East Perth Power Station and the Electrification of Western Australia: Interpretation of an Historic Site. Over the past century electricity has transformed people's lives. This project investigates the history of electrification in Australia through an interpretation of the historic site of East Perth power station, Australia's first centralised power station and now WA's most significant redevelopment site. The interconnection of electricity's technologies with human lives is the focus of this ....East Perth Power Station and the Electrification of Western Australia: Interpretation of an Historic Site. Over the past century electricity has transformed people's lives. This project investigates the history of electrification in Australia through an interpretation of the historic site of East Perth power station, Australia's first centralised power station and now WA's most significant redevelopment site. The interconnection of electricity's technologies with human lives is the focus of this research. It will result in scholarly outputs in print and digital form and provide thematic and narrative materials for best-practice historic heritage interpretation. The research is supported by industry partners including stakeholders in the East Perth power station site, community and government organisations, and researchers from four universities.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
Layers of meaning: Historical studies in central Victoria's regional heritage 1834-1950. This project will provide a deeper understanding of a region that is central to understanding Australian history during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will also the strengthen the social fabric of regional communities as local inhabitants will be better able to identify with their region, in the process providing them with a sense of place within their community. There will also be economic ben ....Layers of meaning: Historical studies in central Victoria's regional heritage 1834-1950. This project will provide a deeper understanding of a region that is central to understanding Australian history during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It will also the strengthen the social fabric of regional communities as local inhabitants will be better able to identify with their region, in the process providing them with a sense of place within their community. There will also be economic benefits including the development of infrastructure and increased employment opportunities that will flow from the development of a cultural tourism plan. This will provide an integrated strategy for interpreting and promoting central Victoria at internatioanl, national, state, regional and local levels. Read moreRead less
An interdisciplinary framework for place-based research and its impact on the tourist industry. The project situates Australian research at the heart of an interdisciplinary inquiry into the understanding of place, and its socio-cultural analysis. It promotes national research on the interpretation of place in social analysis, and the publications produced respond to commercial needs for high-level interpretative place-based studies in the tourism industry. The generation of intellectually rigor ....An interdisciplinary framework for place-based research and its impact on the tourist industry. The project situates Australian research at the heart of an interdisciplinary inquiry into the understanding of place, and its socio-cultural analysis. It promotes national research on the interpretation of place in social analysis, and the publications produced respond to commercial needs for high-level interpretative place-based studies in the tourism industry. The generation of intellectually rigorous knowledge capital for outbound educational tour operators locates Australia at the intellectual cutting edge of scholarly content for educational tourism and for heritage organizations worldwide. The project is explicitly designed to provide early career training, with opportunities for research on the tourist industry.Read moreRead less
Family and Working Life in the North Eastern Goldfields: A Social History of Gwalia and Leonora (WA), 1890-1990. This project aims to supplement and use the results of a recent collection of oral history recordings along with rich documentary evidence and photographs to produce the first academic histories of the multi-cultural mining settlements of Gwalia and Leonora in the north-eastern goldfields of WA.These historical studies will focus on land use and the environment in the area, particular ....Family and Working Life in the North Eastern Goldfields: A Social History of Gwalia and Leonora (WA), 1890-1990. This project aims to supplement and use the results of a recent collection of oral history recordings along with rich documentary evidence and photographs to produce the first academic histories of the multi-cultural mining settlements of Gwalia and Leonora in the north-eastern goldfields of WA.These historical studies will focus on land use and the environment in the area, particularly the pastoral industry. The results will complement and build upon the significant community effort to preserve the heritage of Gwalia; will provide local resources to enhance the tourism potential of this remote area; and develop links with the main migrant-sending area in Bergamo, Italy.Read moreRead less
Rediscovering historical contributions in environmental planning: Australia's Town Planning Associations. This study will provide an alternative history of Australian urban planning that will document at a national level how non-government organisations contributed positively and creatively to the evolution of modern environmental planning from the 20th century. It will support the strengthening of Australia's social and economic fabric by discovering through original historical research how pre ....Rediscovering historical contributions in environmental planning: Australia's Town Planning Associations. This study will provide an alternative history of Australian urban planning that will document at a national level how non-government organisations contributed positively and creatively to the evolution of modern environmental planning from the 20th century. It will support the strengthening of Australia's social and economic fabric by discovering through original historical research how previous generations have productively and creatively contributed to decisions affecting general environmental well-being. It will contribute an historical perspective to current debates on the need for more collaborative planning.Read moreRead less
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
HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE: A STUDY OF THE PETER LALOR HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE, 1947-2004. This project is a comprehensive study of an innovative urban housing development in northern Melbourne. Formed by ex-servicemen who shared a vision of a better future for themselves and their families in post-war Australia, the Peter Lalor Housing Co-operative brought together veterans, the organised labour movement and government in a constructive partnership. The history of the Lalor Co-op and the men and women w ....HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE: A STUDY OF THE PETER LALOR HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE, 1947-2004. This project is a comprehensive study of an innovative urban housing development in northern Melbourne. Formed by ex-servicemen who shared a vision of a better future for themselves and their families in post-war Australia, the Peter Lalor Housing Co-operative brought together veterans, the organised labour movement and government in a constructive partnership. The history of the Lalor Co-op and the men and women who forged a suburb on farmland in the Shire of Whittlesea has been virtually ignored by historians and the significance this important social experiment has been largely lost. It is a story that deserves to be rescued.Read moreRead less
The search for family: A history of adoption in Australia. How has Australia cared for its children? This study will fill a significant gap in the nation's self-understanding by explaining the historical factors driving the changing place, meaning and significance of adoption. Whilst participants and practitioners debate its social worth, the policy pendulum is swinging back to an acceptance of adoption. Australian society is in urgent need of an open hearing of the contesting voices, and a bala ....The search for family: A history of adoption in Australia. How has Australia cared for its children? This study will fill a significant gap in the nation's self-understanding by explaining the historical factors driving the changing place, meaning and significance of adoption. Whilst participants and practitioners debate its social worth, the policy pendulum is swinging back to an acceptance of adoption. Australian society is in urgent need of an open hearing of the contesting voices, and a balanced account of the historical impact of adoption. Our project promises both, thus 'understanding and strengthening (a) key element of Australia's social fabric' - the family.Read moreRead less
Beijing: China's Heritage and the City as Spectacle. This project will provide the major national focus for trans-historical research on China, that is research that is grounded in traditional Sinological skills but that addresses some of the most important and long-term issues of Chinese history, culture and society and their contemporary relevance in North-east Asia and the Asia Pacific. It will provide a national hub for the focused study of late-traditional China and its contemporary relevan ....Beijing: China's Heritage and the City as Spectacle. This project will provide the major national focus for trans-historical research on China, that is research that is grounded in traditional Sinological skills but that addresses some of the most important and long-term issues of Chinese history, culture and society and their contemporary relevance in North-east Asia and the Asia Pacific. It will provide a national hub for the focused study of late-traditional China and its contemporary relevance to Australia.
This project through publications and an innovative web-presence will provide a unique opportunity for a multifaceted understanding of the underpinnings of the cultural heft that China will increasingly demonstrate in the years to come.Read moreRead less