He studied at the University of Toronto on a Commonwealth scholarship, receiving a Master of Architecture in 1962.
He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council for Melbourne in 1979, immediately becoming Deputy Opposition Leader in the upper house.
Following Labor's victory in 1982, he became Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, as well as Minister for Conservation and for Planning.
Walker retired from politics in 1992, remaining active in Melbourne University's architecture faculty until 2000.
[2] He was awarded the Centenary Medal on 1 January 2001 for "service to planning and urban design in Victoria.