This course focuses on developing skills in one important area of cultural heritage management – physical conservation. One of the key aims of heritage conservation is to ensure that heritage places are protected for future generations and it is, therefore, essential for those working in the heritage industry to have a solid understanding of how to best care for them. In this course we focus on Australia's historic heritage places and objects and the physical conservation problems faced by heritage practitioners. Our unique building materials, building practices, and climatic conditions have forced physical conservation specialists to develop innovative practices for the maintenance and repair of these important places. In this course students will learn how to identify physical conservation issues, undertake regular maintenance, and the options for specialised physical conservation at historic places.

On completion of this course students will have skills in:

1. the physical conservation and management of historic places (with a focus on historic structures)
2. identification, documentation and analysis of traditional building materials, building practices and related conservation issues
3. ethical and reflective practice in regard to heritage conservation
4. applying a functioning knowledge of current policy and industry frameworks for heritage conservation
5. developing a strategy for monitoring and maintaining historic places and prioritising physical conservation works
6. understanding the basic principles of international heritage conservation

Assignment 1: Conservation monitoring plan for one historic heritage place (2000 words) 30%

Assignment 2: Physical conservation report or essay (3000 words) 50%

Assignment 3: Teamwork and engagement in discussions and debates (10%)

Assignment 4: Presentation (10%)

Contact time for this 6-unit graduate course will be 30-40 contact hours.

As we have limited places for this course, enrolment requires the permission of the Course Coordinator.

Nil

• Australia ICOMOS (1999) The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance,
  Australia ICOMOS: http://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/BURRA_CHARTER.pdf
• Pearson, M. and Sullivan, S. (1995) Looking after Heritage Places. The basics of heritage planning
  for managers, landowners and administrators, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne.
• Australia ICOMOS (1988) Guidelines to the Burra Charter: Conservation Policy. Australia ICOMOS: http://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/Guidelines-to-the-Burra-Charter_-Conservation-Policy.pdf

Further readings will be provided prior to class.

WATTLE website