Davis, Mervyn Twynam (1916-1985)

Field of activity
Landscape architect and Servicewoman
NLA Persistent Identifier
http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-767072

Biographies

Mervyn Davis commenced A Catalogue of Botanical Collectors and Delineators in 1955. She was elected first individual member and delegate for Australia to the International Federation of Landscape Architects in 1959, a position she held for ten years. Davis was the first woman elected a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation in 1964, and in 1969 she was elected as the first Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. On 14 June 1980, Mervyn Davis was appointed a Member of the British Empire for her work in the public service.

The daughter of Frank Dawson and Ida (née Bell) Davis, Mervyn Davis served with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force during World War II. Following the war she commenced a Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme (CRTS) course at Burnley Horticultural College, Victoria. Davis graduated dux of the course in 1946. She was appointed technical assistant in the herbarium at the Melbourne and then the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. During 1956 to 1957, Davis studied under Brian Hackett at Durham University England, and gained a Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Design. In 1957 she was awarded the first Fellowship of the International Agricultural Study Centre, Wageningen University, Netherlands, in Landscape Design and Allied subjects.

Davis was employed as a landscape architect with Buchan, Laird and Buchan Architects and Engineers, Melbourne, from 1959 to 1961. She initiated moves to establish the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. In 1969 she became the body's first fellow and in 1980 she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Davis worked as a private consultant before being employed as a landscape architect with the Commonwealth Department of Housing and Construction in 1963. Her work included landscape developments at the airports of Perth, Launceston, Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart. She retired from the department in 1980.

In her retirement Davis continued working with Dr Jim Willis and Daphne Pearson on the catalogue of Australian Botanists and others who have contributed to the Collections and recording of plants in Australia.

  • 1942 - 1945 War Service with the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
  • 1951 - 1956 Technical Assistant at the Royal Melbourne Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium Victoria
  • 1956 - 1957 Post Graduate Diploma in Landscape Design, Durham University, England
  • 1957 First Fellow of the International Agricultural Study Centre Wageningen University Netherlands in Landscape Design and allied subjects
  • 1959 - 1969 Australian Delegate to the International Federation of Landscape Architects
  • 1960 Initiated moves to establish Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
  • 1963 - 1980 Full-time employee of the Commonwealth Department, Central Office, Melbourne
  • 1964 First woman Fellow of the Australian Institute of Parks and Recreation
  • 1969 First Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects

View the full record at Australian Women's Register

Related people and organisations

Australian Women's Register

Resources for Mervyn Twynam Davis

Selected resources (13)

Australian Women's Register

  1. Port Davey, South West TasmaniaVictorian Naturalist 72 2-4 : Port Davey, South West Tasmania
    [1955]
  2. A Guide and Analysis of Engler's "Das Pflanzenreich"Taxon 6 6 161-182 : A Guide and Analysis of Engler's "Das Pflanzenreich"
    [1957]
  3. DAVIS, MERVYN TWYNAMWorld War 2 Nominal Roll Department of Veterans' Affairs : DAVIS, MERVYN TWYNAM
    Department of Veterans' Affairs
    [2002]
    Series: http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/veteran.asp?ServiceID=R&VeteranID=934760
  4. Mervyn DavisDirectory of Fellows Australian Institute of Landscape Architects : Mervyn Davis
    Hendry, Margaret
    Published: Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
    Series: http://www.aila.org.au/directories/fellows/mervynDavis.htm
  5. Faith, Hope and Charity Australian Women and Imperial Honours: 1901-1989
    Australian Women's Archives Project
    [2003]
    Published: Australian Women's Archives Project
    Series: http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/honours/honours.html
  6. Who's who in Australia 1983
    Draper, W J
    [1983]
    Published: The Herald and Weekly Times
  7. Westcoast floral specimens for Melbourne herbariumThe Mercury 3 : Westcoast floral specimens for Melbourne herbarium
    [1954]
  8. Scope for landscapingThe Herald 27 : Scope for landscaping
    [1960]
  9. Vale: Mervyn Davis M.B.E. Hon FellowLandscape Australia 3 256 : Vale: Mervyn Davis M.B.E. Hon Fellow
    [1985]
  10. Landscape architect diesThe Age 20 : Landscape architect dies
    Anne Latreille
    [1985]
  11. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Davis, Mervyn Twynam (1939 - 1948)
    DAVIS MERVYN TWYNAM : Service Number - 92177 : Date of birth - 22 Nov 1916 : Place of birth - ST KILDA VIC : Place of enlistment - HOBART : Next of Kin - DAVIS FRANK
    2002/04988558
  12. National Archives of Australia, National Office: Davis, Mervyn Twynam (1939 - 1948)
    Service Number - 92177 : Date of birth - 22 Nov 1916 : Place of birth - ST KILDA VIC : Place of enlistment - HOBART : Next of Kin - DAVIS FRANK
    2002/04988558
  13. State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection: Papers of Edna Walling (1962 - 1970)
    Letters, 1962-1970, to Mervyn T. Davis and Daphne Pearson; press cuttings concerning landscape designer Edna Walling; and photographs and slides of Edna Walling and garden designs, 1966.
    MS 10408

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  1. ROBINSON, Mervyn Wm - died
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  1. Davis, Mervyn Twynam (1916-1985)
    ... Mervyn Davis commenced A Catalogue of Botanical Collectors and Delineators in 1955. She was elected ...
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  1. Website: Australian Women's Archives Project
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  3. Website: Putting skirts on the sacred benches : women candidates for the New South Wales Parliament
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  1. Year book / Royal Colonial Institute
    Royal Colonial Institute (Great Britain)
    [ Book : 1912 ]
    read online at Open Library/Internet Archive
    View online
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  1. RETURNING SOLDIERS.
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Monday 31 December 1917 p 6 Article
    ... Stret. Bearer Mervyn Blackwell, L cpl Stewart Alex Blair, Spr Peroral Ewood Stanley Blnndford, Pte ... Davie« lohn Cumminin, Cedric Ferand Davis Bdr Leslie John Dawson, Ptes AAm Pitk Demcarj, Harry Dennison ... H} Twynam I crkbis. Pte George Samuel Underwood Pic Antone Curdius 1 rands Aeltmen Gnr Arthur James ... 1698 words
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  2. Family Notices
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thursday 9 May 1889 p 11 Family Notices
    ... Dobbie. CUNNISGHAM-TWYNAM.-April 24, at Lavender Bay, by the Bishop of Goulburn, assisted by Rev. A. Yurnold, James Cunningham to Man- Emllv Twynam. DENBIGH-BR1ENT.-On March 30,1889, by Henry Gale, ... Mervyn Arclidall, M.A., Eugene Manoraugt Ilaymet to Alice Maude Ives. HAYWARD-MASON.-April 11, at St. ... 3642 words
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  3. EXAMINATIONS. Leaving Certificate Results. COUNTRY AND PARRAMATTA
    The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Wednesday 28 January 1931 p 8 Article
    ... METHODIST GIRLS' COLLEGE BOWRAL Corden Estelle Wren IA IB SB BA 12B 14B Davis Jeal Fdlth IA _B 3B 5B ... Kenneth GeorRe 3B 5B HL 17B Fenn Mervyn IB 3B BB 17B Girvan Hugh IB 5B 8A 10B Gordon John Irvine IB 2A 3\ ... John Albert IB 3B 5B HL. Biddle Ivan R IB 5B 6B SB 14B 17B Cadv Archibald Davis 3B 5B 6B BB 17B ... 8314 words
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