Robert Raymond Woodward graduated with honours in architecture from Sydney University and worked for a time in commercial and industrial architecture. After the success of his dandelion inspired design for the El Alamein Memorial Fountain in Kings Cross, Sydney, which won the 1964 New South Wales Institute of Architects Civic Design Award, Woodward was commissioned to design other fountains. In 1987 Woodward was appointed a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to architecture, particularly in the field of fountain design. His other prominent water installation designs in Australia include The Canberra Times Fountain in Civic, Canberra, and the Tidal Cascade at Darling Harbour, Sydney.