Introduction

As foreshadowed in last year’s annual report, 2016–17 saw the establishment of a new Design Integrity & Archives (DI&A) Unit in the Office of the Secretary, incorporating the Archives Unit established in the previous financial year.

The unit is being staffed progressively. In 2016–17, a director and two archivists joined the two design integrity officers. Recruitment will continue into 2017–18 with the anticipated engagement of an architectural historian.

Moral rights representatives and DPS Senior executives (L-R) A/g First Assistant Secretary Building and Security Division, Paul Cooper, Parliamentary Librarian, Dr Dianne Heriot, Hal Guida, Pamille Berg, and Secretary, Rob Stefanic

Australian Parliament House Archive

One of the strategic themes in DPS’ Corporate Plan 2016–17 is ‘effective stewardship’ of APH, with a consequent objective to ‘ensure adaptations of the building uses are strategic, appropriate and reference design integrity principles.’

To help achieve this, DPS is establishing a business or working archive which, over time, will grow to hold key primary source information related to the design and construction of APH. The collection will encompass both original material and reference copies of material held in private collections (notably the Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp archives) as well as in the collections of institutions such as the National Archives of Australia or the National Library of Australia. Once fully established, it will provide ready access for staff to information which will help them preserve and maintain the design of the building and its precincts while meeting the changing needs of the Parliament.

Central Reference Document

In July 2016, work began on a project to complete the Architect’s Design Intent for Parliament House, Canberra: Central Reference Document (Central Reference Document—CRD).

The CRD was originally commissioned by the Joint House Department in 1999 to ensure that as far as possible the original ‘developed design’ of APH was maintained. Work on the original project ceased in 2004, leaving an incomplete draft which needed revision, refinement and additions if it is to serve its intended purpose of recording the architects’ intent in the design of the buildings and its surroundings. DPS has engaged the original author of the draft CRD, Ms Pamille Berg AO Hon. FRAIA, to undertake the project, supported by DPS staff.

In 2016–17, work has focussed on locating original documents, committee papers, correspondence, contracts, sketches, plans and other primary source material; developing a prototype e-book; and revising and refining the introduction and chapters 1–4. It is anticipated that the project will take about three years to complete, with chapters being progressively published for staff in the e-book form.

Unit highlights

• A key focus in 2016–17 was to begin to consolidate source materials needed for the project to complete the CRD, including material from the archives of Mitchell/Giurgola & Thorp.
• DI&A staff also helped develop the specifications and metadata requirements of the department’s new Digital Asset Management System (DAMS). The DAMS will enable ready access by department staff to the Auspic, art and archive collections. Work is also well under way on a project to re-establish and future proof a central register of fabrics, with similar registers for carpets and leathers expected to commence in 2017–18.
• We provided secretariat support for quarterly and ad hoc design integrity meetings with Ms Berg and Mr Guida (Mr Giurgola’s moral rights representatives). We also facilitated the continued liaison between departmental staff and the moral rights holder’s representatives on numerous design intent matters over the year.
• We provided ongoing support to Ms Berg as she revises and updates the draft CRD. This work will continue in 2017–18. We also provided secretariat and other support to the CRD Steering Group, which has been established to provide strategic guidance on the development of the CRD.