Desert Gardens: Waterless Lands and the Problems of Adaptation


Conference Report

Conference Program and Abstracts and ONLINE PAPERS

Dates:

29, 30, 31 March 2005

Venue:

National Library of Australia, Parkes, ACT

Conveners:

Professor Ian Donaldson, Director, HRC, ANU
Dr Libby Robin, Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, ANU

The second conference was held at the Australian National University, Canberra on 29, 30, and 31 March 2005, and formed part of the HRC’s theme for 2005, Cultural Landscapes. The conference focused particularly on the way in which traditional ideas about the role and function of the garden have been modified (in Australia, California, and other settler communities) in relation to local conditions, and especially to one major problem: the absence of water. It will also looked at Aboriginal ways of regarding and managing the land.

Speakers included:

Richard Aitken (State Library of Victoria)
Ian Donaldson (HRC, ANU)
Harriet Edquist (RMIT, Melbourne)
Paul Fox (Melbourne)
William Fox (Getty Research Institute)
Amareswa Galla (HRC, ANU)
Bill Gammage (HRC, ANU)
Andrea Gaynor (University of Western Australia)
Richard Grove (RSSS, ANU)
Tom Griffiths (RSSS, ANU)
Katie Holmes (La Trobe University)
Roy Ritchie (Huntington Library)
Val Plumwood (HRC, ANU)
Belinda Probert (University of Western Australia)
Libby Robin (CRES, ANU)
Deborah Rose (HRC, ANU)
Charles Salas (Getty Research Institute)
George Seddon (University of Western Australia)
Mike Smith (Australian National Museum)
Angus Trumble (Yale Center for British Art)
Christopher Vernon (University of Western Australia)
Terri-Ann White (University of Western Australia)

Some follow-up events in Melbourne were planned for the days immediately following the conference (1 and 2 April 2005) thanks to the support by RMIT and the National Gallery of Victoria.

Enquiries:

Professor Ian Donaldson
T: 6125 2700
F: 6248 0054
E: Ian.Donaldson@anu.edu.au

Dr Libby Robin
T: 6125 5016
F: 6125 0757
E: Libby.Robin@anu.edu.au

HRC Enquiries:
Leena Messina, Programs Manager
Humanities Research Centre, ANU
T: 6125 4357
F: 6125 1380
E: Leena.Messina@anu.edu.au