Michael Ewings: Shaping Places, Inspiring Generations
The Landscape Foundation of Australia is honoured to announce the establishment of The LFA Michael Ewings Scholarship in Landscape Architectural Studies
The Scholarship is made possible by a profoundly generous donation of A$1 million from Michael Ewings, a founding figure in Australian landscape architecture.
Michael’s gift will create a perpetual endowment to support motivated students and recent graduates in their pursuit of qualifications and knowledge in landscape architecture. It reflects both his legacy and his belief in the transformative power of thoughtful design to integrate nature into Australia’s urban environments.
A life rooted in landscape
Michael’s early life in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains fostered a deep connection with nature, one that shaped his personal and professional path. After relocating to the western suburbs of Sydney, he found himself missing clean air, bushland and connection to place. It was this dislocation that propelled him into a lifelong career in horticulture and landscape design. As a mature-aged student, he completed nearly a decade of night study at the Ryde School of Horticulture, while gaining hands-on experience with John Temple & Associates.
He later founded Environmental Landscapes Pty Ltd in 1977 - one of Sydney’s early private landscape practices - which grew to employ up to 20 professionals and contributed to significant transformations across Australia.
Designing with vision and impact
Throughout his career, Michael expanded the meaning of the ‘urban landscape’ in Australia. His work consistently integrated robust natural systems into dense urban areas, creating places that supported ecological function, human wellbeing, and social equity.
His pioneering projects include:
Yulara Tourist Village at Uluru (with architect Philip Cox) - a desert-adapted township that prioritised ecology and habitat preservation.
The revitalisation of regional town centres such as Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and Dubbo.
The groundbreaking Woolloomooloo masterplan, where he “dissolved” the traditional street network to maximise open green space. This project is still regarded as a landmark in integrating greenspace into urban redevelopment and achieving long-term social housing outcomes following the historic Green Bans movement.
Michael’s vision has left a legacy of places where nature and communities thrive together.
A scholarship to shape the future
Michael’s belief in professional skill, vision and persistence underpins his motivation for establishing the scholarship:
“I will never retire as a landscape architect. My passion for the Australian bushland and its integration with our communities remains a constant objective.”
The LFA Michael Ewings Scholarship will be awarded for the first time in early 2026, with further details to be released in the coming months.
The Directors of the Landscape Foundation of Australia extend their sincere appreciation to Michael Ewings for his generosity and determination in establishing this scholarship. The scholarship will support future generations of landscape architects committed to the protection and care of urban landscapes in cities and towns across Australia.
Through this landmark gift, Michael continues to shape the future of Australia’s urban environments - not just through the places he designed, but also through the next generation of landscape architects he inspires.
Michael’s inspiring gift may encourage others to support LFA’s mission of restoring and sustaining nature in cities and towns across Australia. We are a not-for-profit charity relying on donations to operate. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.