Penelope Seidler facts for kids

The Seidlers' home in Killara, New South Wales

Penelope Seidler is a well-known Australian architect and accountant. She was born in 1938. She is in charge of an architecture company in Sydney called Harry Seidler and Associates. Penelope was married to and worked with another famous architect, Harry Seidler. Together, they designed their own home, "Harry & Penelope Seidler House," which won a special award in 1967.

Penelope Seidler has also been a big supporter of the arts for a long time. As of July 2025, she is still a member of the National Gallery of Australia Foundation Board.

Early Life

Penelope Alice Marjorie Evatt was born in 1938. She grew up in a place called Wahroonga in New South Wales. Her father, Clive Evatt, was a lawyer and a politician. Her mother was Marjorie Hanna Evatt. Penelope has two siblings, Elizabeth Evatt and Clive Evatt Jr. Their family home in Wahroonga is now known as "Parklands" and is a protected historical site.

Her Work and Studies

Penelope Seidler is the director of the architecture company Harry Seidler and Associates in Sydney.

She first started studying at the University of Sydney. She studied subjects like philosophy and history before deciding to switch to architecture. She finished her architecture degree and became a registered architect in 1964. That same year, she joined Harry Seidler and Associates. She worked there as an architect and also managed the company's money. She is also a qualified accountant.

Penelope Seidler has been a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects since 1983. This means she is a highly respected member of the architecture community. In 2021, the University of Sydney gave her an honorary doctorate, which is a special award for her achievements.

Supporting the Arts

Penelope Seidler has been very involved in supporting art and museums. Since 1973, she has been part of the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. She has also been a director for the Biennale of Sydney since 2010. This is a big art festival that happens every two years. She also helped represent Australia at the 2013 Venice Biennale, another important international art event.

She used to be a member of the National Gallery of Australia Council. As of July 2025, she is still a member of the NGA Foundation Board. In 1971, Penelope joined the Art Gallery of NSW Society's council. She was one of the first "volunteer guides" there, helping visitors learn about the art.

Penelope Professorship

In 2018, Penelope Seidler gave money to the University of Sydney to create something special. It's called the Penelope Visiting Professorship in Architectural History. This allows famous architectural historians from around the world to come and teach at the university. The first Penelope Professor was Jean-Louis Cohen, a French architectural historian.

Awards and Recognition

Penelope Seidler has received many awards for her work:

• 1967: The "Harry & Penelope Seidler House" in Killara, which she designed with her husband, won the Wilkinson Award. This is a prestigious award from the Australian Institute of Architects.
• 2008: She was made a Member of the Order of Australia. This award recognized her important contributions to visual arts and architecture.
• 2011: She received the Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur from France. This is a high honor from the French government.
• 2011: She was given an Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of New South Wales.
• 2014: She was the subject of the 2014 Archibald prize winning portrait by Fiona Lowry. The Archibald Prize is a famous Australian art award for portraits.
• 2017: She received the University of Sydney Alumni Award for her cultural contributions.
• 2021: She received an Honorary Doctor of Architecture from the University of Sydney.

Personal Life

Penelope met Harry Seidler in 1957 at a gathering for architects in North Sydney, New South Wales. They got married on December 15, 1958. They had two children together.

After they married, they lived in a basement apartment in Point Piper for about a year. Then, in January 1960, they moved to Ithaca Gardens in Elizabeth Bay. This was a new apartment building designed by Harry Seidler. They lived there until June 1967. After that, they moved into their famous home, the Harry and Penelope Seidler House. This house, which they both designed, is located in Kalang Avenue, Killara, on Sydney's North Shore.