Jan’s husband, Mike, and her 1962 MLC School friends, Margaret Robertson and Elizabeth Seale, have sent us the sad news that Jan Robbins (Stuckey, 1962) died on 25 July 2023.

In 2007, Jan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, but she didn’t let that slow her down. She continued to pursue her favourite activities including ice skating and bushwalking, while also maintaining her active involvement in the ACT branch of the Australian Native Plant Society – for some time as President of the Society.

After completing her Leaving Certificate at MLC School, Jan studied Agricultural Science at the University of Sydney and went on to complete a PhD in plant cytogenetics (specifically, the inheritance of glaucousness in wheat) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

Jan went on to lecture at UNSW, the University of Canberra, and The Australian National University, where she also worked as academic skills advisor.

In 1972, Jan married Michael Robbins in 1972 and they had two children.

From the 1970s, Jan and Michael lived at the architecturally-significant Urambi Village*. Their connection to Urambi Village started when they joined the Urambi housing cooperative and became involved in establishing the goals for the Village. They went on to help design and plant the Village’s extensive native bush gardens – something Jan was very proud of.

In the 2016 publication, A special place: Urambi Village at 40, Michael and Jan spoke of their hopes for, and love of, Urambi:

In the early stages of planning for Urambi: ‘We had a major part in organising and running a weekend which set out many of the village’s goals and agreements,’ Michael recalls.

After living at Urambi for many years: ‘It was very satisfying to be living close to many people who had become close working-bee mates and friends… For Jan and me, the hallmark of the village is—and, we hope, always will be—its sense of community.’

* Urambi Village

Urambi Village (also known as Urambi Co-operative Housing) started as an idea in 1973 with the intention of developing a new, environmentally-friendly, community-centric style of housing.

A housing cooperative was established to develop Urambi Village on a block of land provided for the purpose by the Australian government’s Department of the Capital Territory.

Urambi Village comprises of 72 houses united as a community by spaces designed to promote casual meetings. These spaces were created by restricting cars to five entry areas near the road and by the establishment of common facilities, such as meeting rooms, a swimming pool and ball court, connected by paths running through a landscape of predominantly native trees and shrubs.

Each resident is encouraged to look after the landscaping in the immediate vicinity of their house. This is supported by professional landscapers who look after the planted areas, as well as the lawns, paths and driveways.

Urambi Village won the Australian Institute of Architects ‘CS Daley Medal for Housing’ in 1977. In 2002, the Institute gave the Village the ‘ACT Chapter 25 Year award’ in recognition of the maintenance of the integrity of its original design for 25 years.

Urambi Village it one of the major Australian architectural achievements of the last century. Along with Parliament House and the High Court of Australia, Urambi Village is on the Australian Institute of Architects ‘Register of Significant Architecture’ and the Register of Significant Twentieth Century Architecture.