Murdoch University's main campus in Perth, Western Australia, was conceived as a uniquely Australian campus and a departure from the English sandstone tradition of the day. The physical planning of the site was entrusted to Gordon Stephenson and architect Gus Ferguson. Along with landscape architect Dr Marion Blackwell, they envisioned a campus that embraced the Australian landscape, adopting sustainable architectural design, and the planting of native plants and trees gradually replacing the pines.
Almost 50 years later, Murdoch opened its new academic building Boola Katitjin - voted worlds best academic building - the largest mass engineered timber building on any Australian campus, setting a new standard for sustainable design.
