Australian Computer Museum Society
Our motto - Control-Alt-Preserve
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ACMS needs help! We have to leave the store we are using at Minto by 1 April and we have nowhere to go. We have supportive messages and recomendations about who to ask, but no actual offers so far.
We have about 400 square metres of items needing a home. 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 or by email (jdeane@ihug.com.au). Also, gifts to ACMS are tax deductible.
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Long time between drinks!
As many people have noted, this website has not been updated for a long time. This is because we have been concentrating on some extremely pressing issues to do with our storage situation, which had become precarious to say the least.
However progress has been made on all fronts, and interest in the future of the museum is slowly but surely resuming.
- Annual General Meeting 2006
The ACMS 2006 AGM was held at the ACMS Homebush storage center, at Homebush in Sydney. The following issues were discussed:
- Through the excellent efforts of long-time member and supporter, John Webster, a new storage location at Minto in Sydney's south-western suburbs was made available. This new space is in a warehouse estate, and features vehicular access and clean storage area with washing and working toilet facilities.
- Starting in late 2006, a large portion of the collection was then transported to Minto by hand: Members and assorted helpers moved everything by trailer, car and station-wagon. The larger items are planned to be moved by heavy transport shortly. The committee notes with gratitude and thanks the efforts of all who have helped.
- The committee noted with thanks a large amount of storage racking donated by John Geremin. This racking allowed the Minto space to be considerably optimised as a result.
- In committee elections, David Hawley indicated he would be relinquishing the Acting President position, and would not stand for any committee position due to pressures of work. John Deane was elected the new president.
- Annual General Meeting 2005
The ACMS 2005 AGM was held at the headquarters of the Sydney Historical Fleet, at White Bay in Sydney. The following issues were discussed:
- Once again, the warehouse situation had become critical, with the requirement to vacate the existing premises by mid-2006 at the very latest. The building is planned to be demolished! The other tennants had vacated already, and all goodwill from the landlord was at an end.
- New locations for storage were to be sought as a matter of urgency. Locations as far afield as Newcastle, Lithgow and Canberra had already been scouted, but with no positive prospects arising.
- Meanwhile, the collection was to be severely culled to make any subsequent relocation easier and faster. Immediate disposal of excess items by any and all means available was to commence. Only specifically selected items were to be retained for museum display purposes.
- Much helpful input on these two subjects was obtained from attendees, and was to be followed up immediately.
- It was noted that the Kariong project had fallen through, unfortunately. The Kariong technology park was taken over by another NSW state department, which effectively cancelled all progress made in prior negotiations. Also, this new department had new and entirely incompatible plans for Kariong that did not include a museum...
- In committee elections, all existing committee members retained their positions. However David Hawley gave notice that he could act as president only in a temporary role, due to pressures of current work. It was intended that a new president be instated as soon as possible.
- Museum Collection Culled!
New member John Rich of SHFprovided a very welcome connection to Cavions Recycling. With Mr Rich's help, Cavions agreed to remove the culled items and other excess junk that had threatened to scuttle the museum dream.
Then in early 2006, thanks almost entirely to the extraordinary efforts of John Deane and John Webster, the collection was reduced in area from about 1200 square metres to approximately 400 square metres. Both Johns worked relentlessly to sort out all pallet contents, and to build and consign pallets for Cavions to pick up by semi-trailer, as well as dispatching three full skips of scrap and two truckloads of low-grade cable to SIMSmetal. Also included were a number of semi loads of scrapped documentation to a sheltered workshop, where the paper is manually recycled.
The ACMS is indebted to all three Johns, and Cavions Recycling, for the outstanding help they have provided.
Data General Nova - Front panel