Deakin University was commissioned in March 2016 by the Victorian Government Department of Enviro... more Deakin University was commissioned in March 2016 by the Victorian Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to develop a research report that would support DELWP’s work on the Moolap Coastal Strategic Framework Plan (Moolap Plan). The Moolap Plan examines possibilities for future land uses for the study area which includes the site of Alcoa’s former operations at Point Henry and the former Cheetham Saltworks sites in Moolap, a suburb on the Eastern outskirts of the Geelong CBD, Australia. The study area includes more than 1,200 hectares of largely industrial and coastal land. It is a complex site that presents a host of challenges and opportunities for Geelong and the State. The brief was to identify a range of brownfield redevelopment case studies that demonstrate attributes that may inform future land use options for the subject site of the Moolap Plan. The case studies consider a range of environmental, economic and social issues related to the redevelopment of saltpans, low-lying land and/or contaminated brownfield sites, and include examples of alternative land uses ranging from exemplary low-impact ecological scenarios through to progressive or iconic urban renewal and regeneration schemes. The primary purpose of these case studies is to develop a high-level, conceptual understanding of a broad range of potential land use options applicable to the subject site, as opposed to providing a deep analysis of each individual scenario. Each case study provides an outline of the particular project’s context, drivers, assets, issues, constraints, opportunities and outcomes. This research aims to learn from the experience of international brownfield redevelopments to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with various land use scenarios to inform the development of a strategic framework for the subject site in Moolap.
There is a broad range of existing liveability indices that have contributed to an increased glob... more There is a broad range of existing liveability indices that have contributed to an increased global awareness of the many factors that influence the liveability of a city. Each index has been developed for targeted audiences to suit a particular purpose. While many of these indices are robust in their assessments, they all tell different stories of the cities they seek to measure due to different ways of defining and measuring liveability. However, these various indices all share a common gap; none capture the voice of the residents from the cities they seek to index. The Melbourne Lovability Index is a project initiated by participants of the Future Focus Group, a business leadership program led by the Committee for Melbourne, to start to address this gap for the city of Melbourne. In August, 2015, an online pilot survey was conducted by the Future Focus Group, aimed at capturing the perspectives of a broad cross-section of Melbourne residents to understand what they love most about where they live. The survey, designed in collaboration with Culture Amp, reflected the themes included in the Economist Intelligence Unit Index, namely: Culture and Environment, Employment, Stability, Healthcare, Education, and Infrastructure. These themes were measured through a series of questions that asked Melburnians to rate their response on a scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The category of Lovability was also developed which consisted of both rated and open-ended questions. Eight qualitative questions were designed by Deakin University researchers to start to tap into people’s emotional connections with the places they live in. The findings of this pilot survey are the primary focus of this report.
In early 2015 Barwon Water received State government funding to rationalise and renovate its vari... more In early 2015 Barwon Water received State government funding to rationalise and renovate its various Geelong-based administrative offices into one complex. Integral to the renovations is a new green-star retrofit of the existing Ryrie Street complex by GHD Woodhead. The project will consolidate all of Barwon Water’s offices onto one site, increase floor space, provide a new ‘green’ atrium, and adopt an open plan layout. Having set a new strategic direction, Barwon Water is now undergoing a wholesale cultural and operational change in order to realise these strategic objectives. Aspirations for workplace design have been identified as: environmentally sustainable; foster innovation and creativity; establish connections; improve communication and collaboration; provide efficient space for effective work; flexibility over time; welcoming and connected to the community; healthy; and, up to date technology. This paper investigates Barwon Water staff perceptions and apprehensions of this prospective consolidation, particularly the proposed open plan office environment. While most research in this topic is informed by an immediate pre-design workshop of staff needs, this research provides a longitudinal perspective of human perceptions about work place environment change and a review of how changes in office environment synergistically align to architectural responses and changes in corporate strategies.
Market Square was a public reserve located in the centre of the Victorian regional city of Geelon... more Market Square was a public reserve located in the centre of the Victorian regional city of Geelong. It was established by Governor Sir George Gipps during the initial surveying of the area in 1838. The square later became a produce market, before being progressively built upon for public and commercial purposes. Today the modern Market Square Shopping Centre occupies a substantial portion of the original site. Opened in 1985 by the City of Geelong, the complex initially drew high rental incomes for the Council. However by the early 1990s revenue began to decline after the collapse of the Pyramid Building Society and competition from the new Bay City Plaza shopping centre (now Westfield) that was built directly opposite. In 1993 the city council decided to sell the complex. Today it remains privately owned and while it adjoins the Little Malop Street Mall which was also part of the original public square, its connection with the surrounding urban environment is poor.
The introverted architectural nature of Geelong’s two large retail shopping complexes has significantly altered the city’s spatial dynamic. The traditional intimate urban structure and streetscape has been fragmented. This has led to a deterioration of the city’s social cohesion, sense of place and economic prosperity. This paper chronicles the myriad errors of judgement by the institution of local government that have contributed to this situation. Heeding past mistakes, it explores ways in which the Council might work with private landowners to improve the permeability of the city’s public urban spaces and internalised retail centres for improved use, integration, functionality and resilience. Achieving a shared culture of concern for the city’s urban fabric presents some significant challenges. How might ‘big box’ shopping centres be reconsidered to make a positive contribution to the city’s urban spatial network while remaining commercially viable? The built environment has an important role to play in addressing the problem by presenting opportunities for these new urban institutions to also benefit from stronger connections between the public and private realm.
Our research is located in the context of the ‘sea change’ phenomenon, which is fundamentally cha... more Our research is located in the context of the ‘sea change’ phenomenon, which is fundamentally changing coastal towns around Australia. Barbara Norman, a past national president of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), vividly summed up the current struggle occurring in many of Australia’s coastal regions when she wrote: “the Australian coastline is littered with exhausted communities battling to save the character and environment of their townships” (Norman, 2008). The Australian National Sea Change Taskforce was established in 2004, as a response to these wider community and professional concerns, and seeks “to ensure that coastal development is managed with a focus on the sustainability of coastal communities and the coastal environment”. Gurran et al. (2006) conclude that more detailed research is needed to develop new responses to coastal development, particularly in terms of promoting community wellbeing, strengthening social cohesion, avoiding socio-economic and socio-spatial polarisation and preserving sense of place.
This paper considers the theoretical frameworks of (i) place and identity and (ii) community activism and place, before examining a number of specific case studies. We acknowledge that the efforts of ordinary people are vital to community and place but are seldom recognised or celebrated. Our focus is upon the twin historic coastal townships of Sorrento and Queenscliff, located either side of Port Phillip Heads, in Victoria, Australia. Four local community organisations, the Queenscliffe Community Association (QCA), the Queenscliff Historical Museum (QHM), the Nepean Historical Society (NHS) and the Nepean Conservation Group (NCG) provide diverse case studies for our analysis, highlighting different aspects of culture and place identity. The case studies demonstrate that communities possess local knowledge that must be respected. In three out of four case studies this is ignored in top-down decision-making. Local communities participate both proactively and reactively in the planning process to change the outcomes of proposed developments in order to achieve a result mindful of a holistic approach to place, and respectful of the historical roots of the present. It is critical that participation and community consultation be meaningful, not just a perfunctory process.
UHPH 2014 : Landscapes and Ecologies of Urban and Planning History : Proceedings of the 12th Australasian Urban History Planning History Conference , Feb 2014
Change has engulfed the coastal fringe of Australia. In balancing the built and natural environme... more Change has engulfed the coastal fringe of Australia. In balancing the built and natural environment, community needs, cultural significance and economic sustainability, planners aim to improve quality of life and create vibrant communities. Yet managing place change, particularly in coastal areas, is fraught with tensions. Most planning discussions about the rapidity of change, the impact of the Sea Change process and increased development have focused upon the extensiveness of residential expansion and the housing styles that challenge the essence of the character of these coastal towns. Character and sense of place qualities are the very reasons that sea changers desire to engage with and reside within these communities. One aspect missing from this discussion and analysis is the impact that large-scale transformations of iconic buildings are having upon these places. This paper examines the consequences that major commercial development projects have upon the communities of Sorrento and Queenscliff. It considers changes (proposed or realised) to four landmark historic hotels: The Koonya and Continental in Sorrento; and the Ozone and Vue Grand in Queenscliff. This paper focuses on issues of planning, social engagement and community debate.
Heritage 2014: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, Volume 1, Jul 2014
Palmer et al. (1997) identified four governing principles underlying sustainable development from... more Palmer et al. (1997) identified four governing principles underlying sustainable development from the sustainability literature. These were: futurity, environment, equity and participation. How do these principles relate to heritage and its conservation? This paper critically considers how the above framework can be used to assess the changes and challenges occurring in the historic town of Queenscliff in southern Victoria, Australia. The town was initially a settlement site for strategic reasons and soon became a tourist destination for the early settlers in Melbourne, the state’s capital city. In their urban conservation study of the town, Allom et al. (1994) identified over 90 historic and/or heritage buildings, ranging from grand hotels to simple settler cottages. These historic buildings, together with the town’s unique topographical and environmental surroundings, have drawn growing numbers of tourists to the town, which has become increasingly reliant on this sector for its economic survival. Pressure on the heritage values of the town has increased significantly over the last twenty years from development proposals. In this paper, specific examples are used to illustrate how a failure to see sustainable development in a holistic way has compromised the town’s long term future.
AHRC 2013 : 7th Australasian Housing Researchers' Conference : Housing the needs of diverse populations.
Eighty per cent of Australians now live within 50 kilometres of the coast.1 While most of the pop... more Eighty per cent of Australians now live within 50 kilometres of the coast.1 While most of the population remains concentrated in the large capital cities, some people have chosen small coastal towns as their permanent and or second-home destination. Greater mobility and income has increased the feasibility and attractiveness of living in these once overlooked and forgotten towns. The arrival of these new residents has changed the towns in both positive and negative ways. Declining traditional industries have been replaced by tourism and service sectors, providing a much-needed economic revival. The expectations of new residents, both permanent and non-permanent, however, have also brought challenges to the towns. Metropolitan value systems sometimes impact negatively on the unique sense of place and neighbourhood character of these towns. This paper presents both quantitative and qualitative evidence of the impact on character and sense of place in two historic coastal towns, Queenscliff and Sorrento, in southern Victoria. Census data shows how employment and the number of permanent residents have changed radically over the last 50-60 years, altering the social fabric of the towns. An analysis of the building footprint over a similar timeframe shows a growth in building size as larger houses become more common, and a growth in planning appeals for the towns is indicative of a clash of expectations between the council, long-time and new residents. While these indicators demonstrate the impact on the character of the towns as defined by their built environment, some oral accounts of local residents are used to show the emotional impact of these changes on the traditional sense of place associated with these towns. Some specific examples of changes to the built environment are provided to demonstrate that local planning schemes are not always successful in protecting neighbourhood character and that further measures are required in order to safeguard the uniqueness of coastal towns from the negative aspects of development.
The philosophy and architecture of Rudolf Steiner both aim to give formal expression to his esote... more The philosophy and architecture of Rudolf Steiner both aim to give formal expression to his esoteric worldview, however, the means of articulating this worldview fundamentally differ within each discipline. Philosophy and architecture are separated by both process and product, and while an interdisciplinary reading of Steiner’s work does make certain connections between them evident, the incorporeal nature of thinking and the physical reality of building inevitably require different skills of their author, as well as different standards by which to assess them. Although he had no formal training as an architect, Steiner believed that his system of Anthroposophy provided a conceptual framework that would inspire a new style of modern architecture imbued with a spiritual dimension. As such, architecture provided Steiner with a means of visually expressing what words could not, and was therefore a necessary and important part of his philosophical pursuit. This paper explores the tension that exists between Steiner’s philosophy and architecture in its translation from theoretical ideas into built form. Steiner’s approach to architectural design was less concerned with the methods and techniques of the craft than with achieving what he saw as architecture’s true purpose - namely to give voice to the inner spiritual content of the work. However, in order to achieve this ultimate goal, a certain level of architectural competence is required. Therefore, Steiner’s ability as an architect to articulate such lofty ideals will also be assessed. Conceived on the edge of theory and practice, Steiner’s work serves to demonstrate the richness and depth that such an approach has to offer the field of architecture.
Empathy and abstraction were dominant themes in nineteenth century German aesthetics that played ... more Empathy and abstraction were dominant themes in nineteenth century German aesthetics that played a major role in shaping the theoretical objectives of artists and architects at the turn of the twentieth century. These concepts represented a significant shift from the classical idea of imitating nature and began to offer a new way of understanding the relationship between nature, art and architecture. Since 1907, when Wilhelm Worringer published his highly influential doctoral dissertation Abstraction and Empathy, there has been a general tendency to explicate these two concepts as strictly antithetical. The theory of empathy has espoused the oneness of nature, while abstraction has been seen as a withdrawal from nature. This perception that empathy and abstraction respond to opposing relationships between human beings and the external world has often led to interpretations of art and architecture that emphasise the role of one or the other, failing to recognise that each contains an intimation of the other. An alternative perspective to this seemingly antithetical outlook can be revealed however in the work of Austrian philosopher, Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Steiner broke down the polarity between empathy and abstraction, to reveal a complimentary relationship that looked to nature as its mentor. Steiner’s concept of nature was defined in anthroposophical terms that rejected the conventional materialistic understanding of nature and instead acknowledged the reality of a spiritual dimension. This notion captured the imagination of avant-garde artists and architects such as Wassily Kandinsky and Erich Mendelsohn, hence making Steiner a significant figure in the growth and dispersal of Expressionist ideals.
In today’s secular society, occult conceptions of architecture may seem somewhat anachronistic, b... more In today’s secular society, occult conceptions of architecture may seem somewhat anachronistic, but at the turn of the twentieth century the bourgeoisie, alongside society’s artistic and intellectual elite, were enthusiastically embracing a myriad of esoteric doctrines and mystical impulses. One of the most prominent and enduring examples of this cultural phenomenon is to be found in Rudolf Steiner’s quasi-philosophical system of Anthroposophy. As a path of spiritual development based on ancient mysteries of the occult, Anthroposophy offered people the belief that there existed a way out of the chaos and meaninglessness of modern industrialised society. Steiner used the medium of architecture as a way of repackaging the occult’s venerable secrets into a tangible, material form that made their hidden message more readily accessible to his contemporary audience. While he was striving towards creating a totally new architectural language appropriate to the modern age, he perceived architectural style as an evolutionary process that revealed its spiritual content in a particular way in every epoch. As such, Steiner made free use of historical and mythological precedents as archetypal references in his work, thus giving his architecture a genealogy that has, until now, remained largely undefined. By investigating Steiner’s indebtedness to ancient temples and the architecture of the baroque, a greater understanding of his architectural heritage is made possible, which not only helps to locate him within the cultural milieu of his day, but also within the broader context of architectural history. A spiritual thread runs through this history that demonstrates that Steiner’s architecture is not as idiosyncratic as it may initially seem, though whether his work represents an original step forward in the development of modern architecture, or is merely a hangover of nineteenth century eclecticism, must also be considered in order to determine the architectural value of Steiner’s esoteric ideas.
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) saw architectural creation as a means of apprehending our place in the... more Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) saw architectural creation as a means of apprehending our place in the cosmos and his esoteric system of Anthroposophy aimed to demonstrate the correspondence between the spiritual and material worlds. Much of the literature available on Steiner tends to polarize him as either a creative genius or eccentric oddity, with architectural historians generally tending to adopt the latter view. Despite the fact that Steiner’s architectural conceptions have remained marginal, the highly acclaimed works of many Anthroposophically inspired architects suggest that his gnostic perceptions may have something worthwhile to offer contemporary architecture.
Cutural Ecology: New Approaches to Culture, Architecture and Ecology. Edited by Mirjana Lozanovska, 2013
According to Rudolf Steiner, within the sensory world there exists a spiritual world that remains... more According to Rudolf Steiner, within the sensory world there exists a spiritual world that remains concealed from our consciousness to the extent that our perception is limited to our senses and sense bound thinking. He argued that ignorance of this super-sensible realm was the result of a limited understanding of the senses. Rather than the usual five senses, Steiner differentiated twelve sense functions through which, he believed, human beings were capable of perceiving subtle dimensions of life beyond the immediately apparent physical realm of being. His theory of the senses elucidated the potentiality for an understanding of the way the spiritual world creates its image in the physical world and he saw artistic activity as a means of making this hidden union manifest. As such, Steiner advocated a multi-sensory architecture that articulated its spiritual presence experientially through an active engagement with its forms, colours, textures, light and sound. However, due to the esoteric overtones of Steiner’s writing, his theory of the senses has received very little scholarly attention, particularly in relation to its relevance to architectural creation. This paper aims to peel back the layers of jargon and mysticism that Steiner employed in order to reveal how his unique insights into the nature of the senses informed his architectural products. Such an approach will provide a more comprehensive understanding of Steiner’s distinctive architectural forms as well as the significant philosophical ideas that inform them.
… Construction Symposium 2011: Technics, memory and …, Jan 1, 2012
On New Years Eve, 1922, the massive double-domed timber structure of Rudolf Steiner’s First Goeth... more On New Years Eve, 1922, the massive double-domed timber structure of Rudolf Steiner’s First Goetheanum was engulfed in flames and reduced to ashes. In an effort to make his spiritual teachings accessible to all people through the medium of architecture, Steiner had dedicated ten years to the project. Growing hostility towards his occult philosophy however, pointed to arson as the probable cause of the blaze. Not to be defeated, Steiner embarked upon a new design for a second Goetheanum that endeavoured to fulfil the same aim as its predecessor but on an even grander scale. Yet despite being borne out of the same ideational basis, the architectural expression of the second building was vastly different from the first. This paper examines these differences and investigates how the methods Steiner used to create his architecture influenced the final architectural products. Steiner recognised drawing as a creative instrument that could enrich the conceptual potential of his theoretical work, however, with no formal training as an architect and limited drawing ability, this exchange was somewhat limited. The ambiguity of Steiner’s drawings is countered to some extent though by the maquettes and models he produced, which help negotiate the gap between the immaterial idea and the material object. The shared three-dimensional nature of model making and architecture allowed Steiner a more direct means of articulating and mediating his esoteric ideas in built form than the two-dimensional nature of drawing, particularly given the undulating organic forms he enthusiastically employed. Nevertheless, models are still a form of architectural abstraction capable of leaving their own trace on the built work and the distinctive character of Steiner’s non-conventional models serve to illustrate this point. A comparison between Steiner’s models and the buildings themselves reveal the intimate relationship between process and product that exists in his work. While the loss of the first Goetheanum came as a crushing blow to Steiner, its destruction and reconstruction offered him a unique opportunity to reconsider aspects of the design that may have been flawed in the first instance – a situation he embraced unequivocally. What images recurred in his work and why? How did his architecture evolve? This essay will demonstrate how paper and plasticine were utilised in a highly individualised manner by Steiner as a bridge between idea and artefact, to allow new architectural forms to rise from the ashes and produce one of the twentieth century’s most extraordinary buildings.
Talented young Deakin researchers Fiona Gray and Chris Hindson are the winners of the Neil Archbo... more Talented young Deakin researchers Fiona Gray and Chris Hindson are the winners of the Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Awards and Medals for 2010.
The award caps off a successful month for Fiona Gray – she took the people’s prize at Deakin University’s inaugural Three-Minute Thesis competition.
Fiona’s research focuses on the architecture of Rudolf Steiner, seeking to determine whether he was an occult crank or an architectural mastermind.
Chris Hindson will use his travel award for an extended stay at the University of Queensland.
Chris was recently accredited with an astonishing breakthrough in the area of chemiluminescence, elucidating for the first time in 100 years the light-producing reaction between the permanganate ion and both organic and inorganic substrates.
Deakin University’s Higher Degrees by ResearchExecutive Officer, Mr Grant Michie, said that in the three years it had been running, the Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Award had proven a great success.
“I first want to congratulate Fiona and Chris,” he said. “They are both worthy recipients of the award.
“When I look at what they have achieved since gaining the award, there is clear evidence that it has boosted the research careers of previous winners Dr Alison Carver, Ben Allardyce, Liza John and Sally Percival Wood.”
The Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Awards and Medals honour the memory of Professor Neil Archbold, one of Deakin’s finest researchers.
Professor Archbold was actively involved in all facets of research and research training at Deakin.
He was Professor and Personal Chair in Palaeontology at the School of Ecology and Environment and the coordinator of Earth Sciences at Deakin University.
He was also the author of 160 scholarly publications, was awarded Australian Research Council grants of over $1m and was a long-standing member of the Royal Society of Victoria and that body’s president from 2001 to 2004.
From 2003 until his death in 2005, he was the Chair of the University’s Higher Degrees by Research Committee.
“Professor Archbold was not just a wonderful researcher, he was universally loved,”?Grant Michie said.
“His death in 2005 was a tremendous loss for Deakin and for his many, many friends around the world.
“This travel award and medal is keeping his name alive. It is also demonstrably doing something Neil himself would have loved to see, helping young researchers get out into the world.”
Deakin University was commissioned in March 2016 by the Victorian Government Department of Enviro... more Deakin University was commissioned in March 2016 by the Victorian Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to develop a research report that would support DELWP’s work on the Moolap Coastal Strategic Framework Plan (Moolap Plan). The Moolap Plan examines possibilities for future land uses for the study area which includes the site of Alcoa’s former operations at Point Henry and the former Cheetham Saltworks sites in Moolap, a suburb on the Eastern outskirts of the Geelong CBD, Australia. The study area includes more than 1,200 hectares of largely industrial and coastal land. It is a complex site that presents a host of challenges and opportunities for Geelong and the State. The brief was to identify a range of brownfield redevelopment case studies that demonstrate attributes that may inform future land use options for the subject site of the Moolap Plan. The case studies consider a range of environmental, economic and social issues related to the redevelopment of saltpans, low-lying land and/or contaminated brownfield sites, and include examples of alternative land uses ranging from exemplary low-impact ecological scenarios through to progressive or iconic urban renewal and regeneration schemes. The primary purpose of these case studies is to develop a high-level, conceptual understanding of a broad range of potential land use options applicable to the subject site, as opposed to providing a deep analysis of each individual scenario. Each case study provides an outline of the particular project’s context, drivers, assets, issues, constraints, opportunities and outcomes. This research aims to learn from the experience of international brownfield redevelopments to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with various land use scenarios to inform the development of a strategic framework for the subject site in Moolap.
There is a broad range of existing liveability indices that have contributed to an increased glob... more There is a broad range of existing liveability indices that have contributed to an increased global awareness of the many factors that influence the liveability of a city. Each index has been developed for targeted audiences to suit a particular purpose. While many of these indices are robust in their assessments, they all tell different stories of the cities they seek to measure due to different ways of defining and measuring liveability. However, these various indices all share a common gap; none capture the voice of the residents from the cities they seek to index. The Melbourne Lovability Index is a project initiated by participants of the Future Focus Group, a business leadership program led by the Committee for Melbourne, to start to address this gap for the city of Melbourne. In August, 2015, an online pilot survey was conducted by the Future Focus Group, aimed at capturing the perspectives of a broad cross-section of Melbourne residents to understand what they love most about where they live. The survey, designed in collaboration with Culture Amp, reflected the themes included in the Economist Intelligence Unit Index, namely: Culture and Environment, Employment, Stability, Healthcare, Education, and Infrastructure. These themes were measured through a series of questions that asked Melburnians to rate their response on a scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The category of Lovability was also developed which consisted of both rated and open-ended questions. Eight qualitative questions were designed by Deakin University researchers to start to tap into people’s emotional connections with the places they live in. The findings of this pilot survey are the primary focus of this report.
In early 2015 Barwon Water received State government funding to rationalise and renovate its vari... more In early 2015 Barwon Water received State government funding to rationalise and renovate its various Geelong-based administrative offices into one complex. Integral to the renovations is a new green-star retrofit of the existing Ryrie Street complex by GHD Woodhead. The project will consolidate all of Barwon Water’s offices onto one site, increase floor space, provide a new ‘green’ atrium, and adopt an open plan layout. Having set a new strategic direction, Barwon Water is now undergoing a wholesale cultural and operational change in order to realise these strategic objectives. Aspirations for workplace design have been identified as: environmentally sustainable; foster innovation and creativity; establish connections; improve communication and collaboration; provide efficient space for effective work; flexibility over time; welcoming and connected to the community; healthy; and, up to date technology. This paper investigates Barwon Water staff perceptions and apprehensions of this prospective consolidation, particularly the proposed open plan office environment. While most research in this topic is informed by an immediate pre-design workshop of staff needs, this research provides a longitudinal perspective of human perceptions about work place environment change and a review of how changes in office environment synergistically align to architectural responses and changes in corporate strategies.
Market Square was a public reserve located in the centre of the Victorian regional city of Geelon... more Market Square was a public reserve located in the centre of the Victorian regional city of Geelong. It was established by Governor Sir George Gipps during the initial surveying of the area in 1838. The square later became a produce market, before being progressively built upon for public and commercial purposes. Today the modern Market Square Shopping Centre occupies a substantial portion of the original site. Opened in 1985 by the City of Geelong, the complex initially drew high rental incomes for the Council. However by the early 1990s revenue began to decline after the collapse of the Pyramid Building Society and competition from the new Bay City Plaza shopping centre (now Westfield) that was built directly opposite. In 1993 the city council decided to sell the complex. Today it remains privately owned and while it adjoins the Little Malop Street Mall which was also part of the original public square, its connection with the surrounding urban environment is poor.
The introverted architectural nature of Geelong’s two large retail shopping complexes has significantly altered the city’s spatial dynamic. The traditional intimate urban structure and streetscape has been fragmented. This has led to a deterioration of the city’s social cohesion, sense of place and economic prosperity. This paper chronicles the myriad errors of judgement by the institution of local government that have contributed to this situation. Heeding past mistakes, it explores ways in which the Council might work with private landowners to improve the permeability of the city’s public urban spaces and internalised retail centres for improved use, integration, functionality and resilience. Achieving a shared culture of concern for the city’s urban fabric presents some significant challenges. How might ‘big box’ shopping centres be reconsidered to make a positive contribution to the city’s urban spatial network while remaining commercially viable? The built environment has an important role to play in addressing the problem by presenting opportunities for these new urban institutions to also benefit from stronger connections between the public and private realm.
Our research is located in the context of the ‘sea change’ phenomenon, which is fundamentally cha... more Our research is located in the context of the ‘sea change’ phenomenon, which is fundamentally changing coastal towns around Australia. Barbara Norman, a past national president of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), vividly summed up the current struggle occurring in many of Australia’s coastal regions when she wrote: “the Australian coastline is littered with exhausted communities battling to save the character and environment of their townships” (Norman, 2008). The Australian National Sea Change Taskforce was established in 2004, as a response to these wider community and professional concerns, and seeks “to ensure that coastal development is managed with a focus on the sustainability of coastal communities and the coastal environment”. Gurran et al. (2006) conclude that more detailed research is needed to develop new responses to coastal development, particularly in terms of promoting community wellbeing, strengthening social cohesion, avoiding socio-economic and socio-spatial polarisation and preserving sense of place.
This paper considers the theoretical frameworks of (i) place and identity and (ii) community activism and place, before examining a number of specific case studies. We acknowledge that the efforts of ordinary people are vital to community and place but are seldom recognised or celebrated. Our focus is upon the twin historic coastal townships of Sorrento and Queenscliff, located either side of Port Phillip Heads, in Victoria, Australia. Four local community organisations, the Queenscliffe Community Association (QCA), the Queenscliff Historical Museum (QHM), the Nepean Historical Society (NHS) and the Nepean Conservation Group (NCG) provide diverse case studies for our analysis, highlighting different aspects of culture and place identity. The case studies demonstrate that communities possess local knowledge that must be respected. In three out of four case studies this is ignored in top-down decision-making. Local communities participate both proactively and reactively in the planning process to change the outcomes of proposed developments in order to achieve a result mindful of a holistic approach to place, and respectful of the historical roots of the present. It is critical that participation and community consultation be meaningful, not just a perfunctory process.
UHPH 2014 : Landscapes and Ecologies of Urban and Planning History : Proceedings of the 12th Australasian Urban History Planning History Conference , Feb 2014
Change has engulfed the coastal fringe of Australia. In balancing the built and natural environme... more Change has engulfed the coastal fringe of Australia. In balancing the built and natural environment, community needs, cultural significance and economic sustainability, planners aim to improve quality of life and create vibrant communities. Yet managing place change, particularly in coastal areas, is fraught with tensions. Most planning discussions about the rapidity of change, the impact of the Sea Change process and increased development have focused upon the extensiveness of residential expansion and the housing styles that challenge the essence of the character of these coastal towns. Character and sense of place qualities are the very reasons that sea changers desire to engage with and reside within these communities. One aspect missing from this discussion and analysis is the impact that large-scale transformations of iconic buildings are having upon these places. This paper examines the consequences that major commercial development projects have upon the communities of Sorrento and Queenscliff. It considers changes (proposed or realised) to four landmark historic hotels: The Koonya and Continental in Sorrento; and the Ozone and Vue Grand in Queenscliff. This paper focuses on issues of planning, social engagement and community debate.
Heritage 2014: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development, Volume 1, Jul 2014
Palmer et al. (1997) identified four governing principles underlying sustainable development from... more Palmer et al. (1997) identified four governing principles underlying sustainable development from the sustainability literature. These were: futurity, environment, equity and participation. How do these principles relate to heritage and its conservation? This paper critically considers how the above framework can be used to assess the changes and challenges occurring in the historic town of Queenscliff in southern Victoria, Australia. The town was initially a settlement site for strategic reasons and soon became a tourist destination for the early settlers in Melbourne, the state’s capital city. In their urban conservation study of the town, Allom et al. (1994) identified over 90 historic and/or heritage buildings, ranging from grand hotels to simple settler cottages. These historic buildings, together with the town’s unique topographical and environmental surroundings, have drawn growing numbers of tourists to the town, which has become increasingly reliant on this sector for its economic survival. Pressure on the heritage values of the town has increased significantly over the last twenty years from development proposals. In this paper, specific examples are used to illustrate how a failure to see sustainable development in a holistic way has compromised the town’s long term future.
AHRC 2013 : 7th Australasian Housing Researchers' Conference : Housing the needs of diverse populations.
Eighty per cent of Australians now live within 50 kilometres of the coast.1 While most of the pop... more Eighty per cent of Australians now live within 50 kilometres of the coast.1 While most of the population remains concentrated in the large capital cities, some people have chosen small coastal towns as their permanent and or second-home destination. Greater mobility and income has increased the feasibility and attractiveness of living in these once overlooked and forgotten towns. The arrival of these new residents has changed the towns in both positive and negative ways. Declining traditional industries have been replaced by tourism and service sectors, providing a much-needed economic revival. The expectations of new residents, both permanent and non-permanent, however, have also brought challenges to the towns. Metropolitan value systems sometimes impact negatively on the unique sense of place and neighbourhood character of these towns. This paper presents both quantitative and qualitative evidence of the impact on character and sense of place in two historic coastal towns, Queenscliff and Sorrento, in southern Victoria. Census data shows how employment and the number of permanent residents have changed radically over the last 50-60 years, altering the social fabric of the towns. An analysis of the building footprint over a similar timeframe shows a growth in building size as larger houses become more common, and a growth in planning appeals for the towns is indicative of a clash of expectations between the council, long-time and new residents. While these indicators demonstrate the impact on the character of the towns as defined by their built environment, some oral accounts of local residents are used to show the emotional impact of these changes on the traditional sense of place associated with these towns. Some specific examples of changes to the built environment are provided to demonstrate that local planning schemes are not always successful in protecting neighbourhood character and that further measures are required in order to safeguard the uniqueness of coastal towns from the negative aspects of development.
The philosophy and architecture of Rudolf Steiner both aim to give formal expression to his esote... more The philosophy and architecture of Rudolf Steiner both aim to give formal expression to his esoteric worldview, however, the means of articulating this worldview fundamentally differ within each discipline. Philosophy and architecture are separated by both process and product, and while an interdisciplinary reading of Steiner’s work does make certain connections between them evident, the incorporeal nature of thinking and the physical reality of building inevitably require different skills of their author, as well as different standards by which to assess them. Although he had no formal training as an architect, Steiner believed that his system of Anthroposophy provided a conceptual framework that would inspire a new style of modern architecture imbued with a spiritual dimension. As such, architecture provided Steiner with a means of visually expressing what words could not, and was therefore a necessary and important part of his philosophical pursuit. This paper explores the tension that exists between Steiner’s philosophy and architecture in its translation from theoretical ideas into built form. Steiner’s approach to architectural design was less concerned with the methods and techniques of the craft than with achieving what he saw as architecture’s true purpose - namely to give voice to the inner spiritual content of the work. However, in order to achieve this ultimate goal, a certain level of architectural competence is required. Therefore, Steiner’s ability as an architect to articulate such lofty ideals will also be assessed. Conceived on the edge of theory and practice, Steiner’s work serves to demonstrate the richness and depth that such an approach has to offer the field of architecture.
Empathy and abstraction were dominant themes in nineteenth century German aesthetics that played ... more Empathy and abstraction were dominant themes in nineteenth century German aesthetics that played a major role in shaping the theoretical objectives of artists and architects at the turn of the twentieth century. These concepts represented a significant shift from the classical idea of imitating nature and began to offer a new way of understanding the relationship between nature, art and architecture. Since 1907, when Wilhelm Worringer published his highly influential doctoral dissertation Abstraction and Empathy, there has been a general tendency to explicate these two concepts as strictly antithetical. The theory of empathy has espoused the oneness of nature, while abstraction has been seen as a withdrawal from nature. This perception that empathy and abstraction respond to opposing relationships between human beings and the external world has often led to interpretations of art and architecture that emphasise the role of one or the other, failing to recognise that each contains an intimation of the other. An alternative perspective to this seemingly antithetical outlook can be revealed however in the work of Austrian philosopher, Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Steiner broke down the polarity between empathy and abstraction, to reveal a complimentary relationship that looked to nature as its mentor. Steiner’s concept of nature was defined in anthroposophical terms that rejected the conventional materialistic understanding of nature and instead acknowledged the reality of a spiritual dimension. This notion captured the imagination of avant-garde artists and architects such as Wassily Kandinsky and Erich Mendelsohn, hence making Steiner a significant figure in the growth and dispersal of Expressionist ideals.
In today’s secular society, occult conceptions of architecture may seem somewhat anachronistic, b... more In today’s secular society, occult conceptions of architecture may seem somewhat anachronistic, but at the turn of the twentieth century the bourgeoisie, alongside society’s artistic and intellectual elite, were enthusiastically embracing a myriad of esoteric doctrines and mystical impulses. One of the most prominent and enduring examples of this cultural phenomenon is to be found in Rudolf Steiner’s quasi-philosophical system of Anthroposophy. As a path of spiritual development based on ancient mysteries of the occult, Anthroposophy offered people the belief that there existed a way out of the chaos and meaninglessness of modern industrialised society. Steiner used the medium of architecture as a way of repackaging the occult’s venerable secrets into a tangible, material form that made their hidden message more readily accessible to his contemporary audience. While he was striving towards creating a totally new architectural language appropriate to the modern age, he perceived architectural style as an evolutionary process that revealed its spiritual content in a particular way in every epoch. As such, Steiner made free use of historical and mythological precedents as archetypal references in his work, thus giving his architecture a genealogy that has, until now, remained largely undefined. By investigating Steiner’s indebtedness to ancient temples and the architecture of the baroque, a greater understanding of his architectural heritage is made possible, which not only helps to locate him within the cultural milieu of his day, but also within the broader context of architectural history. A spiritual thread runs through this history that demonstrates that Steiner’s architecture is not as idiosyncratic as it may initially seem, though whether his work represents an original step forward in the development of modern architecture, or is merely a hangover of nineteenth century eclecticism, must also be considered in order to determine the architectural value of Steiner’s esoteric ideas.
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) saw architectural creation as a means of apprehending our place in the... more Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) saw architectural creation as a means of apprehending our place in the cosmos and his esoteric system of Anthroposophy aimed to demonstrate the correspondence between the spiritual and material worlds. Much of the literature available on Steiner tends to polarize him as either a creative genius or eccentric oddity, with architectural historians generally tending to adopt the latter view. Despite the fact that Steiner’s architectural conceptions have remained marginal, the highly acclaimed works of many Anthroposophically inspired architects suggest that his gnostic perceptions may have something worthwhile to offer contemporary architecture.
Cutural Ecology: New Approaches to Culture, Architecture and Ecology. Edited by Mirjana Lozanovska, 2013
According to Rudolf Steiner, within the sensory world there exists a spiritual world that remains... more According to Rudolf Steiner, within the sensory world there exists a spiritual world that remains concealed from our consciousness to the extent that our perception is limited to our senses and sense bound thinking. He argued that ignorance of this super-sensible realm was the result of a limited understanding of the senses. Rather than the usual five senses, Steiner differentiated twelve sense functions through which, he believed, human beings were capable of perceiving subtle dimensions of life beyond the immediately apparent physical realm of being. His theory of the senses elucidated the potentiality for an understanding of the way the spiritual world creates its image in the physical world and he saw artistic activity as a means of making this hidden union manifest. As such, Steiner advocated a multi-sensory architecture that articulated its spiritual presence experientially through an active engagement with its forms, colours, textures, light and sound. However, due to the esoteric overtones of Steiner’s writing, his theory of the senses has received very little scholarly attention, particularly in relation to its relevance to architectural creation. This paper aims to peel back the layers of jargon and mysticism that Steiner employed in order to reveal how his unique insights into the nature of the senses informed his architectural products. Such an approach will provide a more comprehensive understanding of Steiner’s distinctive architectural forms as well as the significant philosophical ideas that inform them.
… Construction Symposium 2011: Technics, memory and …, Jan 1, 2012
On New Years Eve, 1922, the massive double-domed timber structure of Rudolf Steiner’s First Goeth... more On New Years Eve, 1922, the massive double-domed timber structure of Rudolf Steiner’s First Goetheanum was engulfed in flames and reduced to ashes. In an effort to make his spiritual teachings accessible to all people through the medium of architecture, Steiner had dedicated ten years to the project. Growing hostility towards his occult philosophy however, pointed to arson as the probable cause of the blaze. Not to be defeated, Steiner embarked upon a new design for a second Goetheanum that endeavoured to fulfil the same aim as its predecessor but on an even grander scale. Yet despite being borne out of the same ideational basis, the architectural expression of the second building was vastly different from the first. This paper examines these differences and investigates how the methods Steiner used to create his architecture influenced the final architectural products. Steiner recognised drawing as a creative instrument that could enrich the conceptual potential of his theoretical work, however, with no formal training as an architect and limited drawing ability, this exchange was somewhat limited. The ambiguity of Steiner’s drawings is countered to some extent though by the maquettes and models he produced, which help negotiate the gap between the immaterial idea and the material object. The shared three-dimensional nature of model making and architecture allowed Steiner a more direct means of articulating and mediating his esoteric ideas in built form than the two-dimensional nature of drawing, particularly given the undulating organic forms he enthusiastically employed. Nevertheless, models are still a form of architectural abstraction capable of leaving their own trace on the built work and the distinctive character of Steiner’s non-conventional models serve to illustrate this point. A comparison between Steiner’s models and the buildings themselves reveal the intimate relationship between process and product that exists in his work. While the loss of the first Goetheanum came as a crushing blow to Steiner, its destruction and reconstruction offered him a unique opportunity to reconsider aspects of the design that may have been flawed in the first instance – a situation he embraced unequivocally. What images recurred in his work and why? How did his architecture evolve? This essay will demonstrate how paper and plasticine were utilised in a highly individualised manner by Steiner as a bridge between idea and artefact, to allow new architectural forms to rise from the ashes and produce one of the twentieth century’s most extraordinary buildings.
Talented young Deakin researchers Fiona Gray and Chris Hindson are the winners of the Neil Archbo... more Talented young Deakin researchers Fiona Gray and Chris Hindson are the winners of the Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Awards and Medals for 2010.
The award caps off a successful month for Fiona Gray – she took the people’s prize at Deakin University’s inaugural Three-Minute Thesis competition.
Fiona’s research focuses on the architecture of Rudolf Steiner, seeking to determine whether he was an occult crank or an architectural mastermind.
Chris Hindson will use his travel award for an extended stay at the University of Queensland.
Chris was recently accredited with an astonishing breakthrough in the area of chemiluminescence, elucidating for the first time in 100 years the light-producing reaction between the permanganate ion and both organic and inorganic substrates.
Deakin University’s Higher Degrees by ResearchExecutive Officer, Mr Grant Michie, said that in the three years it had been running, the Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Award had proven a great success.
“I first want to congratulate Fiona and Chris,” he said. “They are both worthy recipients of the award.
“When I look at what they have achieved since gaining the award, there is clear evidence that it has boosted the research careers of previous winners Dr Alison Carver, Ben Allardyce, Liza John and Sally Percival Wood.”
The Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Awards and Medals honour the memory of Professor Neil Archbold, one of Deakin’s finest researchers.
Professor Archbold was actively involved in all facets of research and research training at Deakin.
He was Professor and Personal Chair in Palaeontology at the School of Ecology and Environment and the coordinator of Earth Sciences at Deakin University.
He was also the author of 160 scholarly publications, was awarded Australian Research Council grants of over $1m and was a long-standing member of the Royal Society of Victoria and that body’s president from 2001 to 2004.
From 2003 until his death in 2005, he was the Chair of the University’s Higher Degrees by Research Committee.
“Professor Archbold was not just a wonderful researcher, he was universally loved,”?Grant Michie said.
“His death in 2005 was a tremendous loss for Deakin and for his many, many friends around the world.
“This travel award and medal is keeping his name alive. It is also demonstrably doing something Neil himself would have loved to see, helping young researchers get out into the world.”
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Papers by Fiona Gray
In August, 2015, an online pilot survey was conducted by the Future Focus Group, aimed at capturing the perspectives of a broad cross-section of Melbourne residents to understand what they love most about where they live. The survey, designed in collaboration with Culture Amp, reflected the themes included in the Economist Intelligence Unit Index, namely: Culture and Environment, Employment, Stability, Healthcare, Education, and Infrastructure. These themes were measured through a series of questions that asked Melburnians to rate their response on a scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The category of Lovability was also developed which consisted of both rated and open-ended questions. Eight qualitative questions were designed by Deakin University researchers to start to tap into people’s emotional connections with the places they live in. The findings of this pilot survey are the primary focus of this report.
The introverted architectural nature of Geelong’s two large retail shopping complexes has significantly altered the city’s spatial dynamic. The traditional intimate urban structure and streetscape has been fragmented. This has led to a deterioration of the city’s social cohesion, sense of place and economic prosperity. This paper chronicles the myriad errors of judgement by the institution of local government that have contributed to this situation. Heeding past mistakes, it explores ways in which the Council might work with private landowners to improve the permeability of the city’s public urban spaces and internalised retail centres for improved use, integration, functionality and resilience. Achieving a shared culture of concern for the city’s urban fabric presents some significant challenges. How might ‘big box’ shopping centres be reconsidered to make a positive contribution to the city’s urban spatial network while remaining commercially viable? The built environment has an important role to play in addressing the problem by presenting opportunities for these new urban institutions to also benefit from stronger connections between the public and private realm.
This paper considers the theoretical frameworks of (i) place and identity and (ii) community activism and place, before examining a number of specific case studies. We acknowledge that the efforts of ordinary people are vital to community and place but are seldom recognised or celebrated. Our focus is upon the twin historic coastal townships of Sorrento and Queenscliff, located either side of Port Phillip Heads, in Victoria, Australia. Four local community organisations, the Queenscliffe Community Association (QCA), the Queenscliff Historical Museum (QHM), the Nepean Historical Society (NHS) and the Nepean Conservation Group (NCG) provide diverse case studies for our analysis, highlighting different aspects of culture and place identity. The case studies demonstrate that communities possess local knowledge that must be respected. In three out of four case studies this is ignored in top-down decision-making. Local communities participate both proactively and reactively in the planning process to change the outcomes of proposed developments in order to achieve a result mindful of a holistic approach to place, and respectful of the historical roots of the present. It is critical that participation and community consultation be meaningful, not just a perfunctory process.
The award caps off a successful month for Fiona Gray – she took the people’s prize at Deakin University’s inaugural Three-Minute Thesis competition.
Fiona’s research focuses on the architecture of Rudolf Steiner, seeking to determine whether he was an occult crank or an architectural mastermind.
Chris Hindson will use his travel award for an extended stay at the University of Queensland.
Chris was recently accredited with an astonishing breakthrough in the area of chemiluminescence, elucidating for the first time in 100 years the light-producing reaction between the permanganate ion and both organic and inorganic substrates.
Deakin University’s Higher Degrees by ResearchExecutive Officer, Mr Grant Michie, said that in the three years it had been running, the Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Award had proven a great success.
“I first want to congratulate Fiona and Chris,” he said. “They are both worthy recipients of the award.
“When I look at what they have achieved since gaining the award, there is clear evidence that it has boosted the research careers of previous winners Dr Alison Carver, Ben Allardyce, Liza John and Sally Percival Wood.”
The Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Awards and Medals honour the memory of Professor Neil Archbold, one of Deakin’s finest researchers.
Professor Archbold was actively involved in all facets of research and research training at Deakin.
He was Professor and Personal Chair in Palaeontology at the School of Ecology and Environment and the coordinator of Earth Sciences at Deakin University.
He was also the author of 160 scholarly publications, was awarded Australian Research Council grants of over $1m and was a long-standing member of the Royal Society of Victoria and that body’s president from 2001 to 2004.
From 2003 until his death in 2005, he was the Chair of the University’s Higher Degrees by Research Committee.
“Professor Archbold was not just a wonderful researcher, he was universally loved,”?Grant Michie said.
“His death in 2005 was a tremendous loss for Deakin and for his many, many friends around the world.
“This travel award and medal is keeping his name alive. It is also demonstrably doing something Neil himself would have loved to see, helping young researchers get out into the world.”
In August, 2015, an online pilot survey was conducted by the Future Focus Group, aimed at capturing the perspectives of a broad cross-section of Melbourne residents to understand what they love most about where they live. The survey, designed in collaboration with Culture Amp, reflected the themes included in the Economist Intelligence Unit Index, namely: Culture and Environment, Employment, Stability, Healthcare, Education, and Infrastructure. These themes were measured through a series of questions that asked Melburnians to rate their response on a scale ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. The category of Lovability was also developed which consisted of both rated and open-ended questions. Eight qualitative questions were designed by Deakin University researchers to start to tap into people’s emotional connections with the places they live in. The findings of this pilot survey are the primary focus of this report.
The introverted architectural nature of Geelong’s two large retail shopping complexes has significantly altered the city’s spatial dynamic. The traditional intimate urban structure and streetscape has been fragmented. This has led to a deterioration of the city’s social cohesion, sense of place and economic prosperity. This paper chronicles the myriad errors of judgement by the institution of local government that have contributed to this situation. Heeding past mistakes, it explores ways in which the Council might work with private landowners to improve the permeability of the city’s public urban spaces and internalised retail centres for improved use, integration, functionality and resilience. Achieving a shared culture of concern for the city’s urban fabric presents some significant challenges. How might ‘big box’ shopping centres be reconsidered to make a positive contribution to the city’s urban spatial network while remaining commercially viable? The built environment has an important role to play in addressing the problem by presenting opportunities for these new urban institutions to also benefit from stronger connections between the public and private realm.
This paper considers the theoretical frameworks of (i) place and identity and (ii) community activism and place, before examining a number of specific case studies. We acknowledge that the efforts of ordinary people are vital to community and place but are seldom recognised or celebrated. Our focus is upon the twin historic coastal townships of Sorrento and Queenscliff, located either side of Port Phillip Heads, in Victoria, Australia. Four local community organisations, the Queenscliffe Community Association (QCA), the Queenscliff Historical Museum (QHM), the Nepean Historical Society (NHS) and the Nepean Conservation Group (NCG) provide diverse case studies for our analysis, highlighting different aspects of culture and place identity. The case studies demonstrate that communities possess local knowledge that must be respected. In three out of four case studies this is ignored in top-down decision-making. Local communities participate both proactively and reactively in the planning process to change the outcomes of proposed developments in order to achieve a result mindful of a holistic approach to place, and respectful of the historical roots of the present. It is critical that participation and community consultation be meaningful, not just a perfunctory process.
The award caps off a successful month for Fiona Gray – she took the people’s prize at Deakin University’s inaugural Three-Minute Thesis competition.
Fiona’s research focuses on the architecture of Rudolf Steiner, seeking to determine whether he was an occult crank or an architectural mastermind.
Chris Hindson will use his travel award for an extended stay at the University of Queensland.
Chris was recently accredited with an astonishing breakthrough in the area of chemiluminescence, elucidating for the first time in 100 years the light-producing reaction between the permanganate ion and both organic and inorganic substrates.
Deakin University’s Higher Degrees by ResearchExecutive Officer, Mr Grant Michie, said that in the three years it had been running, the Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Award had proven a great success.
“I first want to congratulate Fiona and Chris,” he said. “They are both worthy recipients of the award.
“When I look at what they have achieved since gaining the award, there is clear evidence that it has boosted the research careers of previous winners Dr Alison Carver, Ben Allardyce, Liza John and Sally Percival Wood.”
The Neil Archbold Memorial Travel Awards and Medals honour the memory of Professor Neil Archbold, one of Deakin’s finest researchers.
Professor Archbold was actively involved in all facets of research and research training at Deakin.
He was Professor and Personal Chair in Palaeontology at the School of Ecology and Environment and the coordinator of Earth Sciences at Deakin University.
He was also the author of 160 scholarly publications, was awarded Australian Research Council grants of over $1m and was a long-standing member of the Royal Society of Victoria and that body’s president from 2001 to 2004.
From 2003 until his death in 2005, he was the Chair of the University’s Higher Degrees by Research Committee.
“Professor Archbold was not just a wonderful researcher, he was universally loved,”?Grant Michie said.
“His death in 2005 was a tremendous loss for Deakin and for his many, many friends around the world.
“This travel award and medal is keeping his name alive. It is also demonstrably doing something Neil himself would have loved to see, helping young researchers get out into the world.”