Judy Garland and Orry-Kelly at Ethel Barrymore’s 70th birthday party, 1949. Photo: Everett Collection Inc and Alamy.
Two Illawarra icons with a flair for design – Wollongong’s Gleniffer Brae landscape designer Paul Sorensen and Kiama’s Oscar-winning costume designer Orry-Kelly – have been recognised among 16 new blue plaque recipients.
Highlighting people and events that have shaped the state’s rich history, the NSW Government’s Blue Plaques program sees plaques placed at sites of historical significance to the identities’ lives, with the locations for Sorensen and Kelly yet to be announced.
With work spanning seven decades and often described as “outside rooms”, Sorensen is renowned for designing Gleniffer Brae within the Wollongong Botanic Garden and more than 100 other gardens throughout NSW.
Many of his iconic designs, like Gleniffer Brae and Everglades in the Blue Mountains, showcase his signature seamless connections between indoor and outdoor spaces which inspires landscape designers to this day.
The Danish-born designer developed his own distinctive landscape style, ethos and technique, with his gardens notable for their aesthetic values, distinctive use of drystone wall technique, and extensive paving.
Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said the Blue Plaques NSW program was a great way to celebrate the remarkable people and events that had shaped the state’s history.
“I am proud to see Paul Sorensen’s work acknowledged, highlighting our local heritage and the significance of his contributions,” Mr Park said.
“Paul Sorensen’s work continues to inspire gardeners, designers and nature enthusiasts alike.
“His iconic designs, such as those at Gleniffer Brae, are a testament to his vision and dedication to creating spaces that blend beauty with nature.”
Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said the blue plaque for Sorensen was a fantastic celebration of the region’s heritage, highlighting not only the achievements of the past but also their lasting significance today.
“It is fitting that the man behind the gardens of Gleniffer Brae is recognised for his contribution to the heritage of Wollongong and NSW as a whole,” Mr Scully said.
“I encourage locals and visitors to Wollongong to seek out this blue plaque once it is installed.”
Also recognised was three-time Oscar winner Orry-Kelly, who was born in Kiama to a tailor and moved to Sydney and then New York City.
In the US, he started in set designs before transitioning into costume design, where he dressed everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn and won Oscars for An American in Paris (1951), Les Girls (1957) and Some Like It Hot (1959).
He was the first Australian to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design and, until Catherine Martin in 2014, was the most prolific Australian Academy Award winner.
He led the costume design on 280 films dating from the 1930s, including Hollywood classics like 42nd Street, Casablanca, Oklahoma!, and The Maltese Falcon.
Kelly had a romantic on-again, off-again relationship with Hollywood heartthrob Cary Grant, whom he also lived with for a time.
The Orry-Kelly Stage in Hindmarsh Park has recently been renovated as part of redevelopments at the park.
The installation of each plaque brings added interest to the heritage of an area, encouraging locals to explore their backyards and inviting visitors to learn more about the history of these communities.
All nominations are assessed by Heritage NSW and independent historians. Plaque locations will be announced on the Blue Plaques website.
Loading ...
