Martyn Webb

{{Short description|Professor of geography and writer}}

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Martyn Jack Webb (29 September 1925 – 19 January 2016) was a professor of geography and writer on issues of governance.

An Oxford graduate, he was foundation Professor of Geography at the University of Western Australia. Robson A. [http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/business-briefing/lecture-theatres-named-honour-uwa-academics Lecture theatres named in honour of UWA academics]. University of Western Australia media release 20 November 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2019

As a geographer, he had a long-term interest in metropolitan planning in Perth.{{Citation | author1=Webb, Professor Martyn J | title=Who plans the city? : an address to the A.I.U.S. Crawley seminar | publication-date=1976 | publisher=Extension Service, University of Western Australia and the Institute of Urban Studies | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/155140433 | accessdate=5 March 2017 }}{{Citation|title=The evolution of regional planning in metropolitan Perth, 1911-1981 | publication-date=1983 | publisher=s.n | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/21891323 | accessdate=5 March 2017 }}

He had written a number of books in collaboration with his wife Audrey, such as his large work on Kalgoorlie.{{Citation | author1=Webb, Martyn J. (Martyn Jack) | author2=Webb, Audrey | author3=Kalgoorlie-Boulder (W.A.). Council | author4=Webb, Martyn | author5=Webb, Audrey | title=Golden destiny : the centenary history of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia | year=1993 | publication-date=1993 | publisher=Published by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder as a contribution to the centenary celebration of 1993 | isbn=978-0-646-14254-8 }}

At times, he collaborated with other writers such as Paddy O'Brien on various causes.{{Citation | author1=O'Brien, Patrick, 1937- | author2=Webb, Martyn J. (Martyn Jack), 1925-2016 | title=The Executive state : WA Inc. & the Constitution | year=1991 | publication-date=1991 | publisher=Constitutional Publishing Company | isbn=978-0-646-04875-8 }}

He was not short of praise for a range of Australian political figures, including John Forrest.{{Citation | author1=Webb, Martyn | title=John Forrest: architect and founder of modern Western Australia | journal=Early Days: Journal of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society | publication-date=2003 | volume=12 | issue=3 | pages=250–272 | issn=0312-6145 }}{{Citation | author1=Webb, Martyn J. (Martyn Jack) | title=[John Forrest] : [Western Australia's greatest son] | publication-date=1997 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/159330036 | accessdate=5 March 2017 }}

Webb died in early 2016, his death being noted by his original University, Oxford.[http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/news/articles/160106-In-Memoriam-Martyn-Webb.html In Memoriam: Professor Martyn J Webb (1925-2016)] One death notice described him as a "public intellectual, author, traveller and champion of causes".[http://www.westannouncements.com.au/obituaries/thewest-au/obituary.aspx?pid=177369728 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305201108/http://www.westannouncements.com.au/obituaries/thewest-au/obituary.aspx?pid=177369728 |date=5 March 2017 }} Obituary in The West Australian, January 2016 When he deposited papers some time before, the library cataloguer summarised his career as:

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Foundation Professor of Geography at University of Western Australia. Active in local affairs and development, advisor to the WA Country Shire Councils Association, initiator of the WA Local Government Association and the WA Conservation Council; Member of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry, ...{{Citation | author1=Webb, Martyn J. (Martyn Jack) | author2=Webb, Audrey | title=Martyn and Audrey Webb papers | publication-date=1993 | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/169830950 | accessdate=7 March 2017 }}}}