The Monash University Museum of Computing History: Ten Years On - History of Computing: Learning from the Past - page 217

preservation of early material as most institutions replace old technology on a regular
basis. Older equipment was generally seen as a nuisance, something occupying valu-
able space and disposable. Dr Judithe Sheard, Senior Lecturer in the Caulfield School
of Information Technology, heard Max's speech and felt the significance of older
equipment used at Monash University should not be lost. She approached the Faculty
and gained permission to develop a museum that would preserve this early technology
and produce a physical display.
There have been computing activities at Monash University and other institutions
that have amalgamated with the University since the early 1960s 1 . The University cre-
ated the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, now called the Faculty of
Information Technology, in 1990 2 . Remnants of past installations and equipment were
spread across different departments and locations. The amalgamation of the separate
teaching institutions led to the existence of a number of historical computing installa-
tions and equipment being used at the different schools and departments. Gradually a
large variety of objects, documents and photographs were assembled and a display was
established in October 2001 at the Caulfield campus. This was the first stage of the
Museum and the Museum has since continued to collect material and improve its physi-
cal display as well as develop its museological practices.
Dr Sheard continues her involvement as Director and Sarah Rood, who was work-
ing for the Faculty, was seconded to work on the Museum relocation during 2004 and
2005. Together they produced the current major permanent exhibition. An advisory
committee was established to give both computing and museum advice. In late 2006
Barbara Ainsworth took up the position of part-time Curator and started formally
cataloguing the collection with supportive research. Chris Avram has been an Honor-
ary Consultant since the beginning of the project. Several other academic staff con-
tinue to provide research and practical assistance when required. Max Burnet has
maintained his connection with the Museum, providing both advice and loan material.
Museum personnel have continued to develop both the Museum's practices and exhi-
bitions as well as produce supportive activities and publications.
The Museum has received ongoing funding for collection management and exhibi-
tion development. Professor Ron Weber, Dean of the Faculty, has been generous in
his continuing interest in this project.
1.2 Purpose of the Museum
In its original inception, the Museum was established to collect and preserve super-
seded computing material around Monash University and produce a small didactic
exhibition. Museum staff then developed a number of policies to clarify the role of the
Museum beyond its initial aims and give an explicit set of objectives as well as a
Collection Policy. This set of objectives is necessary to define the Museum's purpose
and help shape the direction of future developments and ongoing museum practices. It
1 Monash University started at the Clayton campus with later amalgamations adding several
different campus locations. For a brief history see the Interactive pictorial timeline of Monash
University [1].
2 The Faculty of Information Technology represents the current culmination of the gradual
development of computing studies at Monash University. Rood gives a summary of these
events in her Introduction [2].