Peter Mould was an exceptional architect who has made an outstanding contribution to the culture of architecture and design in Sydney, throughout Australia and internationally. Peter’s focus was always on the public interest. For those of us who believe in the value of architecture in enriching our lives and serving community interests, Peter was an inspiration through his absolute dedication to this agenda.
He was a talented designer who led award winning projects within the NSW Public Works where he dedicated his career and served as Deputy Government Architect and then Government Architect between 2006 and 2012. His work has included the restoration of St Mary’s Cathedral spires, upgrades at Circular Quay, master planning for Sydney Cove, and work on the public domain at Taronga Zoo. During this time, he garnered great respect and loyalty from his team, politicians and the broader professional community for his integrity, intelligence, enthusiasm, and generosity of spirit.
His contribution then and until the present time has also been remarkable for its breadth and depth of public engagement in advising on and championing design quality in architecture, heritage and city making.
Peter served as a member of Design Review Panels in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, ACT and NSW, for Sydney Olympic Park and Transport for NSW, as well as chair and member of numerous competition juries for the State and City of Sydney. He was the initiator and founding Chair of the Sydney Opera House Eminent Architects Panel. This panel provided critical design leadership for the decade of significant renewal and contemporary transformation of the Opera House. Peter has also been a leading voice in the profession through his lectures and writing and has mentored future generations as a Visiting and Adjunct Professor at UNSW and served on the campus Design Excellence Review Panel.
Peter was elected as a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and, in 2011, received its NSW President’s Prize for his outstanding contribution to architecture.
He has been Deputy President of the NSW Architects Registration Board. Internationally he served as Councillor for the International Union of Architects from 2014 until 2017 where he drove reform and rewrote many policies, and as a Member of the UNESCO-UIA Joint Committee for the World Capital of Architecture. Peter served on the Central Sydney Planning Committee as Government Architect, bringing unerring commitment to design quality and the public interest, contributing to some of the most consequential planning decisions affecting central Sydney.
A longstanding role has been as the Deputy Chair of the City’s Design Advisory Panel since its inception in 2007, Peter always gave independent, fearless advice in pursuit of design excellence, turning that ambition into the better buildings, streets, and public spaces across Sydney today. Peter had unique ability to work through complex problems with diplomacy, technical skill and, very often, a gentle sense of humour.
Peter grew up in Sydney’s eastern suburbs graduating from Vaucluse High in 1965. Following completion of his architecture degree at UNSW he worked briefly on the Sydney Opera House with Public Works Department in1971. Then with a period extensive international travel and work in London he developed an interest in Islamic architecture, including its influence on Jorn Utzon. After returning to work for the Public Works Department in Sydney it was on a later visit to London, he met his wife Kate beginning their lifelong journey together.
Throughout this life Peter’s infectious curiosity led him to be an avid traveller, cyclist, swimmer, reader, and movie lover. His unerring modesty and sense of humanity reflected in his passion for architecture resulted in a wide circle of friends and a close and loving family.
Sadly, Peter was diagnosed with a severe brain tumour in September 2025. Following an intensive operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy he bravely continued to participate in his busy professional schedule characteristically with tenacity and stoicism and not a whiff of self-pity. Only saying ‘it was a bugger’. Following a second operation he continued to be himself with family and friends until the end. He is survived by his wife Kate and daughters Mattie and Louise, who returned to Australia to support him in his illness.
Tributes are continuing to flow since we lost Peter and his impact as a wonderful man and outstanding architect will live on.
Ken Maher AO