Richard Clough Collection

Professor Richard Clough AM (1921–2014) was a significant Australian architect, landscape architect and educator. Throughout his professional life, he amassed a remarkable collection of books relating to garden history, landscape design, botany and Australian flora. In 2004 Clough donated his outstanding collection of garden books to the Caroline Simpson Library through the Commonwealth Cultural Gifts Program.

Born in Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region of NSW in 1921, Richard Clough went on to study architecture at the University of Sydney, and graduated in 1947 after a period of military service during World War II. While at university, Clough formed a friendship with Professor E G Waterhouse, who encouraged him to pursue further studies in landscape architecture. After working for the Sydney-based architectural firm Fowell, Mansfield and Maclurcan, then Stephenson and Turner in Melbourne, Clough travelled to London in 1949 to study at the University College London and work with renowned landscape architect Dame Sylvia Crowe.

Clough returned to Australia in 1956, and had a distinguished career as the first landscape architect employed by the National Capital Development Commission in Canberra. He remained there until 1981, when he joined the University of New South Wales as professor of landscape architecture and head of school. Even after retiring in 1986, Clough continued to research and publish articles and book chapters.

Clough’s book collecting began during his time in London. Wanting to further educate himself in all aspects of Australian gardening history, he sought out a broad range of publications on gardening and horticulture. His important collection is now publicly accessible through the Caroline Simpson Library. It includes rare publications by prominent British botanists such as William Curtis, James Edward Smith and Robert Sweet, as well as books by Australian botanists Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, Joseph Henry Maiden and William Robert Guilfoyle.