MacGeorge House Masterplan
GLAS Landscape Architects was engaged to provide landscape design expertise for the Warrnambool Learning and Library Centre in 2019, working as a sub-consultant to Kosloff Architecture. The scope of the project focuses on the external spaces surrounding the hub, with a design aimed at integrating the new facilities into the existing TAFE campus and connecting them to the surrounding town, all while reflecting the local coastal environment and historical conAt the heart of the landscape concept is a desire to create spaces that not only function well but also connect people to nature and each other. The design takes cues from the coastal landscape, with its sand dunes, rock outcrops, and indigenous plant life, to inform everything from the material choices to the arrangement of planting and seating. The iconic Norfolk Island Pines that frame the entrance stand as sentinels, welcoming visitors into a civic plaza where the boundary between hard surfaces and soft greenery is intentionally blurred, encouraging exploration and casual interaction.
The Macgeorge House Landscape Masterplan, originally developed by GLAS Landscape Architects in 2017, is an ongoing project aimed at preserving and enhancing the historical, cultural and ecological significance of the property. Located at the confluence of the Birrarung (Yarra River) and Darebin Creek, this heritage-listed property combines Arts and Crafts design by architect Harold Desbrowe-Annear with rich natural features. The updated masterplan considers accessible pathways, ecological restoration through bushland revegetation, and the celebration of Indigenous cultural narratives. Key features include a "walk through history" visitor trail with sculptural installations, enhancing specific landscape "rooms" that connect the property to its historical roots. The project also envisions a "living laboratory" that fosters collaborations among artists, ecologists, and researchers to create an evolving landscape that serves both educational and community purposes. The masterplan has been informed and evolved through conversations with Traditional Owners and subject experts. To date a number of conversations have been instrumental in the development of the landscape masterplan, including Bushland revegetation with Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Dave Wandin, Welcome to Country with the Djirri Djirri Dancers, Bushland Revegetation with Practical Ecology and European heritage with Michael Cook The ambition is for the landscape masterplan to evolve. Continued conversations with Traditional owners should be encouraged to ensure that their voices are embedded in the process of healing the landscape of Macgeorge House.
Traditional Custodians
Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung
Location
Ivanhoe, VIC
Scale
9,000 sqm
Year
2017- ongoing
Client
University of Melbourne
MacGeorge House Committee
Team
University of Melbourne
Lovell Chan
Practical Ecology
Willin Center
SALT 3
Enhancing the heritage setting
The Desbrowe-Annear plan for Macgeorge House exemplifies the Arts and Crafts ideal of uniting house and garden as one cohesive artwork. Designed in 1911, the garden blends formal English elements with native Australian plants, creating a transition from structured areas near the house to naturalistic spaces along the edges. Large hedges serve as a buffer, creating a safe, enclosed retreat from the surrounding wild landscape. This design achieves a balance, or "betweenity," that lets visitors enjoy nature while feeling protected from its untamed aspects.
Garden Plan for Macgeorge house by H. Desbrowe Annear’s office, dated April 1911. (Computer enhanced version) Source: Macgeorge House, 25 Riverside Drive, Conservation Management and Master Plan, Lovell Chen, February 2007
Listening to Country
The Macgeorge House masterplan emphasizes deep engagement with Traditional Owners, fostering a respectful environment that honors Wurundjeri culture and history. the masterplan creates spaces for storytelling, Caring for Country practices, and seasonal observations, ensuring Traditional Owner voices are central to the landscape’s ongoing healing. This approach supports a resilient, evolving cultural presence, allowing the site to reflect and celebrate continuous Indigenous connections to the land.
Walk on Country with Uncle Dave Wandin and ecologists on March 2024
