Harry Oakman (1906–2002)
A Retrospective of his Life and Work
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1321816600003329Keywords:
Harry Oakman, public horticulturalist, parks department manager, tropical and subtropical gardening, horticulture writingAbstract
On 16 June 2002 a remarkable Australian, Harry Oakman, died. The author of thirteen books on tropical and subtropical gardening, he remains the most widely read gardener in Queensland and probably Australia. He was one of the early public horticulturalists, parks department manager, landscaper, planner with probably more public open space and recreation areas designed by him in the cities of Newcastle, Brisbane and Canberra than any other parks administrator.
References
Gardening in Queensland (1958), Annuals, Perennials, Bulbs and Herbaceous Plants in Queensland (1960), Shrubs for Queensland Gardens (1960); Vegetable Gardening and Fruit Tree Cultivation in Queensland (1960); Some Trees of Australia (1962); Colourful Trees for Landscapes and Gardens (1967), Trees of Australia (1970); Tropical and Subtropical Gardening (1975); Tropical and Subtropical Gardening (1981); Shrubs for Tropical and Subtropical gardens (1990); Harry Oakman's What Flowers When: The Complete Guide to Flowering Times in Tropical and Subtropical Gardens (1995); Harry Oakman's Shrubs: The Complete Guide to Shrubs for Tropical and Subtropical Gardens (1996); Harry Oakman's Tropical and Subtropical Gardening: The Complete Guide to Gardening in Tropical and Subtropical Regions (1996).
According to Malcolm Bunzli in ‘Tree Planting Ceremony at Oakman Park for Arbour Day 2002', www.toowoongwest.org.au/oakman.htm (downloaded 22 Aug. 2003), Oakman supervised the planting of 85,000 trees.
Harry., Oakman, ‘Three City Lookouts’ Landscape Australia, Nov. (1983): 300–403.
Oakman had been a member of the Society from 1947.
