Gordon Stephenson

Gordon Stephenson (1908–1997) was a British-born town planner and architect. He is best known for his role in shaping the modern growth and development of Perth, Western Australia.

Early career

Stephenson studied architecture at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 1930. His early career included working with Patrick Abercrombie on the Greater London Plan.^[1] Along with Peter Shepheard, he created an influential^[2] design for Stevenage, the first post-war British new town, which incorporated a pedestrianised town centre.

Perth

In 1953, Stephenson was commissioned by the state government of Western Australia to produce a plan for the metropolitan area of Perth and Fremantle.^[1] The resulting 1955 Plan for the Metropolitan Region was co-authored with Alistair Hepburn and is commonly known as the 'Stephenson-Hepburn Report'. It included an atlas of maps which laid down a broad pattern of future land uses including highways and open space, and catered for significant additional population growth.^[3]

The report formed the basis for the 1963 Metropolitan Region Scheme for Perth and Fremantle, a legal instrument for regulating land-use and development in the urban area^[4] It remained the overarching strategic plan for the development of Perth until it was succeeded by the Corridor Plan for Perth in 1970.^[3]

On August 28, 2011 the WA State Government announced that the recently completed building, informally known as one40william would be renamed Gordon Stephenson House.^[5]

Subsequent work

Following his work in Perth, he was employed variously as a consultant planner and academic in New Zealand, Canada, and America. He subsequently returned to Perth and continued to play an important role in its development, amongst other things crafting plans for Joondalup and Midland regional centres, and for the campus of Murdoch University.^[6]

In later life, he authored several books.

Books

• On a Human Scale - A Life in City Design. Fremantle Arts centre Press. 1992. 
• Stephenson, Gordon (1975). The Design of central Perth: Some Problems and Possible Solutions. A Study made for the Perth Central Area Design Co-ordinating Committee. UWA. pp. 88 pp. ISBN 0 85564 107 X. 

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Murdoch University: Honorary Degree Citation, Emeritus Professor Gordon Stephenson, CBE
2. ^ Ford, B: "The Cambridge cultural history of Britain", page 153. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
3. ^ ^{a b} http://www.ced.berkeley.edu/pubs/bpj/pdf/8_BPJ_v18_2005_Hill_p119-149.pdf
4. ^ http://www.wapc.wa.gov.au/Coast/Perth+coastal+planning+strategy/BP4%20Urban%20Development.pdf?id=1109.
5. ^ http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Default.aspx?ItemId=143738
6. ^ Gordon Stephenson

Further reading

• Hedgecock, David; Yiftachel, Oren (1992). Urban and Regional Planning in Western Australia. Paradigm Press. ISBN 1-86342-172-6. 
• "Gordon Stephenson CBE 1908-1997. Obituary". thewest.com.au. 1997. http://www.west.com.au/stephenson/. Retrieved 2007-03-14. 
• "Honorary Degree Citation" (PDF). Murdoch University. 6 April 1988. http://www.murdoch.edu.au/vco/secretariat/records/citations/stephenson_g.pdf. Retrieved 2007-03-15. 
• "Statement by the Minister for Planning". Hansard, Parliament of Western Australia. 8 April 1997. http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/SBPage/8c77976070143843482565eb00123849. Retrieved 2007-03-17. 
• "1955 Atlas.". http://www.wapc.wa.gov.au/Region+schemes/Metropolitan+Region+Scheme/1955+Atlas/default.aspx. 

Persondata
Name	Stephenson, Gordon
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1908
Place of birth
Date of death	1997
Place of death