Australians for their national
capital. Largely because of Weston Canberra will remain a highly significant step in the
development of Australian landscape architecture.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218968 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Gray, John Edmund, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Applied Science |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright John Edmund Gray |
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