Historic computer collection needs a new home

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 11 March 2008 06:11

Your IT - Home IT

Wanted, a new home for some of Australia's most antiquated and historic computing devices which are in danger of being consigned to landfill or raw materials recycling unless some benefactors who care about our technology heritage can be found.

The Australian Computer Museum Society's members have been collecting old computers since the 1960s. It has a huge collection, and some of the oldest machines really are huge. There are calculators going back to the early 1900s, punched card machines, industrial strength computers from the 1960s and personal computers from before IBM got into the game. Some of the treasures illustrate Australian inventiveness - from a mechanical Totalisator adder to Microbee personal computers.

The ACMS has provided old computers for the film industry eg "The Dish", "Bad Eggs" and "Syntax Error". It has also provided copies of technical information for American and British computer history museums - material saved in Australia but lost overseas.

The collection had been stored in Homebush, but the site was earmarked for redevelopment. Then it was moved to a warehouse at Minto, but now the warehouse owners have a commercial customer - and the ACMS cannot afford full rental rates.

ACMS President, John Deane says: "It would be a monumental tragedy if this collection, which illustrates the defining technology of today, was consigned to the metal recyclers. When people see it they are amazed at the large size, and weirdness of old computers."

If you can help with funding, or warehouse space, or a location where the ACMS could build a big shed, please get in touch with ACMS President John Deane on 0427 404 429. Also, gifts to ACMS are tax deductible.