Online Archives Search

Discover just some of the amazing material held in the Archives.

The Online Archives Search is a limited search of the UNSW Archives' collection - please note that it does not cover everything held by the Archives.

UNSW staff can also search for archival records through the RAMS interface.

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    The establishment of the Centre for Applied Economic Research (CAER) within the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Commerce was initially supported at the 31 March 1976 meeting of the Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee. The Centre was formally approved by the vice-chancellor on 7 June 1976. The first director of the Centre was Professor John Nevile. The main aim of the Centre was to encourage applied economics research in the university and to sponsor specific applied economic research projects (file 030903). As a result of a review of the Faculty of Commerce, on 11 July 1988 Council altered the faculty's name to the Faculty of Commerce & Economics effective 1 August 1988 (resolution 88/90). At the same time the Centre appears to have become a part of the larger School of Economics rather than the department (1989 Calendar, file 030903). On 3 July 2006 Council approved the disestablishment of the Faculty of Commerce of Economics and the Australian Graduate School of Management to form the Faculty of Business (resolution CL06/68), with the inaugural meeting of the faculty taking place on 23 November 2006. The Centre, along with the School of Economics, thus became a part of this new faculty. On 18 June 2007 Council noted the renaming of the Faculty of Business as the Australian School of Business at UNSW, as approved by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and President of the Academic Board (CL07/33). In 2008 the director of the Centre for Applied Economic Research was Professor Kevin Fox. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 07/06/1976-
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    On 14 February 1980 the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor R. E. Vowels, approved the establishment of the Industrial Relations Research Unit within the Department of Industrial Relations in the School of Economics in the Faculty of Commerce, as the result of a successful General Development Grant funding application. At the same time Professor John Niland was appointed as the Unit's first director. The main aim of the Unit was to help focus and stimulate industrial relations research in Australia (file 032680). At the 23 July 1980 meeting of the Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee, the Unit was redesignated the Industrial Relations Research Centre. In July 1985 the Vice-Chancellor established a committee to review the faculties of Commerce and Professional Studies. One of the recommendations of the working party which was chaired by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ronayne, was that a new School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour comprising the present Department of Industrial Relations and the Organisational Behaviour Unit be established. (Focus 13 May 1988: 10). At the Council meeting on 11 July 1988 major administrative changes were instituted including that certain departments within the existing schools within the faculty become schools in their own right. As a consequence, the Department of Industrial Relations and the Organisational Behaviour Unit were merged to become the newly formed School of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour effective 1 August 1988. At the same time, Council altered the faculty's name to the Faculty of Commerce & Economics (resolution 88/90). The Centre thus became a part of the new school from this date. On 21 June 2004 Council resolved to disestablish the schools of Industrial Relations and Organisational Behaviour and International Business within the Faculty of Commerce and Economics and established a new school, the School of Organisation and Management (resolution CL04/81). The Centre was thus moved to the new school from this date. On 3 July 2006 Council proposed the amalgamation of the Faculty of Commerce and Economics and the Australian Graduate School of Management into the newly formed Faculty of Business and consequently the School of Organisation and Management, including the Industrial Relations Research Centre, became part of this faculty (resolution CL06/68). The inaugural meeting of the faculty took place on 23 November 2006, but by 18 June 2007 the name of the faculty was changed to the Australian School of Business at UNSW (Council resolution CL07/33). In 2009 the Director of the Industrial Relations Research Centre was Associate Professor Lucy Taksa. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 14/02/1980-
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    The Faculty of Science was established as one of the first three faculties of the University at the Council meeting on 8th May, 1950 (resolution 54). Professor John Philip Baxter became the Dean of the new Faculty, which initially contained three Schools - Applied Chemistry, Applied Physics and Chemical Engineering. At the 2nd December, 1996 meeting of Council the Faculty of Science was disestablished effective 1st July, 1997 (resolution CL96/88/4). The Deans of the Faculty of Science were: 1950 - 1953 - John Philip Baxter 1953 - 1956 - Albert Earnest Alexander 1956 - 1959 - Christopher John Milner 1959 - 1962 - John Faithful Clark 1962 - 1968 - Bernhard John Frederick Ralph 1968 - 1969 - David Paver Mellor 1970 - 1979 - Stephen John Charles Angyal 1980 - 1989 - Viliam Teodor Buchwald 1989 - 1992 - Gavin Brown 1992 - 1995 - Ardon Robin Hyland 1995 - 1996 - James Floyd Scott 1996 - 1997 (Acting) - Colin Eric Sutherland Subordinate agency: Ad Hoc Committee of the Faculty of Science to Consider the School Government Proposals - 05/07/1977 - 04/11/1977 Subordinate agency: Department (1949 - 51) / School of Chemical Engineering (1) (1951 - 1979) - 08/05/1950 - 14/05/1956 Subordinate agency: Department (1949 - 51) / School of Applied Chemistry (1951 - 1957) / Chemistry (1) (1957 - 2001) - 08/05/1950 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: Department (1949 - 51) / School of Applied Physics (1951 - 60) / Physics (1960 - ) - 08/05/1950 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: Department (1949 - 51) / School of Mathematics (1951 - 2006) / Mathematics & Statistics (2006 - ) - 01/01/1951 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: School of Wool Technology (1951 - 1967) / Wool & Pastoral Sciences (1967 - 1985) - 12/11/1951 - 14/05/1956 Subordinate agency: School of Textile Technology - 12/08/1955 - 14/05/1956 Subordinate agency: School of Applied Psychology (1954 - 1972) / Psychology (1972 - ) - 01/01/1954 - 14/05/1956 Subordinate agency: School of Applied Psychology (1954 - 1972) / Psychology (1972 - ) - 01/03/1959 - 01/07/1968 Subordinate agency: School of Metallurgy (1952 - 1985) / Materials Science & Engineering (1986 - ) - 03/05/1952 - 14/05/1956 Subordinate agency: School of Applied Physics & Optometry - 13/05/1968 - 31/12/1976 Subordinate agency: Centre for Chemical Analysis - 22/04/1987 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: School of Biological Sciences - 12/11/1956 - 30/06/1968 Subordinate agency: School of Optometry (1977 - 2001) / Optometry & Vision Science (2001 - ) - 01/01/1977 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: Centre for Advanced Numerical Computation in Engineering & Science (CANCES) - 02/06/1992 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: Centre for Waste Management - 12/02/1986 - 27/03/1990 Subordinate agency: Centre for Industrial Laser Applications - 16/04/1986 - 31/05/1992 Subordinate agency: Centre for Membrane and Separation Technology (1987 - 1992) / UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology (1992 - ) - 20/05/1987 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: Institute of Marine Sciences (1968 - 1986) / Centre for Marine Science (1986 - 1997) / Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (1997 - 2003) - 30/07/1986 - 30/06/1997 Subordinate agency: Centre for Chemosensory Research (CCR) - 01/02/1997 - 30/06/1997 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 08/05/1950-30/06/1997
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    The Department of Applied Physics dates back to the formation of the university itself on 1 July 1949, as it was one of the departments that had much of its origins in the Sydney Technical College. On 26 January, 1950 Professor N. F. Astbury arrived as the initial head of department. When the first three university faculties were established by Council on 8 May 1950 (resolution 54), Applied Physics became one of the first three departments within the Faculty of Science. On 10 September 1951 Council changed the designation of all departments to schools and so the School of Applied Physics came into existence (resolution 153). On 12 September, 1960 Council changed the name of the school to the School of Physics (resolution 60/139). At the 2 December, 1996 meeting of Council the Faculty of Science was disestablished effective 1 July, 1997 (resolution CL96/88/4). As a result, from this date the School of Physics was transferred to the newly created Faculty of Science & Technology. On 18 June, 2001 Council resolved to disestablish the Faculty of Science & Technology and create a new single model Faculty of Science effective from 1 July, 2001 - including the School of Physics (resolution CL001/49). In 2006, the Head of the School of Physics was Professor Warrick Couch. The school contained five departments and two centres. Subordinate agency: Department of Applied Physics (1968 - 1994) / Environmental & Applied Physics (1994 - ) - 01/01/1977 Subordinate agency: Centre for Quantum Computer Technology - 01/01/2000 Subordinate agency: Optometry Section (c.1951 - c.1956) / Department of Optometry (c.1956 - 1976) - 08/02/1951 - 13/05/1968 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/07/1949-
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    On 13 May 1968 Council approved the establishment of a new School of Applied Physics & Optometry, which consisted of the departments of Applied Physics and Optometry, within the Faculty of Science (resolution 68/72). The first head of school was Professor C. J. Milner. On 10 May 1976 Council approved the dissolution of the School of Applied Physics & Optometry effective from 1 January 1977 (resolution 76/67). Subordinate agency: Department of Applied Physics (1968 - 1994) / Environmental & Applied Physics (1994 - ) - 13/05/1968 - 31/12/1976 Subordinate agency: Optometry Section (c.1951 - c.1956) / Department of Optometry (c.1956 - 1976) - 13/05/1968 - 31/12/1976 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 13/05/1968-31/12/1976
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    On 9 September 1985 the School of Biotechnology was redesignated the Department of Biotechnology and moved to the newly created School of Biological Technologies within the Faculty of Applied Science with effect from 1 January 1986 (resolution 85/96). On 11 July 1988 the School of Biological Technologies was renamed the School of Applied Bioscience (Council resolution 88/85). At the 2 December 1996 meeting of Council the Faculty of Applied Science was disestablished effective 1 July 1997 (resolution CL96/88/4). As a result, from this date the School of Applied Bioscience, including the Department of Biotechnology, was transferred to the Faculty of Life Sciences. On 18 Jun, 2001 Council resolved to disestablish the Faculty of Life Sciences and create a new single model Faculty of Science effective from 1 July, 2001- including the Department of Biotechnology within the School of Applied Bioscience (resolution CL001/49). On 8 October 2001 Council approved the disestablishment of the School of Applied Bioscience, including the Department of Biotechnology, in order to form a School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences effective from 1 January 2002 (resolution CL001/84). Subordinate agency: Bioengineering Centre - 18/01/1989 - 31/01/2001 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/01/1986-31/12/2001
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    Dr Bernhard J. Ralph took up duties on 3 January 1950 as a Lecturer in Biochemistry within the Department of Applied Chemistry. In September 1950 Dr Ralph was promoted to senior lecturer. At the same time a small Department of Biological Sciences was created with Dr Ralph at its head within the larger Department of Applied Chemistry in the Faculty of Science (BRF - B. J. Ralph, Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Advisory Panel 22 July 1952 papers - file 00046006). On 10 September 1951 the Department of Applied Chemistry was re-designated as the School of Applied Chemistry, with the Department of Biological Sciences remaining a part of the new school (Council resolution 153). On 12 November 1956 the Department of Biological Sciences was changed into a School of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Science with Dr Ralph becoming an associate professor and head of school (Council resolution 839ii). The School was then administratively organised into four departments - biochemistry, botany, microbiology and zoology (Biological Sciences Advisory Panel, CN913). Controlling Organisation: UNSW - c. 01/09/1950-12/11/1956
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    Dr Bernhard J. Ralph took up duties on 3 January 1950 as a Lecturer in Biochemistry within the Department of Applied Chemistry. In September 1950 Dr Ralph was promoted to senior lecturer. At the same time a small Department of Biological Sciences was created with Dr Ralph at its head within the larger Department of Applied Chemistry in the Faculty of Science (BRF - B. J. Ralph, Applied Chemistry & Chemical Engineering Advisory Panel 22 July 1952 papers - file 00046006). On 10 September 1951 the Department of Applied Chemistry was re-designated as the School of Applied Chemistry, with the Department of Biological Sciences remaining a part of the new school (Council resolution 153). On 12 November 1956 the Department of Biological Sciences was changed into a School of Biological Sciences in the Faculty of Science with Dr Ralph becoming an associate professor and head of school (Council resolution 839ii). The School was then administratively organised into four departments - biochemistry, botany, microbiology and zoology (Biological Sciences Advisory Panel, CN913). On 8 July 1968 Council approved the creation of the Faculty of Biological Science effective from 1 July 1968 (resolution 68/108). Consequently the School of Biological Sciences essentially ceased to exist from this date. Subordinate agency: Department of Microbiology - 12/11/1956 - 30/06/1968 Subordinate agency: Department of Biochemical Engineering - 01/08/1966 - 30/06/1968 Subordinate agency: Department of Biochemistry - 12/11/1956 - 30/06/1968 Subordinate agency: Department of Botany - 12/11/1956 - 30/06/1968 Subordinate agency: Department of Zoology - 12/11/1956 - 30/06/1968 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 12/11/1956-30/06/1968
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    The university's Art Collection has been in existence since the establishment of the Applied Arts Fund for the 1953/54 financial year, however, the Art Collection has only become an administrative unit in fairly recent times. Initially, the collection was managed by the Applied Arts Sub-Committee of the Buildings & Equipment Committee, which was created by Council on 11th May, 1953 (resolution 316vii), although the Committee had already held its first meeting on 20th April, 1953. The aim of the Sub-Committee was to report and review the Applied Arts cumulative fund of 1,500 pounds p.a. that was instituted initially for five years for expenditure on applied arts, such as portraitures, murals, house flags and for prizes for the design of commemorative tables, fountains and the like (resolution 316vi). At the second meeting on 15 October 1953, the committee approved the commission of the first two items that were to form the foundations of the art collection - a portrait of the first President of the University and for Mr Tom Bass, Sculptor...to complete a sculptural mural on the wall surface of the stone fin at the entrance to the first major university building at Kensington. At the 12 May 1975 meeting of Council the Applied Arts Sub-Committee of the Building and Equipment Committee of Council was reformed and retitled the Fine Arts Committee. At the same time the sub-committee was given the responsibility to: i) be authorised to determine a policy for the building of an art collection and to implement procedures designed to facilitate the acquisition of art works; ii) be charged with the responsibility of advising on the exhibition of the collection and on the oversight of the storage, display, conservation and restoration of the works (resolution 75/81). On 25 March 1989 the university produced an advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald and Australian newspapers advising that the University of New South Wales owns a collection of approximately 450 works of art, principally contemporary Australian paintings. The university wishes to appoint a consultant to review and make recommendations on the curatorial and conservation requirements of the collection. Ms Katrina Rumley was appointed to this position and she took up duty in mid 1989, reporting to the vice-chancellor (file 891154). In 1993 a full-time permanent art curator position was created and Ms Belinda Allen was appointed to this position (http://www.artcollection.unsw.edu.au accessed 18 January 2010). During 1997 the Art Collection was moved to the portfolio of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Development) (file 952195). On 1 February 2000, the Art Collection was moved to the responsibility of the newly established Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education). From 4 August 2003, this position became known as the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education & Quality Improvement). On 27 September 2006, following organisational arrangements within the university, the Centre began reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (SRF-Organisation & Management). Following the departure of the Chief Operating Officer in September 2008, the Art Collection was moved to the division of the Executive Director, University Services. In 2010 the curator of the Art Collection was Ms Belinda Webb. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - c. 20/04/1953-
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    On 8 February 1951 the Department of Technical Education announced that from the beginning of the 1951 academic year, the New South Wales University of Technology will be administering diploma courses on behalf of the Department in those fields in which the university is conducting degree courses. Optometry was included on the list of affected courses and thus the Optometry Section came into being within the Department of Applied Physics in the Faculty of Science. Mr Josef Lederer - initially as a Lecturer, but very shortly afterwards designated a Senior Lecturer - carried over his leadership role from the Optometry Department of the Sydney Technical College into the university (file 00018900, V20). On 10 September 1951 Council changed the designation of all departments to schools and so the Optometry Section became part of the School of Applied Physics (resolution 153). At some time around the 25 July 1956 meeting of the Optometry Advisory Panel, the Optometry Section appears to have started to become known as the Department of Optometry (CN913). On 13 May 1968 Council approved the establishment of a new School of Applied Physics & Optometry, which contained the departments of Applied Physics and Optometry (resolution 68/72). On 10 May 1976 Council approved the dissolution of the School of Applied Physics & Optometry effective from 1 January 1977 and the establishment of a School of Optometry from the same date (resolution 76/67). Thus, while the department of Applied Physics was returned to the School of Physics, the department of Optometry became its own school within the Faculty of Science. Subordinate agency: Cornea & Contact Lens Research Unit (CCLRU) - 01/01/1976 - 31/12/1976 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - c. 08/02/1951-31/12/1976