Remembering Ian Stephenson (1955-2024)

By Duncan Leys, Glebe Society President,  Bulletin 10/2024, December

I joined the Glebe Society in October 2019, mainly so I could go on the guided walks. Ian joined the Glebe Society in January 2020, soon after retiring from the University of New England, where he’d been their Curator of Collections [1].

I first encountered Ian on a walk he led for the Australiana Society in June 2022 to Parramatta to visit Experiment Farm, Hambledon Cottage and Elizabeth Farm. At the time, I was on the management committee of the Wentworth Falls Garden Club, and the idea came to me that these properties had interesting gardens, as well interesting histories, colonial architecture and furnishings. I thought the garden club members might be interested in visiting these properties.

I next met Ian at the Glebe Society’s AGM in September 2022. Such was my limited engagement with the Society that I didn’t realise Ian had been Glebe Society president when he led that walk in Parramatta. He was Glebe Society president in 2021–2023.

I joined the management committee of the Society some time after the 2022 AGM and I saw my chance to ask Ian about how I might go about arranging a tour for the Garden Club to those same properties in Parramatta. Not only did Ian give me the required information, he offered to lead the tour for me. Not only that, but he would arrange for a friend of his who had worked on the restoration of the garden at Elizabeth Farm to also act as a guide. His friend told us about how they identified the original plantings so the garden could be restored to resemble the garden enjoyed by the Macarthurs when they lived there. But Ian was not finished there; he recommended we eat at the Lebanese café attached to the Maronite Church which adjoins the site of those three properties – an inspired recommendation. Even volunteers who work at those properties do not know the café is there. The garden club members raved about the tour and the inspired decision to eat at that café.

I told Ian that the garden club offers a small payment for guides and speakers. At first, he declined to accept payment, but then requested we make a donation to Hands off Glebe instead.

What did Ian get out of all this? He caused 20 members of the Wentworth Falls Garden Club to care about preserving the historic Parramatta precinct, largely unknown to most Sydneysiders.

Ian’s passion for heritage

What we experienced was Ian’s passion for heritage. Ian had a passion for heritage even as a child, taking the train from Epping to the city on school holidays ‘just to explore’, and some years later, riding his pushbike to St Albans, north of the Hawkesbury River, just to ‘soak up the history’ [2].

Despite his passion for heritage, when Ian finished school – he did the HSC in 1974 – he moved to Tasmania and took a job with the ATO in Hobart, where he worked for eleven years – ‘seemingly in fulfilment of a wish to prove to his chemist father that he could stick at something he was not particularly interested in’ [3]. While in Hobart, Ian did a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Tasmania, majoring in history [2].

In Hobart, Ian became good friends with Peter and Sandy Boyer, who were involved in the Port Arthur Conservation Project. In fact, they often stayed with him at his house in Hobart’s Glebe Street, Glebe [4]. I heard about this time of Ian’s life from Peter and Sandy, who emailed me when they heard about Ian’s death. They wrote that, at that time, Ian turned towards his true passion, heritage, as he became involved in the Port Arthur Conservation Project. They wrote: ‘He was working in the Tax department, a job he loathed, and was studying part-time for a BA at the University of Tasmania, one subject a year but each time managing a pass. The Port Arthur work in historical conservation sparked an interest in him’ [4]. It was at this time that Ian met Clive Lucas, then the architect for the Port Arthur Conservation Project; they remained friends until the end [5].

I wish I’d known earlier that Ian had a nickname: ‘Rocky’. I would have enjoyed using it. Peter Boyer wrote that when Ian lived in Hobart, ‘he wanted us to call him Rocky, which we did and still do. We understand it had something to do with the film ‘Rocky’ – an unlikely connection, but there you go’ [4]. Rocky, yes. I can see the ‘champion fighter for the protection and conservation of our heritage’. As it happens, Ian’s nickname might have come from a different ‘Rocky’. It’s said that Ian was given the nickname by archaeologists on the Port Arthur project ‘in gratitude’ for hosting them in his Glebe (Hobart) home. It was given ‘not for Sylvester Stallone’s boxer but for the diminutive, problem-solving beaver in the Canadian animation, Rocky and Bullwinkle’ [6].

With his passion for heritage ignited, Ian returned to Sydney in 1988 and undertook a Diploma in Museum Studies at Sydney University [6]. I believe he was living in Glebe at that time. A number of curatorial positions followed, and after a couple of years, Ian became a senior curator with the National Trust of Australia (NSW), where he stayed for about a decade. What followed was a professional life that has been praised by so many, including Lord Mayor Clover More: ‘A highly productive career across a range of heritage organisations ensued including Senior Curator at the National Trust of Australia (NSW) Director of Historic Places in Canberra, and CEO of the National Trust of Australia (South Australia)’ [5].

A second career in heritage advocacy

When Ian retired in 2020, he ‘embarked on what was a second career in heritage advocacy’ [6], much of which was through his involvement in the Glebe Society. State MP for Balmain, Kobi Shetty, wrote that ‘Ian’s extensive knowledge was instrumental to the Glebe Society’s work preserving the unique character of Glebe and Forest Lodge’ [7].

Ian had a good relationship with the City of Sydney Council and they valued his contributions: ‘Ian prepared many well-informed development submissions on behalf of the Glebe Society and addressed the City of Sydney Local Planning Panel on several occasions, making an important contribution to achieving good outcomes’ [5]. The Lord Mayor also noted that Ian had ensured that, for Bidura House, ‘repairs and maintenance were embedded in development approval’ [5], and that Ian had ‘successfully fought for the retention of the Franklyn Street social housing estate’ [5].

Ian, a friend

The Glebe Society has lost not only a skilled, passionate and effective advocate but a wonderful human being. I think Ian’s qualities are summed up perfectly in the eulogy given by Ian’s niece, Anthea Brooks, at the funeral:

‘The man I knew was full of life. Fiercely intelligent with a keen sense of humour. He constantly had a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous smile on his lips. He loved to travel and had a deep curiosity for other cultures and an insatiable interest in people. He was a passionate man, unapologetic in his interests and always unabashedly himself. These characteristics are rare and precious – just like Ian’ [8].

I’m sure all of us who knew Ian would agree with this description. Anthea found it comforting ‘to know that the enthusiasm and energy [she] saw in Ian is how other people saw him too’ [8]. Words such as warm, welcoming, energetic, enthusiastic, good-humoured, generous, willingness to share, and good cheer could all be applied to Ian [3] [4] [7]. As I told the Sydney Morning Herald, I very much appreciated that Ian ‘was always good-humoured, generous and funny with a wicked sense of humour’ [2].

Ian had this great ability to engage with people from all walks of life, whether residents of the houses he discussed on his walks or simply a passerby. I remember walking with Ian in Ross Street, and we came across a guy who was trying to pull cable through a conduit (it might have been for the NBN). Ian asked him where he was from. He replied he was from India. Next question: where in India? I do not recall the city he was from, but Ian had been there, and they proceeded to discuss notable buildings in that city. Finally, Ian asked the man where he was living in Sydney? Was he living with his family? No, he was boarding with an elderly lady in the inner west somewhere. Next question: how did he find that situation? He liked it. She was good to him, and he got to know his neighbours and the neighbourhood. Ian was so exceptionally good at this, and I think every day I need to improve my people skills.

Ian had ‘the ability and charm to start up a conversation with anyone, anywhere’ [8] – not only with your average Joe on the streets but, according to Scott Carlin, managing director of the National Trust (Tasmania) who is quoted in the SMH obituary, ‘He linked with leading heritage thinkers throughout the world … As a custodian of historic sites Ian charmed and befriended people who might otherwise have opposed change’ [2].

Ian’s death and our loss

As I mentioned in the last Glebe Society Bulletin, I found his body on 24 October, when I went over to his house after not being able to contact him for quite a few days. Ian passed away at home from what we now know was a massive stroke. He had only recently returned from a trip to South America and was looking forward to more travel, including a trip to southern India and Tonga to see the royal palace. Ian had been writing a book about his travels; he sent a draft of the first chapter to his niece, Anthea. She said it was ‘packed full of funny anecdotes about the people he met and interesting historical facts concerning Australia and beyond’ and that ‘it is a great shame that he will now never be able to finish the book – I have no doubt that it would have been a thoroughly entertaining and insightful read and would have lined bookstores nation over’ [8].

We have suffered an enormous loss; the loss of an extraordinary person and good friend. I will miss him greatly. Our local member, Kobi Shetty told the parliament that ‘Ian’s sudden and unexpected passing has been felt deeply by all who knew him. We will remember Ian for his profound impact on the world around him and the legacy that he leaves behind’ [7]. Koby’s predecessor, Jamie Parker, wrote ‘I feel honoured to have met him … A wonderful man who will be sadly missed’ [9]; and Clover Moore told Council that Ian ‘made a positive and lasting impact in our community and will be missed by all who knew him’ [5]. Council observed one minute’s silence ‘to commemorate the life of Ian Stephenson and his contribution to heritage protection and preservation and the Glebe community’ [5]. Finally, National Trust Tasmania that, as a figure of such standing in the cultural heritage space, his death means that Ian ‘has left us when we needed him most’ [6].

An Anglican Requiem Mass was held for Ian on Thursday 21 November, at Christ Church St Laurence where Ian had been a parishioner and parish councillor [2]. As his niece said at the service, ‘Ian was … a man of faith … For him, I think his faith was an important part of helping him understand his place in the bigger picture and to help him be the best version of himself’ [8]. The solemnity and beauty of the service, which can be viewed online, befitted a man of deep faith.

I leave the last word for Anthea, who expresses sentiments we all share: ‘Ian, you were one of a kind and full of sparkle. You lived your life with passion and energy and bestowed joy to all those around you. Thank you for your knowledge, humour and mischief. We love you and we will miss you’ [8]. 

Sources

1. Boshoff, Estelle, Vale Ian Stephenson, University of New England’s Pulse News. 2024: University of New England.
2. Brown, Malcolm, National Trust curator with vision preserved cultural treasures, in Sydney Morning Herald. 2024. p. 26.
3. National Trust NSW. Vale Ian Stephenson. 2024, 29 October 2024.
4. Boyer, Peter and Sandy Boyer, Remembering Ian Stephenson, email to Duncan Leys. 2024.
5. Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Vale Ian Stephenson, City of Sydney Council Meeting Item 3.1: Minute by the Lord Mayor. 2024.
6. National Trust Tasmania. Vale Ian Stephenson. 2024 6 November 2024.
7. Shetty, Kobi, Member for Balmain, NSW Parliament Tribute to Ian Stephenson Legislative Assembly Hansard. 2024.
8. Brookes, Rachel and Anthea Brookes, Eulogy, Requiem Mass. 2024: Christ Church St Laurence.
9. Parker, Jamie. Vale Ian Stephenson. 2024; Facebook