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Renowned architect, theatre consultant and former Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts' staff member Peter Parkinson MBE LFRAIA RIBA passed away peacefully on 24 April 2014.

Born in London, Peter graduated from the Architectural Association in 1950 and moved to Perth in 1952.  He was a founding member of the architectural practice Hill and Parkinson, later Hill, Parkinson and Harris, from 1965 to 1980, specialising in his great passion, theatre design.  His work included the Octagon Theatre and Dolphin Theatre for UWA and the acclaimed restoration of His Majesty’s Theatre, Perth.

From 1980 Peter ran his theatre consultancy practice and continued his long and successful teaching association at UWA.  For many years he combined his sharp wit with a superb command of language in writing social and architectural commentaries under the byline ‘Caliban’, published regularly in ‘The Architect’ magazine.

In 2009 Peter donated his archived life’s work to the J.S. Battye Library of West Australian History for the benefit of future generations. Peter leaves a wife, Helen, four children and five grandchildren.  He also leaves a host of Faculty staff, former students and architectural colleagues greatly appreciative of his enormous contribution to the profession.

Media references

Associate Professor Ian McDonald | Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts | +61 8 6488 2797

Laura Radovan | Faculty Marketing and Communications | +61 6488 1859