Apple collection arrives at museum

by Stephen Withers

Friday, 08 December 2006

Page 2 of 2

When the display finishes at the end of December, the items will join CSIRAC as part of the Melbourne Museum's technology collection. CSIRAC is the fourth digital computer ever made and the only surviving member of modern computing's first generation.

Given Apple's recent involvement with music through iTunes and the iPod, it's appropriate to note that the world's first music program was written for CSIRAC in 1951 by Geoff Hill. The handwritten program and corresponding paper tape are displayed alongside the vintage computer.

"Thank you for your great work which will remain with us - we will look after it, I promise," said Hirst.

David Demant, Museum Victoria senior curator - information and communication, spoke highly of the iMUG volunteers' work. "I'd like experts like those anytime," he said. "We worked as equal partners."

The evening was a cultured affair, opening with the Melbourne Chamber Choir's world premiere performance of An Apple A Day. After the formal proceedings, members and guests moved to the more relaxed surroundings of Paddy's Bar at the historic Melbourne Trades Hall, where iMUG member and Opera Australia baritone Lucas de Jong closed the event with his Gilbert and Sullivan spoof The Very Model of a Modern Apple MacBook Pro.

In a sad footnote, Demant reported that the collection's Lisa - the only computer actually running during the ceremony - died shortly after the formalities concluded.{moscomment}

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