Paul Desney

Paul Desney has a degree in architecture from Sydney University and a postgraduate diploma in education from Western Sydney University. He has worked as an architect in private practice and private and public sectors. His architectural work includes commercial, community, public and residential projects.

Institutional and commercial and projects include an office complex in Hurstville, office buildings, schools, hospitals and residential projects (design and project architect with Tang O’Neill and other practices).

Community and public projects include the Lawson Health Centre (in association with Dr. Norman Edwards); Kidsville, Newtown and Ana Kindergarten, Auburn (in association with Swetik Korzeniewski); The Stead Visitors Centre and Master Planning of Wirrimbirra Sanctuary, Bargo for The National Trust of Australia (NSW).

As architect with the Commonwealth Dept. of Works he established (with Colleen Starkis) and managed the Aboriginal Projects Group (Gunya) responsible for regional and local planning, housing, community and infrastructure developments for Indigenous communities throughout NSW including Griffith Aboriginal Community and Cultural Centre, Housing and Infrastructure at Namatjira, Dareton, and The Murrumbidgee-Lachlan Regional Plan for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

Architectural work has been published in journals nationally and internationally. The Ana Kindergarten received a Merit Award from the Australian Institute of Architects NSW.

He has tutored in architectural design at Sydney University and the University of NSW and taught Architectural Technology at TAFE.

Poetry and translations have been published and he was Vice-president of the Poetry Society of Australia and Associate Editor of New Poetry. He was also an exhibiting artist at the Harrington St. Gallery.

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Experience / Selected Projects:

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Architect – private practice.

Wirrimbirra Sanctuary, Bargo, NSW Master Planning and Design of the Stead Visitors’ Centre. For the National Trust and the David Stead Memorial Wildlife Research Foundation.

Architect – private practice in association with S. Korzeniewski.

Ana Kindergarten, Auburn, NSW Design of Kindergarten for the Australian-Turkish Child –care Association (Merit Award, 1982, RAIA) Kidsville, Newtown, NSW (Child care centre) For Kids Activities Newtown

Architect – private practice in association with Edwards, Hall & Associates.

Lawson Community Health Centre, Lawson, NSW. for the NSW Dept. of Health.

Senior Architect – Manager Aboriginal Projects Group (Gunya) Australian Construction Services (ACS)

• Murrumbidgee – Lachlan Regional Plan for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC) (Subject areas: Sovereignty; Land Rights; Self-determination; Housing, Infrastructure & Community Facilities; Health & Welfare; Enterprises, Employment & Training, Law & Justice, Education & Training, Heritage & Culture).

• Housing & Infrastructure Needs Surveys Bourke, Wagga Wagga & Moree ATSIC Regions. Tripartite (TRIP) Program – for the Federal & State governments and NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC)

• Griffith Aboriginal Community and Cultural Centre, Griffith, NSW. for Wiradjuri Regional Aboriginal Land Council (RALC) and Three Ways Aboriginal Housing Corporation.

• Housing and Infrastructure Development, Namatjira, Dareton, NSW Priority Community Development Scheme (PCDS) - for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, the Aboriginal Development Commission and Coomealla Aboriginal Development Corporation.

• Master Planning Namatjira and Merinee Aboriginal Communities, Dareton, NSW - for Dareton Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC).

• Duplex Housing Development, Wamba Wamba, NSW for NSWALC and Wamba Wamba LALC

• Multi-purpose Socioeconomic, Aboriginal Cultural & Community Centres, Albury, Deniliquin, Moama, Wamba Wamba, Cummeragunja, NSW - for the Murray River RALC (Project)

• Heritage restoration of historical Schoolhouse - Cummeragunja, NSW - for NSWALC.

• Housing Development, Empire Bay, NSW - for Darkinjung LALC (project).

Project Architect Australian Construction Services (ACS)​

• Housing Development, Empire Bay, NSW - for Darkinjung LALC (project).

Project Architect Tang O’Neill & Associates Pty. Ltd. Architects:​

• Commercial Office Building, St. Leonards, NSW

• Commercial Office Development, Hurstville, NSW

• Central Services Block Alor Setar Hospital Malaysia.

• Hotel, Housing Development, Port Macquarie, NSW (Project).

Project Architect NSW Department of Public Works:

• Australian Museum Education Section Building