The Monash University Museum of Computing History: Ten Years On - History of Computing: Learning from the Past - page 216

The Monash University Museum of Computing History:
Ten Years On
A. Barbara Ainsworth, Chris Avram, and Judithe Sheard
Faculty of Information Technology
Monash University
{Barbara.Ainsworth,Chris.Avram,Judy.Sheard}
@infotech.monash.edu.au
Abstract. The Monash Museum of Computing History was established at
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia in 2001. This university museum has
a growing collection of early computer equipment and a permanent exhibition
tracing the development of computing technology within an Australian context
and particularly related to computing at Monash University. The Museum has
been evolving since its inception with greater definition of its collection policy,
defined collection management and its role as a repository for computing his-
tory and the dissemination of its research. This paper gives an overview of the
origins of the Museum, current activities and future directions.
Keywords: history of computing, computing museum.
1 Introduction
The Monash Museum of Computing History (MMoCH) is located at the Caulfield
campus of Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. The Museum is an initiative of
the Faculty of Information Technology and combines a physical exhibition, a collec-
tion of original material and research activities. It was started in 2001 with a brief to
collect original computing material around the University and develop an exhibition.
The role of the Museum has expanded with continued collecting and research but we
are currently exploring new methods of presenting this information to both students
and other interested users through public programs. It is appropriate to provide a re-
view of the first ten years surveying the origins of the Museum, its collection and
research activities, exhibition program and public programs as well as discussing the
future directions now in planning. This paper gives an overview of the origins of the
Museum, current activities and future directions.
1.1 Background of Museum
The concept of a museum at Monash University was inspired by a speech by Max
Burnet to staff from the Faculty of Information Technology in 2001. Max Burnet is
well known in Australian computing history research as a major collector of early
computer material and he is an authority on the development of computing in Austra-
lia. His speech highlighted the rapid change in computer technology and the lack of