Walk and explore the history of computing at the University of Melbourne in a tour conducted by Dr Richard Gillespie, Curator in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology and Mitch Goodwin, lecturer in Digital Studies. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the School of Computing and Information Systems, the tour includes screening of short films from 1964 and 1987, historic objects and documents.

What to expect:

A 60-minute walking tour throughout the University of Melbourne highlighting the history of computing.

While every effort will be made to accommodate mobility levels, participants should expect approximately 2-3 kilometres as part of the tour, and be comfortable navigating uneven terrain.

Being Human 2025

This project was produced in collaboration with the 2025 Being Human Festival. Founded in the UK as the only national festival of the humanities, Being Human is now a global celebration dedicated to demonstrating the breadth, diversity and vitality of the humanities.

View the full Festival program here.

Your tour guides

Richard Gillespie is senior curator in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology. He was previously Head of the Humanities Department at Museums Victoria and curator and producer for the development of Scienceworks, Immigration Museum, Melbourne Museum and Royal Exhibition Building. His works include Manufacturing Knowledge: a history of the Hawthorn Experiments (1993), Seize the Day: exhibitions, Australia and the world (co-edited, 2008), The Great Melbourne Telescope (2008).

Mitch Goodwin is a Melbourne based artistic researcher with a focus on the cultural and ethical implications of Generative AI. An interdisciplinarian, he has presented at SXSW Interactive, written for Rolling Stone magazine and his creative works have toured internationally. His research interests cover a range of topics including drone swarms, netploitation cinema, media literacy and the gothic turn in digital aesthetics. Mitch is a Liverpool FC fan and a Bowie tragic.

Contact the host of Bits, Bytes and Breakthroughs: 70 Years of Computing at Melbourne (12pm)

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