Timeline: 1970 - 2001

This timeline is based primarily on the research of Philip Norman and John Scott. Additional information has been sourced from the Collection of Douglas Lilburn Manuscripts in the Alexander Turnbull Library, edited by Jill Palmer, and from the Radio New Zealand archive.

• 1970: Appointed Professor at Victoria University of Wellington with a personal chair in music. Appointed Director of Electronic Music Studio.
• 1970: Expo 70 Dance Sequence. (Electronic).
• 1971: Lilburn versus Putney, Staircase Music and Glass Music. (An end-of-term entertainment in the music room).
• 1972: New Electronic Music Studio premises in Kelburn Parade.
• 1972: Third series of Wai-te-ata Press published.
• 1972: Three Inscapes. (Electronic).
• 1972: One movement of 3 for viola.
• 1973: Occasional Pieces for Piano. (1942-1973)
• 1973: Wide Open Cage, incidental music for the play by James K. Baxter. A New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation production.
• 1974: Composers Association of New Zealand established March 9.
• 1974: The Alexander Turnbull Library's Archive of New Zealand Music established.
• 1974: Overseas travel April 28 - July 5: Toronto, London, Paris (UNESCO Rostrum), Utrecht, Amsterdam, and Stockholm.
• 1974: Two pieces for guitar.
• 1974: Welcome Stranger. A ballet commissioned by the New Zealand Ballet Company, choreography by Deidre Tarrant.
• 1975: Composers Association of New Zealand sponsored Lilburn 60th Birthday Concert.
• 1975: Sounds and Distances. (Electronic).
• 1975: Lines and Distances. (Electronic).
• 1976: Carousel. (Electronic).
• 1976: Winterset. (Electronic).
• 1977: Tryptych. (Electronic).
• 1977: Of Time and Nostalgia (Electronic).
• 1978: Presented with Composers Association of New Zealand Citation for Services to New Zealand Music.
• 1979: Retrospective concert of electronic music as part of "New Directions in New Zealand Music".
• 1979: Soundscape with Lake and River.
• 1980: January 31 - Retirement from Victoria University of Wellington.
• 1980: Appointed Professor Emeritus.
• 1980: Four Canzonas for strings written for solo violin and string quartet. Arrangement of incidental music for plays between 1943 and 1950.
• 1984: The Lilburn Trust established.
• 1985: Processional Fanfare arranged for 3 trumpets and small orchestra from 1961. Original composed for 3 trumpets with organ.
• 1987: Grand Canyon Uprun, a suite for woodwind quartet. Arrangement of original 1961 composition.
• 1988: Received the Order of New Zealand.
• 2001: Douglas Gordon Lilburn dies 6 June at his home in Ascot Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand.