Places of the Heart: Memorials in Australia since 1960. This project investigates the proliferation of non-war memorials in Australia within the framework of an emerging culture of commemoration from the mid twentieth century. It explores important shifts in the purpose of memorials and their role and meaning in Australian society, particularly the move towards a more democratic and personal expression of mourning in public arenas. The project assesses the cultural significance of particular sit ....Places of the Heart: Memorials in Australia since 1960. This project investigates the proliferation of non-war memorials in Australia within the framework of an emerging culture of commemoration from the mid twentieth century. It explores important shifts in the purpose of memorials and their role and meaning in Australian society, particularly the move towards a more democratic and personal expression of mourning in public arenas. The project assesses the cultural significance of particular sites through a nationally devised schema which takes account of their place in the landscape, their form and materiality and will contribute to contemporary heritage conservation research, policy and practice.Read moreRead less
Cultural heritage and the mediation of identity, memory and historical narratives. Anxiety pervades many Western countries about the direction, nature and expression of social debate regarding community identities, and the social and cultural values underpinning them. In developing our understanding of heritage, and how it is used to construct and legitimatise certain social values and identities in certain national, cultural and social contexts, the research will inform the development of museu ....Cultural heritage and the mediation of identity, memory and historical narratives. Anxiety pervades many Western countries about the direction, nature and expression of social debate regarding community identities, and the social and cultural values underpinning them. In developing our understanding of heritage, and how it is used to construct and legitimatise certain social values and identities in certain national, cultural and social contexts, the research will inform the development of museum and heritage exhibition/interpretation policies. In examining the agency of heritage audiences, the research will inform and facilitate the abilities of museum and heritage professionals to effectively convey messages about contentious issues or make more informed interventions into social debates.Read moreRead less
Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Designing Everyday Modernism for Australian Communities 1920-1970. This cross-disciplinary project will construct an historical account of the interconnections between the network of governmental policies and initiatives promoting a healthy and educated citizenry, and the design and use of modern, municipal architecture in mid-century Australia. Detailed analysis of modern building types, from around the nation, including kindergartens, sporting facilities, swimmin ....Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds: Designing Everyday Modernism for Australian Communities 1920-1970. This cross-disciplinary project will construct an historical account of the interconnections between the network of governmental policies and initiatives promoting a healthy and educated citizenry, and the design and use of modern, municipal architecture in mid-century Australia. Detailed analysis of modern building types, from around the nation, including kindergartens, sporting facilities, swimming pools, child health clinics, libraries and community centres will constitute an original and important resource for historians, conservationists and architects. Historical findings will inform directions and lessons for future practice in the design, planning and conservation of community infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Vietnam: heritage of a nation. This project will contribute to our understanding of Vietnam's cultural history and to protection of Vietnamese cultural heritage. The findings will be relevant to the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and national industry bodies and to professional organizations such the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The project may lead to the addition of new items to UNESCO and Vietnamese heritage regi ....Vietnam: heritage of a nation. This project will contribute to our understanding of Vietnam's cultural history and to protection of Vietnamese cultural heritage. The findings will be relevant to the work of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and national industry bodies and to professional organizations such the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The project may lead to the addition of new items to UNESCO and Vietnamese heritage registers (both tangible and intangible) for the benefit of the global community at large. The project will enhance Australia's reputation in the region as a producer of innovative approaches to heritage conservation and will strengthen the 'Asia literacy' of Australian heritage professionals. The project fits the ARC's research priority goal 'Understanding Our Region'.Read moreRead less
Remembering Places of Pain and Shame: Conservation of the Asia-Pacific Region's 'Difficult' Heritage of Imprisonment Sites. This project will contribute to theoretical and practical discourses relevant to Australia's cultural heritage industry. Its findings will have implications for the work of national and state industry bodies (Australian Heritage Council, Australian Dept of Environment and Heritage, Heritage Victoria) and professional organisations (Australia ICOMOS). The project findings ma ....Remembering Places of Pain and Shame: Conservation of the Asia-Pacific Region's 'Difficult' Heritage of Imprisonment Sites. This project will contribute to theoretical and practical discourses relevant to Australia's cultural heritage industry. Its findings will have implications for the work of national and state industry bodies (Australian Heritage Council, Australian Dept of Environment and Heritage, Heritage Victoria) and professional organisations (Australia ICOMOS). The project findings may lead to concrete results such as the addition of new places to international, national and state heritage registers and their protection for the benefit of the community at large. The project will also provide Early Career Researcher training and enhance possibilities for future research collaboration with heritage and tourism industry partners. Read moreRead less
Making Room for the Past: Determining significance in archaeological collections from historic sites. As a consequence of a recent rapid increase in archaeological excavations, Australian museums no longer have resources to store or conserve all archaeological material and require a systematic means of establishing collection management priorities. Through industry and academic consultation and case studies of particular collections, this research will develop criteria for assessing the research ....Making Room for the Past: Determining significance in archaeological collections from historic sites. As a consequence of a recent rapid increase in archaeological excavations, Australian museums no longer have resources to store or conserve all archaeological material and require a systematic means of establishing collection management priorities. Through industry and academic consultation and case studies of particular collections, this research will develop criteria for assessing the research potential or scientific significance of individual artefacts and entire collections from historic sites. Along with recognised measures of social and historical significance, the criteria will provide guidelines with which museums can develop national management strategies for this unique heritage.Read moreRead less
Remembering the Wars: Community Significance of Western Australian War Memorials. The project will provide an enriched understanding of war commemoration, community meanings, the design of war memorials and recommendations of practical strategies for their interpretation and conservation. The research from this project will add to the social understanding of our national war commemorative practices, the connections between community meaning and memorial design and the importance of war memorials ....Remembering the Wars: Community Significance of Western Australian War Memorials. The project will provide an enriched understanding of war commemoration, community meanings, the design of war memorials and recommendations of practical strategies for their interpretation and conservation. The research from this project will add to the social understanding of our national war commemorative practices, the connections between community meaning and memorial design and the importance of war memorials as instruments of citizenship. Results will be used to formulate a strategy to raise regional community awareness and regard for local war memorials through publications and through the direct action of local RSL Branches and community interest groups with a view to application on a national scale through the RSL. Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354680
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Contemporary Australian Identity, Memory and Heritage. This Network brings together key researchers and practitioners interested in the nature and evolution of Australian identity, memory and heritage, including heritage and museum professionals, and scholars in environmental studies, history, geography, cultural studies, Aboriginal studies, architecture, urban policy, archaeology and materials conservation. It comes under two Commonwealth Research Priority Areas: Environmentally Sustainable Au ....Contemporary Australian Identity, Memory and Heritage. This Network brings together key researchers and practitioners interested in the nature and evolution of Australian identity, memory and heritage, including heritage and museum professionals, and scholars in environmental studies, history, geography, cultural studies, Aboriginal studies, architecture, urban policy, archaeology and materials conservation. It comes under two Commonwealth Research Priority Areas: Environmentally Sustainable Australia, and Safeguarding Australia. The Network enables broader understanding of these Priority Areas by examining cultural and historical factors, providing the basis of more far-reaching and effective solutions to current problems. The Network facilitates sharing of information and research including specific collaborative projects in these research areas.Read moreRead less
The Silent Buildings of Willow Court: testing a new and innovative model for cultural heritage assessment. This pilot project is fuelled by an urgent need to assess the resources of the historic Willow Court Precinct, Australia's longest serving mental health facility (1827-2000). The 18-hectare Precinct, with its now abandoned buildings, is located in one of Australia's most economically deprived regions, Tasmania's Derwent River Valley. In June 2002 the Precinct was acquired by the local Counc ....The Silent Buildings of Willow Court: testing a new and innovative model for cultural heritage assessment. This pilot project is fuelled by an urgent need to assess the resources of the historic Willow Court Precinct, Australia's longest serving mental health facility (1827-2000). The 18-hectare Precinct, with its now abandoned buildings, is located in one of Australia's most economically deprived regions, Tasmania's Derwent River Valley. In June 2002 the Precinct was acquired by the local Council. At the same time, a theoretical model for measuring the condition and pressures on historic sites was being developed by the state government's Cultural Heritage Advisory Group. This project will use the Willow Court Precinct to test the model.Read moreRead less
Change and continuity: chronology, archaeology and art in the North Kimberley, Northwest Australia. The project will tackle some of the most basic questions concerning cultural continuity and change in Australia - in a region that has a long history of 'outside' contact, and a spectacular Aboriginal rock art sequence of world heritage significance. It will be undertaken in partnership with local indigenous communities, representative organisations and other stakeholders, and will provide a venue ....Change and continuity: chronology, archaeology and art in the North Kimberley, Northwest Australia. The project will tackle some of the most basic questions concerning cultural continuity and change in Australia - in a region that has a long history of 'outside' contact, and a spectacular Aboriginal rock art sequence of world heritage significance. It will be undertaken in partnership with local indigenous communities, representative organisations and other stakeholders, and will provide a venue for the training of indigenous and student participants. As well as high quality research outcomes, the project will produce information for strategic management of the Kimberley's unique cultural and natural heritageRead moreRead less