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Heritage Guide to The Geelong College






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WARDLE, John Balfour

WARDLE, John Balfour

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John Wardle is a leader in architecture and design in Australia and internationally. From founding his own practice in the 1980s, it has grown to incredible success and received many accolades.

John graduated from RMIT with a degree in Architecture in 1981. Five years later John opened his own architecture practice which has grown from designing small domestic buildings to large scale projects such as university buildings, museums, and commercial buildings.

In 2001 John completed a Master of Architecture at RMIT. He is an Adjunct Professor at Creative UniSA (formerly School of Art, Architecture and Design). John is an Honorary Professorial Fellow, Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne also.

John Wardle Architects has received multiple awards and commendations, both locally and internationally. The work of the practice has been published widely in Australian and international journals and has been celebrated in two books Volume – John Wardle Architects and This Building Likes Me published by Thames and Hudson. In 2020 John was awarded the Gold Medal in Architecture by the AIA, the highest accolade in Australian Architecture.

After receiving the Gold Medal, John reflected on his practice, “I’m happy to be a student as much as a master, I’ve always driven the practice this way. We’ve always encouraged ourselves collectively to find reasons for not becoming a conventional corporate practice.”

John Wardle Architects has over 100 employees with offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Launceston. Recent award winning projects include Captain Kelly’s Cottage, Phoenix Central Park and the College’s own Junior School redevelopmentt.

The Junior School design draws on the Reggio Emilia approach to learning through the creation of flexible spaces and striking facades and play areas which impact on the senses. It won the Henry Bastow Award for Educational Architecture, AIA Victorian Chapter 2021 as well as the Regional Prize, AIA Victorian Chapter 2021. The project received an Educational Architecture award in the 2021 National AIA Awards.

“Wardle’s buildings are contemporary landmarks that respond gently to their surrounds, tapping into the stories that precede them” (G. Coslovich, Sydney Morning Herald 6 May 2020).

John was a student at The Geelong College from 1962-1974. His brother David (OGC 1964) also attended the school. A member of Morrison House, John received multiple colours for his contributions to Athletics, Cross Country and Hockey. Bryan Wardle, John’s father taught science in the junior and senior schools in the 1950’s, and his great grandfather was a founding member of the college.

John is married to Susan and they have three adult children.


Sources: Sydney Morning Herald 6 May 2020, Pegasus, OGC 1971.
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