WHEATLAND, Wilford Charles Arnold ‘Bill’ (1927-2013)
WHEATLAND, Wilford Charles Arnold ‘Bill’ (1927-2013)
Architect ‘Bill’ Wheatland’s early interest in Scandinavian approaches to design led him to a lifelong friendship with the designer of the Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon and a position on the Opera House building project at a tempestuous period during its construction. As an associate architect he managed the documentation for the project and worked assiduously to resolve the documentation and secure reasonable severance payments.
Born at Geelong on 23 October, 1927 to parents Wilford Wheatland and May Alexander nee Brownlee, ‘Bill’ attended Geelong High School before moving to Geelong College as a student from 1942 to fifth Form (Yr 11) in 1944. He was a member of the 4th VIII of 1943 and the 3rd VIII of 1944 and continued rowing after he left School, most notably with the Akademiska Rowing Club in Stockholm in 1954. In 1944, he became the College Cross Country Champion. A member of the Air Training Corps at College his fascination with flying remained with him long after he left School. He gained a BArch from the University of Melbourne in 1953/4. In a little known incident ‘Bill’ Wheatland together with Barry Beach (OGC 1943) saved fellow College student Harry Pillow (OGC 1941) when he nearly drowned at Eastern Beach. Harry commented ‘that he felt very indebted to ‘Bill’ Wheatland’ and Baryy Beach for their unstinting intervention.
After his resignation from the Opera House Project, 'Bill’ worked in Sydney for several years before moving to the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation as architect. He was Director of the National Agridome Centre 1989-1995 and established his own business, Wheatland and Associates, Architects in Albury although he lived in Yackandandah. His diverse interests included golf, skiing, flying, theatre design, and opera. From 1987 to 1992 he was a councillor with Wodonga College of TAFE. He died, age 85 years, on 8 September, 2013.
Architect ‘Bill’ Wheatland’s early interest in Scandinavian approaches to design led him to a lifelong friendship with the designer of the Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon and a position on the Opera House building project at a tempestuous period during its construction. As an associate architect he managed the documentation for the project and worked assiduously to resolve the documentation and secure reasonable severance payments.
Born at Geelong on 23 October, 1927 to parents Wilford Wheatland and May Alexander nee Brownlee, ‘Bill’ attended Geelong High School before moving to Geelong College as a student from 1942 to fifth Form (Yr 11) in 1944. He was a member of the 4th VIII of 1943 and the 3rd VIII of 1944 and continued rowing after he left School, most notably with the Akademiska Rowing Club in Stockholm in 1954. In 1944, he became the College Cross Country Champion. A member of the Air Training Corps at College his fascination with flying remained with him long after he left School. He gained a BArch from the University of Melbourne in 1953/4. In a little known incident ‘Bill’ Wheatland together with Barry Beach (OGC 1943) saved fellow College student Harry Pillow (OGC 1941) when he nearly drowned at Eastern Beach. Harry commented ‘that he felt very indebted to ‘Bill’ Wheatland’ and Baryy Beach for their unstinting intervention.
After his resignation from the Opera House Project, 'Bill’ worked in Sydney for several years before moving to the Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation as architect. He was Director of the National Agridome Centre 1989-1995 and established his own business, Wheatland and Associates, Architects in Albury although he lived in Yackandandah. His diverse interests included golf, skiing, flying, theatre design, and opera. From 1987 to 1992 he was a councillor with Wodonga College of TAFE. He died, age 85 years, on 8 September, 2013.
Source
Pegasus Dec 1954 p56; The Age (Melb) 18 Aug 2013; Sydney Morning Herald 20 Sept 2013 - Obituary. Border Mail (Albury) 28 Aug 2013. (OGC 1941).