The Society’s Aim
To promote standards of excellence in architectural history through the following means:
- facilitating communication between people active in architectural history in Australia and New Zealand
- encouraging discussion, criticism and debate among all who are interested in the subject of architectural history
- holding regular conventions at regional and national venues for the above purposes
- producing a scholarly journal
- encouraging student participation in its activities
- contributing to the teaching of architectural history
- supporting the processes of conservation in relation to such matters as significant structures and sites, documents and archives.
Background
Since its inception in 1984 the Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) has held annual conferences, which usually include a triple-stream programme, invited keynote speakers and associated field-trips. In 1989 the society established its refereed journal, Fabrications, which now appears as three issues yearly.
While the Society welcomes research considering all aspects of architectural history and theory, over the last three decades members have produced an impressive body of work relating to the architecture of first nations’ people in Australasia and the South Pacific. Furthermore, as early as 1992 the annual conference called for papers relating to Asia and Australasia, and SAHANZ continues to encourage the development of research networks in this area. In particular, we invite scholars to submit work on Asian architecture to our annual conference and journal.
The Society’s Names
The Society has three names. Acknowledging the status of first nations people in our respective countries, in 2011 the Society sought indigenous names which may be used in parallel to its English title.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, where Māori is an official language and where organisations take bilingual names, the society is also known as ‘Ngā Pou Whare’. This literally means The posts of the house , where the words ngā pou mean the posts and whare means house, houses or buildings. Listen to the pronunciation (34kb mp3).
‘Ngā Pou Whare’ refers not only to physical structure, but also to depth of knowledge, history and the structure of the Society. Pou may also refer to people, so the name may also be understood to refer to the members of the Society. We thank Professor Rawinia Higgins at Victoria University of Wellington for her help determining this name.
The Kaurna Warra Pintyandi of the Adelaide Plains, South Australia have also provided a name in their language, Kaurna. The name ‘Wangkalangkalarna Wardlirnaitya’ means Talkers of Buildings. Since there is no pan-Australian indigenous language, this name is only used by the Society when it meets in the Adelaide region (where the Society was originally formed), and then in consultation with Kaurna Warra Pintyandi. We thank them and Dr Rob Amery of the University of Adelaide for their advice and support for this initiative.
Read more about Kaurna Warra Pintyandi and the Kaurna language.
In Australia, conference organisers may at times consult with local groups to determine if it is appropriate to adopt a parallel indigenous name for the Society which is suitable at their conference location.
Life Members and Honorary Members
The Society awards Honorary and Life Memberships. Honorary memberships acknowledge contribution to the field of architectural history in Australasia. Life memberships acknowledge contribution to the discipline made by members of the society.
- Margaret Alington (2008) d.
- Brian Andrews (2008)
- Mike Austin (2004)
- Judith Brine (2002)
- Philip Goad (2017)
- Robert Irving (2003)
- Miles Lewis (2013)
- Ian Lochhead (2013)
- John Macarthur (2013)
- John Stacpoole (2002)
- Jennifer Taylor (2015) d.
- George Tibbits (2008) d.
- Sarah Treadwell (2017)
- Donald Watson (2008)
Current Officers
President
Naomi Stead (Monash University)
Secretary
Janina Gosseye (University of Queensland)
Treasurer
Ashley Paine (University of Queensland)
Social Media Manager
Macarena de la Vega de León (University of Canberra)
Committee members
- Bill McKay (University of Auckland)
- John Ting (University of Canberra)
- Amit Srivastava (University of Adelaide)
- Paul Walker (University of Melbourne)
- Nigel Westbrook (University of Western Australia)
Past Officers
2017-2019
- President: Naomi Stead, Melbourne
- Secretary: Janina Gosseye, Brisbane
- Treasurer: Ashley Paine, Brisbane
2015-2017
- President: Christoph Schnoor, Auckland
- Secretary: Janina Gosseye, Brisbane (2015-16) and Amit Srivastava, Adelaide (2016-17)
- Treasurer: Catherine Lassen, Sydney
2013-2015
- President: Antony Moulis, Brisbane
- Secretary: Alexandra Brown, Gold Coast
- Treasurer: Leonie Matthews, Perth
2011-2013
- President: Stuart King, Launceston
- Secretary: Michael Chapman, Newcastle
- Treasurer: Leonie Matthews, Perth
2009-2011
- President: Robin Skinner, Wellington
- Secretary: Nicole Sully, Brisbane
- Treasurer: Leonie Matthews, Perth
2007-2009
- President: Peter Kohane, Sydney
- Secretary: Stuart King, Tasmania
- Treasurer: Leonie Matthews, Perth
2005-2007
- President: Hannah Lewi, Melbourne
- Secretary: Kate Linzey, Wellington
- Treasurer: Philip Goldswain, Perth
2003-2005
- President: Harriet Edquist, Melbourne
- Secretary: Igea Troiani, Brisbane
- Treasurer: Kevin Green, Darwin
2001-2003
- President: John Macarthur, Brisbane
- Secretary: Andrew Leach, Wellington
- Treasurer: Antony Moulis, Brisbane
1999-2001
- President: Richard Blythe, Launceston
- Secretary: Hannah Lewi, Perth
- Treasurer: Scott Drake, Adelaide
1997-1999
- President: Philip Goad, Melbourne
- Secretary: Harriet Edquist (secretary) and
- Ursula de Jong (membership secretary), Melbourne
- Treasurer: Andrew Hutson, Melbourne
1995-1997
- President: Desley Luscombe, Sydney
- Secretary: Paul-Alan Johnson, Sydney
- Treasurer: Stephen Frith, Canberra
1993-1995
- President: Fiona Gardiner, Brisbane
- Secretary: Ian Sinnamon (secretary) and
- Brit Andresen (membership secretary), Brisbane
- Treasurer: Michael Kennedy, Brisbane
1991-1993
- President: Miles Lewis, Melbourne
- Secretary: Anne Neale, Melbourne
- Treasurer: Lorraine Huddle, Melbourne
1989-1991
- President: Judith Brine, Canberra
- Secretary: Donald Dunbar, Canberra
- Treasurer: Duncan Marshall, Canberra
1987-1989
- President: Peter Proudfoot, Sydney
- Secretary: Peter Reynolds (secretary) and
- Paul-Alan Johnson (membership secretary), Sydney
- Treasurer: Robert Irving, Sydney
1986-1987
- Acting President: Judith Brine, Adelaide
- Secretary: Robyn Taylor, Adelaide
- Treasurer: Donald Langmead, Adelaide
1985-1986
- President: David Saunders, Adelaide
- Secretary: Peter Bell, Adelaide
- Treasurer: Donald Langmead, Adelaide