UNSW BE Professor Robert Freestone’s book “ Urban Nation: Australia’s Planning Heritage” has been awarded a special book prize ‘for an outstanding publication’ at the 15th biennial conference of the International Planning History Society in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The International Planning History Society endeavours to foster the study of planning history worldwide; encourages and supports interest and place-based networks in the fields of planning history; publishes a journal and organises conferences. The theme for this year’s biennial international conference was "Cities, nations and regions in planning history".

Urban Nation provides the first national account of the historical impact of urban planning and design on the Australian landscape.

The Citation for Professor Freestone’s book was as follows:

“This book is a brilliant survey of the historical impact of urban planning and design on the Australian landscape. The author has worked closely with a team of scholars and advisors to produce a book that is a model of how planning history can foster an understanding of how the past has shaped the present, and how the present may move towards a sustainable future. The text has been illuminated and enhanced by a wide range of maps and illustrations that have been beautifully produced. By unanimous decision, the judges wished to award this special IPHS prize in recognition of its outstanding quality”.