Henry Octave Cyril Vereecke (4 April 1906 – 16 June 2002), better known as Harry Oakman, was one of Australia's foremost gardening authorities and a pioneer of Australian architectural landscaping.
[1] An immigrant from Belgium, Oakman wrote numerous illustrated books on gardening and, as a public landscaper, enjoyed enormous influence over the design of open spaces in Brisbane, Canberra, and Newcastle.
[2] Over a period of 17 years (1946–1962),[1] Oakman transformed the parklands of Brisbane, built 120 playing fields, and assisted in designing and producing two botanic gardens, as well as Queens Park, Townsville.
He left Brisbane to work for the National Capital Development Commission in Canberra, where he was largely responsible for the landscape of Woden Valley, Belconnen and the area around Lake Burley Griffin.
Over his life he published a number of books, variously reported as three, nine, or thirteen, but always regarded as highly influential within the Australian gardening community.