The following is based on an email from Marie McCarthy of APS Newcastle Group to members sharing the news of Gordon’s death.
Gordon Rowland passed away suddenly on Monday 31 May 2021 from an aneurysm.
Even though Gordon came from London, Gordon has been a very active advocate for Australian plants for many, many years. He has written numerous articles and given many talks promoting indigenous plants. He and his wife Marie also built a house very sensitively designed to harmonise with the indigenous landscape at Pacific Palms on the mid north coast of NSW. Their property was featured in a Green Garden and Home magazine. Read the article here: Article on Gordon Rowlands Garden.
APS has had outings to see the large and beautiful property at Pacific Palms and also at his tiny townhouse at Carrington in Newcastle. He generously opened the garden to the public every year for the past few years, raising money for charity while promoting indigenous plants. See the list he compiled of indigenous plants in his tiny garden here: List of plants. Very impressive!
Gordon’s most recent talk for APS Newcastle was on the problems with human-caused hybrids . See his article on his website Indigenous Landscape Design Australia: Australian Garden Design with Native Plants Sydney New South Wales – What you need to know about hybrid plants. He also spoke at an APS NSW meeting when it was held at Ermington.
Gordon’s beautiful and informative website has much more images and information – all promoting native plants in garden design.
Gordon’s books will be donated to APS members and library to continue to share knowledge.
