ABOUT CRHR - Background, Aims, Membership, Activities, Contact

   

Background:

Canberra and Region Heritage Researchers was established in 2020 as an informal group to provide mutual support for people at every level who are interested in researching the history and heritage of Canberra and the Region. We currently have more than 30 members.  Most CRHR members are also members of other history and heritage groups, and we work collaboratively with these organisations to mutual benefit.

Aims:

The group has an outward focus.  It is committed to fostering new research and disseminating results widely to raise public awareness and understanding of local history and heritage issues through the collaborative sharing of new knowledge, skills and expertise.  We also support members who research for interest rather than for publication.

CRHR is founded on the key principle that cooperative working can bring together different skills and interests and lead to outcomes that are beyond the capacity of singular research efforts, particularly in a digital environment which offers exciting opportunities for collaboration. 

We have a particular interest in using digital heritage resources such as Trove, the National Archives, ACTmapi and the NSW Land Registry Services, and in the use of new analytical tools and techniques such as spatial and imagery searches, and the responsible use of AI.  Members at all levels of technology skills are valued.

We also aim to encourage the production of high quality and compelling history and heritage research in a variety of formats such as videos, blogs, walks, talks and articles that can be disseminated to a wide range of audiences through our combined knowledge of history and heritage groups, publications, web sites and other channels.

Membership:

Membership is open to anyone who shares this interest, from beginners through to experienced researchers.  The group has no formal officers, constitution or membership or other fees, and the group relies on members contributing their expertise and skills.  Members are encouraged to take on responsibilities for organising events, and to share administrative tasks.  Members are also encouraged to share their knowledge and provide mentoring and assistance to other members, and to publish their findings in innovative ways.  

The current membership has found that moving out of individual silos and being exposed to others’ interests provides a broader context for their individual research which enriches perspectives at every level of experience.   It has become a core value of the group -  members helping members to produce better history and heritage research. 

We have been very fortunate that the founding membership has a remarkably wide range of experience, interests and expertise.  And we are hopeful that CRHR will expand and new members will also bring their various expertise and experience to the network. 

Research Methods:

CRHR is evolving in a research environment which is constantly changing.  Digital technologies are transforming the ways in which history and heritage research is conducted, the way archival collections are stored and accessed, and the ways in which research outcomes can be shared.  Many new and exciting research discoveries are being made as a result.  CRHR assists members to share their knowledge and skills in these new processes, keep up to date and develop new skills.  CRHR received a 2023 Heritage Award from National Trust (ACT) for Digital Research: Collaborative Research and Promotion.

Activities:

CRHR currently links members in the following ways:

• A regular schedule of Zoom and face to face meetings, offering presentations by members and outside experts on topics of general relevance, and a forum for airing ideas and seeking support.
• Chinwag meetings – regular meetings where members can provide updates on their research, request information or assistance, and share information on useful sources they have found.
• Group visits to archives, heritage places etc.
• A digital forum (currently the CRHR Google Group platform) that provides a forum where members can post questions or share new information that they have found which might be relevant to others.  This has led to many useful collaborations and helped many to progress their research.
• Cooperative working – e.g. some members have worked in small groups to research and produce short heritage videos.  These bring history and heritage to new audiences.
• Many member projects draw on skills and information from other members. The group is increasingly contacted by other history and heritage organisations, researchers, authors, libraries and government and community bodies to assist with research queries, analytical tools etc.
• CRHR operates a stall at the annual National Trust Open Day during the ACT Heritage Festival. Some members contribute to this and other events, for example through presentations, publications etc.

Contacts:

If you would like to find out more or join CRHR contact the co-conveners Tony Maple and Rob Quodling at crhresearchers@gmail.com