Media Release
September 29 2008
New database preserves the lives of SA architects
The
Department for Environment and
Heritage (DEH), along with UniSA's
Architecture Museum, are pleased to announce the launch of the
Architects of South Australia online database.
Designed to document the professional lives and careers of some of the state’s most important architects from settlement to the present day, the database will provide invaluable information to future generations.
The database has been developed with a variety of potential academic, industry and community end-users in mind, including heritage consultants, academics, students, professional and family historians and the general public.
Ms Raina Nechvoglod, Manager of DEH’s Heritage Branch, said the tool was an important part of preserving South Australia’s built heritage.
“This sort of research helps to build a bank of knowledge that we can draw on to better understand our unique heritage places, which in turn reminds and encourages us to keep them safe,” she said.
“Another bonus is that this information can be easily accessed via the internet.”
According to Dr Christine Garnaut, Director of UniSA's Architecture Museum and project leader, the Architects of South Australia database is an important milestone in the development of research infrastructure to support scholarly study of South Australian and Australian architectural history.
“The online database is a 'living' research tool that can be updated as new information becomes available on the professional lives and contributions of South Australian architects,” she said.
Architects such as Edmund Wright and Thomas Frost from the colonial era, through to 20th century figures such as F. Kenneth Milne and Jack McConnell are represented.
“Each of the individual entries provides information about buildings designed by the architects and includes a list of sources that offers a scholarly starting point for further research,” Dr Garnaut said.
“The entries not only help our understanding of individual contributions but also add to our knowledge of buildings that are part of our everyday lives, our State's history and built environment heritage.”
Director of JPE, Mr Adrian Evans, whose practice is linked to the colony’s earliest architects, will launch the website at 4pm, Monday 29 September at UniSA’s Bradley Forum. The website address is www.architectsdatabase.unisa.edu.au
Contacts for interview
- Dr Christine Garnaut office (08) 8302 0204 email christine.garnaut@unisa.edu.au
Media contact
- Vincent Ciccarello office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email vincent.ciccarello@unisa.edu.au
-
Sarah Diekman (DEH) office (08) 8204 2123 mobile 0423 827 613