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This article was published on Monday, 23 April, 2018. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Monash professor to deliver biennial heritage lecture

Emeritus Professor Graeme Davison AO, Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor from Monash University, will tell the story of how heritage awareness and heritage protection slowly developed in this state with his lecture ‘The Past Around Us: How Victoria Saved its Heritage’.

Professor Davison was a member from 1976 of the Historic Buildings Preservation Council of Victoria, forerunner of today’s Heritage Council and Heritage Victoria. This body was established in tandem with Victoria’s first heritage legislation, to oversee heritage protection. Subsequently Professor Davison chaired its replacement, the Historic Buildings Council of Victoria, from 1983-1986.

He has continued to be involved in and write extensively on many aspects of heritage, and has become its de facto historian. Professor Davison has a long and distinguished career in Australian history, reflected in the honorary title bestowed on him by Monash University.

He has published widely on urban history as well as on heritage, social history and museums including a book on the effects of the car on society, and Trendyville, a co-edited publication about the inner suburbs. He has served the historical profession at state and national levels and has contributed significantly to wider community history, heritage and museums organisations.

Professor Davison speaks regularly to community history and genealogical societies and inspires their members. He became interested in his family’s history, and his book Lost Relations: Fortunes of My Family in Australia’s Golden Age won the Judges’ Special Prize in the Victorian Community History Awards in 2015.

Professor Davison was born in Essendon, the son of a plumber. He still barracks for Essendon. He was also one of Australia’s Rhodes Scholars.

Council’s Director of Sustainable Development Geraldine Christou said how fortunate Council has been in obtaining the services of Professor Davison, and urges all those interested in or wondering about heritage to attend the lecture. “It will give people greater understanding of and insight into how heritage protection came about and why it is important to conserve the heritage of our local area,” Ms Christou said.

This is the second of Council’s biennial Heritage Lectures, now named after Bruce Wilson, former Mayor, long-time Councillor, history and heritage enthusiast, and inaugural Chair of Council’s Heritage Advisory Committee. The lectures alternate with the successful biennial Cultural Heritage Awards, another of Council’s innovative heritage initiatives.

Council’s Heritage Advisory Committee initiated and planned the lecture series which will be held twice, at 1pm and 6pm, to allow people who may not be able to attend during the day to come at the later time.

For more information call 5832 9700.