Architecture great Brian Suters has been named a Freeman of the City in recognition of his contribution to Newcastle’s built form and his enduring commitment to mentoring the next generation.
Freeman of the City status is awarded to a Novocastrian for their achievements and services to Newcastle, Australia or humanity.
The honour was conferred today within the walls of the updated Civic Playhouse, which Suters designed for the City of Newcastle in 2004.
Newcastle Lord Mayor, Nuatali Nelmes, said Suters’ work helped shape Newcastle and would continue to be appreciated for generations.
“The mark Brian has left on our built form, and our cultural landscape, has quite literally defined part of the city’s look and feel,” Cr Nelmes said.
“His legacy is evident throughout the city, from our striking Brutalist former City Administration Centre, which has recently been reborn as Newcastle’s first five-star hotel, to the modern surrounds of the Civic Playhouse.”
Cr Nelmes also gave mention to Suters’ “remarkable” Bauhaus-influence design of his former family home located on Wolfe Street, which won the prestigious Blacket Award for Architecture in 1980.
“Naming Brian a Freeman of the City is a well-deserved honour that recognised the significance of his many architectural contributions to Newcastle and his ongoing commitment to mentoring younger generations of architects.”
Suter acknowledged the role City of Newcastle played in his career and said he was thrilled to be honoured as a Freeman of the City.
“Newcastle has been the mainspring of my success as an architect and the basis of my community participation,” Suters said.
Born in Sydney in 1937, Suters and his family returned to his mother’s hometown of Newcastle during World War II when he was aged five.
He was educated at Hamilton Primary School and Newcastle Boys High School, and later studied at Newcastle Technical College and graduated from the University of NSW.
After winning the Byera Hadley Travelling Scholarship, he moved overseas with his wife, Kay.
They lived in London and Europe for two-and-a-half years before returning to Newcastle so Suters could pursue an architecture career.
“Back in 1964, when I returned to Australia from living overseas, my wife and I returned to Newcastle to pursue our careers and family life,” Suters said.
“It was a critical decision, and now this honour vindicates that decision.”
Suters credited his career take off to the architectural work he completed on the Civic Fountain, where he worked with sculptor Margel Hinder and her artist husband, Frank Hinder.
“Frank strongly emphasised the need in architecture for collaboration – from concept to completion,” Suters said.
“It marked the beginning of a long period of major works for City of Newcastle, and on the back of this, our practice acquired many other significant commissions.”
During his illustrious career, Suters made several lasting contributions to Architecture in Australia, including The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre at Penrith.
In 2009 Suters was awarded an Order of Australia for his long-standing commitment to Australian architecture and mentoring three generations of architects through his firm.
“At the time of my retirement in 2010, Suters Architects had offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns, and associations with international practices in Malaysia, UK and France,” Suters said.
“Our practice would not have achieved this recognition without my beloved Newcastle, so I am honoured and delighted to be named a Freeman of the City.”
Suters joins an esteemed list of 14 other Novocastrians to be awarded the City’s highest honour, including writer, philanthropist and historian Vera Deacon, community volunteer Howard Mole and Surfest co-founder Warren Smith.
Maia O’Connor