Vale Phyllis Constance Murphy AM, 1924-2025
The noted architect Phyllis Murphy was nearly 101 when she died last week.
She will be remembered as an important woman architect, pioneering modernist, and for many restorations projects including a number for the National Trust of Australia, Victoria.
There is a concise profile of the partnership of John and Phyllis Murphy by Julie Willis in The Encyclopaedia of Australian Architecture.
Their collaboration with Kevin Borland and Peter McIntyre and engineer Bill Irwin for the Olympic Pool was a highlight of the early years of the practice.
Phyllis was strong and forthright person who was a role model for other women managing family life and architectural practice. Despite that, she was very self-deprecating about her own achievements.
She was a wonderful mentor to younger people in the profession.
Her interest in the National Trust was continued by her eldest son Jock, a librarian and archivist, who was on the Trust Council 1977-1987, and then on the Trust Board 2015-2024.
After John Murphy died in 2004, Phyllis continued to have an active life including the curatorship of her famed historic wallpaper collection, now held by the Caroline Simpson Library, Sydney.
Some years ago, Phyllis Murphy gave a memorable talk about her career and the practice of John and Phyllis Murphy at Walsh Street South Yarra for the Robin Boyd Foundation.
Their practice is now honoured by the annual John & Phyllis Murphy Award for Residential Architecture of the AIA.
Phyllis was awarded the Order of Australia in 2022 for her outstanding and inspiring contribution to Australian architecture, heritage and education: https://acahuch.msd.unimelb.edu.au/news-events/2022/phyllis-murphy,-abp-alumna,-nominated-for-order-of-australia
Fiercely independent, Phyllis Murphy lived alone at her Williamstown home until a few weeks ago.
Nigel Lewis, 29 May 2025
For a list of the architect’s works, awards and publications see: https://acahuch.msd.unimelb.edu.au/news-events/2022/phyllis-murphy,-abp-alumna,-nominated-for-order-of-australia
