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.

A small selection of the Archives' digital photographs are also available for searching and viewing via UNSW Digital Collections.

  • Start date
    Type
    Agencies Series
    Description
    On 3 February 1966 the Acting Bursar, E. H. Davis, wrote to the District Surveyor of the Land Board Office, Hay, noting that as in the near future a substantial part of the town common at Hay will become available for other use...I should be grateful if you would consider making this land available to the university on a permissive occupancy basis. On 13 April 1966 the Under Secretary for the Department of Lands, W. J. Broadfoot, wrote to Mr Davis advising that it has been approved that an area of about 1800 acres be revoked from Hay Common. Following revocation, a Permissive Occupancy will be offered to the university over the area, for research purposes associated with Wool Technology. In the Government Gazette published on 21 October 1966, it was notified that these 1800 acres had been revoked from Hay Common. On 16 December 1966 a Permissive Occupancy (66/12) for this site was offered to the university for the purposes of a research station to be effective from 1 January 1967. Hay Field Station was administratively placed under the School of Wool & Pastoral Sciences (file 00014498). On 12 May 1970 the Officer-in-Charge of the Hay Land Board Office wrote to Mr Davis to indicate that the residue of Hay Common has recently been revoked and the university's permissive occupancy is being amended to include the area. On 29 May 1970, Mr Davis accepted this offer on behalf of the university. On the same date Mr Davis also wrote to the Under Secretary for the Department of Lands, Mr R. Sinclair, suggesting that it seems appropriate that the [Hay] land should be held on a more secure basis than a Permissive Occupancy which is, in effect, a tenancy at will. On 14 August 1970, Mr Sinclair responded to this request indicating that there are no objections to the university gaining a more secure title and following completion of the investigations into the needs of the local vegetable farmers action will be taken towards dedication of an area for 'experimental farm' (file 00370941). The Government Gazette No. 90 of 6 July 1973 announced that this plan to dedicate the area as an experimental farm had been approved (file 00370942). On 16 September 1991 the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Professor A. J. Wicken, wrote to Professor Euan Roberts indicating that in future Hay, Deniliquin, Wellington and Burraduc (until sold) Field Stations should be looked after by a Management Committee in much the same way as Fowlers Gap Field Station. The first Chair of the Committee was Professor Ross Griffiths, as head of the School of Fibre Science & Technology (file 911523). On 2 December 1996 Council resolved to later approve timetable and administrative arrangements for the disestablishment of the School of Fibre Science & Technology (resolution CL96/88/4). At Council's 3 February 1997 meeting, it was resolved that this would be effective 1 July 1997 (resolution CL97/5). As a result, on 1 December 1997 Council passed a resolution to approve the disposal of the Hay Field Station and agree that, following consent from the Minister of Education, arrangements will be made for the sale of the Hay property (resolution CL97/88). However, on 30 April 1999 the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Bruce Dowton, wrote to the Executive Director of the Division of Business & Finance, Chris Lidbury, proposing that on 15 May 1999 operational and financial responsibility for the Hay Field Station [be transferred] from the Chancellery to the Faculty of Medicine. This was agreed to by Chris Lidbury on 5 May 1999 and so the station remained with the university (file 971170). On 19 July 2004 the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Elspeth McLachlan, wrote a proposal to the Budget Advisory Group (BAG) recommending that the Hay Field Station be retained to provide a secure supply of healthy sheep for research at UNSW [and] that the Hay Field Station become part of the Biological Resources Centre with an effective date retrospective to 1 January 2003 (file 2004/1850). Although these recommendations were initially not accepted by BAG at its 18 August 2004 meeting, at the following BAG meeting on 20 October 2004 it was determined that UNSW had an obligation to continue activities at Hay Field Station in the meantime (file 2005/0446). It is unclear as to whether this also resulted in the approval of the move of the station to the Biological Resources Centre. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/01/1967-
  • Start date
    Type
    Agencies Series
    Description
    Following the establishment of a Centre for Biomedical Engineering within the University an Advisory Committee to oversee the overall operating policy of the Centre was established in 1977 with the following membership: a) the Vice-Chancellor or his nominee b) fifteen nominees from appropriate schools in the faculties of Applied Science, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Medicine and Science. c) six nominees from the teaching and associated hospitals of the University d) up to six nominees from bodies outside the University with an interest in the activities of the Centre e) the Director of the Centre ex-officio Members of the Committee were appointed by the Vice- Chancellor to serve for a period of two years, with provision for renewal of membership. The Committee was to meet twice a year in March and September. Its first meeting was held on 15 March 1977. The Chair was the Vice-Chancellor's nominee, the registrar KL Jennings. At the second meeting of the Board on 19 Sep 1977, Resolution 77/1 described its role as follows: 1) to advise the Vice-Chancellor and Principal regarding the composition of the Management Committee of the Centre 2) to review and make recommendations concerning the policies and objectives of the Centre with particular regard to the following: *to advise the Centre in respect to priorities of both long and short term programmes; *to make recommendations regarding the integration of fund raising activities; *to evaluate and advise on needs in the community as appropriate to the work of the Centre; *to review and make recommendations on the academic content of courses at various levels; and *to promote public relations and provide information and education in respect of biomedical engineering In August 1981 letters of invitation went out for renewal of membership of the Board from 1 September 1981 to 31 August 1984. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 15/03/1977-
  • Type
    Archives Series
    Description
    This series consists of Invitations to Brodsky. The material is typed and maintained in a manilla folder, and includes an invitation to the opening of the Robert Menzies Building by The Right Honourable Sir Robert Menzies, and the Opening of the Wallace Wurth School of Medicine and the School of Biological Sciences by Her Majesty The Queen.
  • Start date
    End date
    Type
    Agencies Series
    Description
    On 19 February 2007, the first meeting between UNSW, University of Melbourne, National ICT Australia, the Bionic Ear Institute, and the Centre for Eye Research Australia was held to discuss bionic eye research. These parties later formed the consortium Bionic Vision Australia (BVA), which officially launched in 2010. The business plan was finalised in October 2008 with consultancy firm SPP and put to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 5 November 2008. The first Board meeting was held on 30 March 2010. Professor Emeritus David Penington AC served as the first Chair of the Board from 2010 to 2013. He was succeeded by Professor Mark Hargreaves. Professor Anthony N. Burkitt served as Director for the duration of BVA. The National Vision Research Institute, the Australian National University, the University of Western Sydney and the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital were variously supporting, participating, or project partners. The aim was to develop a functional retinal prosthesis or “bionic eye” capable of restoring vision to people with vision impairment due to retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. The assembled team comprised experts in the fields of ophthalmology, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, neuroscience, vision science, psychophysics, wireless integrated-circuit design, and surgical, preclinical and clinical practice. UNSW was a key player in the consortium, developing the first advanced prototype, and leading the consortium’s commercialisation activities through NewSouth Innovations and the company Bionic Vision Technologies Pty Ltd (BVT). The University of Melbourne was designated Administering Organisation for the grant, with the Executive team based in the Melbourne School of Engineering. In December 2009, BVA secured funding through a four-year, $42 million grant administered by the Australian Research Council (ARC), effective from 1 January 2010. The funds were made available through a Special Research Initiative in Bionic Vision Science and Technology established by the Australian Government. In July 2013, ARC offered another year of funding to BVA. BVA’s ARC funding period ended at the end of 2014. There was enough capital to extend the consortium, continue efforts to commercialise through BVT, and perform National Health and Medical Research Council-funded trials in 2015. BVA was ultimately wound up in 2016. Although initially in financial jeopardy, BVT secured funding and continued commercial operations. Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/10/08 - 31/12/2016