Stroma Buttrose (20 October 1929 – 26 February 2020) was an Australian

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

, who became the first female Planning Assistant in South Australia, joining the Town Planners Office in 1957 (later called the State Planning office). Buttrose is considered to be a pioneering figure of women in architecture, as she was the first female Commissioner of the Planning Appeal Board, as well as being the author of numerous architectural publications, most notably City Planning in Australia in 1975. Buttrose supervised the

Gawler Gawler is the oldest country town on the Australian mainland in the state of South Australia. It was named after the second Governor (British Vice-Regal representative) of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is about north of ...

Land Use Survey, as well as the Willunga Land Use Survey, both areas covering approximately 100 by 40 kilometres. She was also instrumental in the production of the Development Plan for the Metropolitan Area of

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater A ...

, which was published in 1963. In 1973, Buttrose was the first woman to be appointed Commissioner of the Town Planning Appeal Board/Tribunal, which later became the

Environment, Resources and Development Court The Environment, Resources and Development Court (ERD Court) is a specialist court in the Australian state of South Australia. It deals with disputes and enforcement of laws relating to the development and management of land, the natural and buil ...

Early life

Buttrose's interest in

geography Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, a ...

, and later

town planning Urban planning, also known as town planning, city planning, regional planning, or rural planning, is a technical and political process that is focused on the development and design of land use and the built environment, including air, water, ...

, began at school in Hopetoun, and later Woolands at Glenelg. At

Adelaide University The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

, she completed her Diploma in Arts and Education. At 21, Buttrose travelled to Europe with her family and, upon her return, she taught Geography while she completed a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

degree, with a major in Geography. Buttrose was appointed temporary female draftsman's assistant to the government town planner in April 1957. In 1962 Buttrose completed the Master of Town Planning Degree at Adelaide University with Professor Rolf Jensen (part of the

RJA group RJA can refer to * Rajahmundry Airport, the IATA code for the airport in India * The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, a post-hardcore band from Middleburg, Florida * RJA&HS, Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society * ICAO designator for Royal Jo ...

), in a class of only ten students.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buttrose, Stroma Australian women architects 1929 births Australian urban planners 2020 deaths 20th-century Australian architects South Australian architects 20th-century Australian women University of Adelaide alumni