Margaret Feilman
Encyclopedia
Margaret Feilman was Perth
's first female town planner. She has had a highly successful professional career as an architect
, town planner and landscape designer. A founding member of the Western Australian Town Planning Institute in 1950, she engaged in substantial public speaking as a means of "educating the public as a whole on the need for better planning".
. In 1938 she became the first female cadet in the Public Works Department of Western Australia, and completed a Bachelor of Arts
degree at the University of Western Australia
in 1943. She passed the Final Examination for Registration as an Architect in 1945. In 1950 she completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Town Planning at the School of Town and Country Planning at the University of Durham. Shortly thereafter she returned to Perth and opened her own practice under the title of 'Margaret. A. Feilman, Architect and Town Planner'. Her planning work for the Kwinana
New Town (Western Australia) in 1952, housing 25000 industry employees, has been widely acclaimed.
A founding member of the Western Australian branch of the National Trust of Australia
in 1959, she later became an inaugural Commissioner on the Australian Heritage Commission 1976, played a role in setting up the Register of the National Estate
and supported the introduction of Heritage Conservation Studies in Australian universities. She was also involved in public comment about the various changes in heritage legislation
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
's first female town planner. She has had a highly successful professional career as an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, town planner and landscape designer. A founding member of the Western Australian Town Planning Institute in 1950, she engaged in substantial public speaking as a means of "educating the public as a whole on the need for better planning".
Biography
Born in Perth in 1921, Feilman grew up in the Southwest Region of Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. In 1938 she became the first female cadet in the Public Works Department of Western Australia, and completed a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
in 1943. She passed the Final Examination for Registration as an Architect in 1945. In 1950 she completed her Postgraduate Diploma in Town Planning at the School of Town and Country Planning at the University of Durham. Shortly thereafter she returned to Perth and opened her own practice under the title of 'Margaret. A. Feilman, Architect and Town Planner'. Her planning work for the Kwinana
Kwinana, Western Australia
The Town of Kwinana is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It covers an area of approximately 118 square kilometres in metropolitan Perth, and lies about 38 km south of Perth's central business district, via the Kwinana Freeway...
New Town (Western Australia) in 1952, housing 25000 industry employees, has been widely acclaimed.
A founding member of the Western Australian branch of the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
in 1959, she later became an inaugural Commissioner on the Australian Heritage Commission 1976, played a role in setting up the Register of the National Estate
Register of the National Estate
The Register of the National Estate is a listing of natural and cultural heritage places in Australia. The listing was initially compiled between 1976 and 2003 by the Australian Heritage Commission. The register is now maintained by the Australian Heritage Council...
and supported the introduction of Heritage Conservation Studies in Australian universities. She was also involved in public comment about the various changes in heritage legislation