Circle Square Design

CHRISTINE HAY
PRINCIPAL
Circle Square Design
Heritage Consultant
Landscape Architect

As principal of Circle Square Design (CSD), I’m a registered landscape architect with a Masters of Heritage Conservation from the University of Sydney. My qualifications, skills and experience working for state government, local government and in private practice contribute to my understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing significant places and working for desirable heritage outcomes.

I enjoy projects which engage my specialised skill set. These include, cultural landscape assessments, conservation management plans and their review, refurbishment of old gardens, the revitalisation of private heritage estates, research and interpretation, visual analysis, heritage impact statements, report writing, landscape planning and master planning.

The principles of landscape architecture and those of heritage conservation form a natural cohesion in my work for which I have great enthusiasm. My roles as Senior Heritage Assessment Officer at OEH reviewing CMPs, Project Manager for the AILA Landscape Heritage Study, and collaborator on the Berrima, and the Berrima, Sutton Forest and Exeter Cultural Landscape Assessment, demonstrate this synergy. My landscape heritage work on the University of Sydney and providing services to state and local governments, private organisations and individuals as principal of CSD LAHC, since 1995, underpin my experience.

Awards

2023 AIA Reconciliation Prize, Appin Massacre Cultural Landscape SHR listing. The Heritage Council NSW and Heritage NSW were recipients of the award.

2019 AILA National President’s Award for AILA (NSW) Landscape Heritage Conservation Listing Project, 2018

2019 AILA NSW Award of Excellence - Cultural Heritage: to Christine Hay, Colleen Morris, James Quoyle, for AILA (NSW) Landscape Heritage Conservation Listing Project, Case study: Sydney Harbour.

2019 National Trust Heritage Award for Landscape Conservation: AILA (NSW) Landscape Heritage Study (Christine Hay, Colleen Morris, James Quoyle; AILA NSW Landscape Heritage Group)

2018 National Trust Heritage Award for Landscape Conservation: The Berrima, Sutton Forest and Exeter Cultural Landscape Assessment (Colleen Morris, Christine Hay, Wingecarribee Council with The Berrima Residents’ Association)

2016 The Rodney Connors Prize for Conservation Studies for highest academic achievement (M. Herit. Cons. USYD).

2016 Australian Institute of Building NSW Chapter President’s Award for academic achievement (M. Herit. Cons. USYD)

2015 AILA NSW STATE Award for Research and Communication: The Governor’s Gift, Phillip’s Landscape Vision.

Affiliations

AILA Associate Landscape Architect, 1990 - 2007

Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) AILA No. 477. 2007 - current

Australian Garden History Society (AGHS), Sydney Branch 2012 - current.

National Trust NSW, 2024 -current.

Australian Society of Historical Archaeology, 2024 – current.

Professional Contributions and Advocacy

NSW AILA Advocacy Committee, 2024 – current.

National Trust NSW Cemeteries Conservation Committee (NT CCC), 2024 – current.

Metropolitan Memorial Parks (MMP), Heritage Advisory Committee, 2024 – current.

Chair, AGHS, Sydney Branch, 2020-2022

Vice Chair, AGHS Sydney Branch, 2014-2019.

Convener, National Annual AGHS Conference 2021, Many Dreams // One Landscape, themed to celebrate significant cultural landscapes, including AILA nominated landscapes, 2018-2021.

National AGHS Committee, 2018 -2022.

AILA NSW Landscape Heritage Group (ALHG) (Inaugural member), 2014- 2015.

AGHS Executive, Sydney Branch, 2012-2022.