James (Jim) Moon is one of Tasmania’s most substantial architects of the mid-20th century. He was one of the key members of the muti-award winning firm Bush Parkes Shugg and Moon which continues to operate, now as BPSM. He was an influential figure in the rise of modernism and international style in Tasmania and has been awarded the 1963 Triennial prize and later the 2019 Enduring Architecture prize for his own residence.
Jim Moon served his architectural cadetship from 1948-1953 with the Hydro Electric Commission of Tasmania while he was completing his Diploma of Architecture (1953) at the Hobart Technical College (HTC). He studied at Hobart Technical College alongside Kenneth (Bill) Shugg, of whom he would later start architectural partnership with. He topped his graduating class to win the McIntyre Hunter award upon completion He then became a registered architect in Tasmania in 1954.
He embarked on a study tour of Great Britain and Europe in 1954, which included working for Fritz Schlegel and Hans Hansen for 16 months, as an architectural assistant on the Tivoli Gardens Concert Hall. From this trip he gained a greater breadth of influences which would be brought back to Tasmania, including the work of the esteemed Alvar Aalto, who was a close acquaintance of Fritz Schlegel.
In 1955 he accepted an offer to work with Bill Shugg on the proviso that he would begin the partnership once his obligations in Denmark had been completed. They worked together in partnership as Shugg and Moon until 1957 when then joined with Garf Haslock, Lew Parkes and Pat Bush. The partnership operated under the name of Bush Haslock Parkes Shugg and Moon. The primary office operated from Hobart, with an office in Devonport also where Garf Haslock grew up and lived in the later stages of his professional career. Haslock retired in 1965, and the partnership then became Bush Parkes Shugg and Moon, with the Devonport office retained with others in charge. Shugg and Moon maintained a formidable presence at the firm, and whilst Lew Parkes and Pat Bush eventually retired around them, they maintained the company name.
Amongst his architectural commitments at Bush Parkes Shugg and Moon, Moon had a wider reach in the Tasmanian community. He was a contributor to the Tasmanian Architect, the most significant Tasmanian architectural publication, both as editorial staff in the 50’s and written pieces throughout the publication’s existence. He also served considerable time on the design examination panel and the board of education at Hobart Technical College.
Moon returned to Hobart Technical College to gain a Diploma of Town and Country Planning in 1969. Following this attainment, he was a member of the Hobart planning committee and undertook multiple conservation studies including in Stanley, Bothwell, Don River and Latrobe.
He retired in 1994.