# Harriet Edquist

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**Harriet Edquist** is an Australian historian and curator, and professor emerita in the School of Architecture and Urban Design at [RMIT University](/source/RMIT_University) in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne).[1] Born and educated in Melbourne, she has published widely on and created numerous exhibitions in the field of Australian architecture, art and design history. She has also contributed to the production of Australian design knowledge as the founding editor of the RMIT Design Archives Journal and is a member of the Design Research Institute at RMIT University.

## Education

Edquist graduated from [St Catherine's School](/source/St_Catherine's_School,_Toorak), Toorak in 1965.[2] She then studied for a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in classics (1976)[3] from [Monash University](/source/Monash_University), and completed a PhD in Architectural History at RMIT University (2000).[4]

## Academic career

Edquist began her teaching career as a lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts, [University of Melbourne](/source/University_of_Melbourne), and specialised in Renaissance and modern art history.

In 1987, she joined RMIT University as editor (with [Karen Burns](/source/Karen_Burns_(academic))) of *Transition: Discourse on Architecture*; a quarterly magazine produced by the Department of Architecture from 1979 until 2000 and dedicated to discourse on contemporary architectural practice and theory.[5] Serving from 1987 to 1991, the partnership of Edquist and Karen Burns stretched the critical range of this publication, arguing - as they wrote in their editorial for *Transition 38 -* that architectural discourse could extend "the boundaries of discussion to include all the arts and observations on the society".[6] They were both subsequently replaced as editors of *Transition* following a controversial 're-setting' of the publication's agenda, which was played out publicly through editorials and letters.[7]

In 1988, Edquist was appointed lecturer in Architectural History by RMIT University and from 2001 to 2007 served as Head of the School of Architecture and Design. She now holds the position of professor emerita at RMIT University. She was previously the founder and director of the RMIT Design Archives and founding editor of the RMIT Design Archives Journal.[8]

She is currently a member (and was the past President from 2003 to 2005) of [SAHANZ](/source/SAHANZ), the Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand.[9] Professor Edquist is also a member of [Docomomo Australia](http://docomomoaustralia.com.au).

In June 2015, she became the Foundation President of Automotive Historians Australia.[10] This organisation focusses on Australian automative history and was launched alongside **Shifting Gear: Design, Innovation and the Australian car**, an exhibition curated by Edquist in conjunction with David Hurlston at the NGV.

## Curated exhibitions

- 2015 *[Shifting Gear: Design, Innovation and the Australian car](http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/shifting-gear/)*, [NGV Federation Square](/source/Ian_Potter_Centre:_NGV_Australia) - with David Hurlston
- 2014 *[Free, Secular and Democratic: building the Public Library 1853–1913](http://exhibitions.slv.vic.gov.au/dome100/exhibitions/free-secular-and-democratic) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150905140251/http://exhibitions.slv.vic.gov.au/dome100/exhibitions/free-secular-and-democratic) 5 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine*,[11] [State Library of Victoria](/source/State_Library_of_Victoria)
- 2013 *[Frederick Romberg: An Architectural Survey](https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2013/april/frederick-romberg-an-architectural-survey/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150914050852/http://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2013/april/frederick-romberg-an-architectural-survey/) 14 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine*, [RMIT](/source/RMIT_University) Design Archives - with Michael Spooner, Keith Deverell, and Stephen Banham
- 2012 *[The Lost Modernist. Michael O'Connell](http://www.bendigoartgallery.com.au/Exhibitions/Past_Exhibitions/2011_Exhibition_Archive/The_Lost_Modernist_Michael_OConnell)*,[12][13] [Bendigo Art Gallery](/source/Bendigo_Art_Gallery) - with Tansy Curtin
- 2012 *[A skilled hand and cultivated mind: a guide to the architecture and art of RMIT University](https://universitypress.rmittraining.com/skilled-hand-and-cultivated-mind-guide-architecture-and-art-rmit-university-second-edition-0)*[14] - with Elizabeth Grierson
- 2010-11 *[The Stony Rises Project](https://web.archive.org/web/20160111072428/http://thestonyrisesproject.com/)*, touring exhibition [RMIT Gallery](/source/RMIT_Gallery) and regional Victorian galleries - with Laurene Vaughan and Lisa Byrne
- 2010 *[The architecture of Neil Clerehan](https://universitypress.rmittraining.com/architecture-neil-clerehan)*[15] - with Richard Black
- 2002 *Kurt Popper*[16][17]*,* [Jewish Museum of Australia](/source/Jewish_Museum_of_Australia)
- 2001 *Ernest Fooks*,[17] [Jewish Museum of Australia](/source/Jewish_Museum_of_Australia) - with Helen Stuckey
- 2001 *Frederick Romberg. An Architecture of Migration 1938-1975*, [RMIT Gallery](/source/RMIT_Gallery) and the [University of Queensland](/source/University_of_Queensland) Gallery - with Helen Stuckey
- 1999 *Wolfgang Sievers & Stanhill*,[18] [RMIT Gallery](/source/RMIT_Gallery) - with Vanessa Bird
- 1992 *The Angelic Space. A Celebration of Piero della Francesca's 500th Anniversary*, [Monash University](/source/Monash_University) Gallery - with Juliana Engberg
- 1991 *George Baldessin. An Exhibition of Drawings*,[19] [Heide Museum of Modern Art](/source/Heide_Museum_of_Modern_Art)
- 1991 *Diologhi per una possibile Utopia*, Museo Civico Cuneo, Piedmont and Turin Politecnico, Italy - with [Karen Burns](/source/Karen_Burns_(academic)) and Mauro Baracco
- 1991 *Companion City*,[5] [ACCA](https://www.accaonline.org.au) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161108111459/https://www.accaonline.org.au/) 8 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine (Australian Centre of Contemporary Art) - with [Karen Burns](/source/Karen_Burns_(academic))
- 1989 *Robin Boyd: The Architect as Critic*,[20] [State Library of Victoria](/source/State_Library_of_Victoria) - with [Karen Burns](/source/Karen_Burns_(academic)) and Dean Cass

## Selected recent publications *

- 2014 'Architecture and design' In: *Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth Century*, Australian Women's Archives Project 2014, Australia[21]
- 2013 'Frederick Romberg (1913–1992): an architectural survey' In: *Frederick Romberg. An Architecture of Migration 1938-1975,* Melbourne, Australia - with Spooner, M., Deverell, K., Banham, S., Ashton, K., and Tsolakis, L.
- 2013 *Building a new world: a history of the state library of Victoria 1853-1913*, State Library of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia[22]
- 2013 '"An architecture to excite an interest": grand visions for Melbourne's public library' In: *The La Trobe Journal*,[23] 52 - 61
- 2013 'The architectural legacy of the Scots in the western district of Victoria, Australia' In: *Architectural Heritage*, 24, 67 - 85[24]
- 2011 *Michael O'Connell: The Lost Modernist,* Melbourne Books, Melbourne, Australia[25]
- 2010 *Designing Place: An Archaeology of the Western District*, Melbourne Books, Melbourne Australia - with Lisa Byrne and Laurene Vaughan
- 2008 *Pioneers of Modernism. The Arts and Crafts Movement in Australia*, [Miegunyah Press](/source/Melbourne_University_Publishing), Melbourne Australia
- 2004 *Harold Desbrowe-Annear: a life in architecture*, Miegunyah Press, Melbourne, Australia[26]

## Awards and honours

In 1992, Edquist was awarded the Bates Smart National Award for Architecture in the Media, for her work editing *Transition: Discourse on Architecture*.[8] Edquist also shared this role with fellow architecture academic [Karen Burns](/source/Karen_Burns_(academic)).

In 2004, she was also awarded a Bates Smart National Award for Architecture in the Media, for her work writing the book *[Harold Desbrowe-Annear](/source/Harold_Desbrowe-Annear): A Life in Architecture*.[26][27]

Edquist was awarded an Honorary Fellow at the [Australian Institute of Architects](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Architects) in 2006, for services to architectural education and history. She is also an Honours Committee chair of the Victorian Chapter of the [Australian Institute of Architects](/source/Australian_Institute_of_Architects).

She is a member of the [International Confederation of Architectural Museums](/source/International_Confederation_of_Architectural_Museums), and a founding member of its Australian counterpart, icam Australia.

In 2016 Edquist was elected a Fellow of the [Australian Academy of the Humanities](/source/Australian_Academy_of_the_Humanities) (FAHA).[28]

Edquist was appointed a [Member of the Order of Australia](/source/Order_of_Australia) (AM) in the [2020 Australia Day Honours](/source/2020_Australia_Day_Honours) for "significant service to architectural history and design, and to higher education".[29]

## References

1. ["Staff Profile: Professor Harriet Edquist"](https://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/e/edquist-professor-harriet). Retrieved 29 April 2018.

1. ["Nil Magnum Nisi Bonum"](http://www.stcatherines.net.au/nil-magnum-nisi-bonum). *St Catherines School*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. Edquist (1976), ["The concept of otium in the pastorals of Theocritus and Virgil"](https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/5479325), retrieved 9 March 2021

1. Edquist (2000), ["Harold Desbrowe-Annear, 1865–1933: A life in architecture"](https://primo-direct-apac.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1d27kpc/RMIT_ALMA2138668920001341), retrieved 9 March 2021

1. ["Companion City | ACCA"](https://www.accaonline.org.au/exhibition/companion-city). *www.accaonline.org.au*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. Sawyer, Mark (2015). ["Call-and-Response: Group Formation and Agency enacted through an Architectural Magazine, its Letters and Editorials"](http://sahanz2015.be.unsw.edu.au/papers/Sawyer_Call-and-Response.pdf). *Architecture Institutions and Change, Proceedings of SAHANZ*. **32**: 553. ISBN 978-0-646-94298-8. Retrieved 11 October 2015.

1. Sawyer, Mark (2015). ["Call-and-Response: Group Formation and Agency enacted through an Architectural Magazine, its Letters and Editorials"](http://sahanz2015.be.unsw.edu.au/papers/Sawyer_Call-and-Response.pdf). *Architecture Institutions and Change, Proceedings of SAHANZ*. **32**: 554. ISBN 978-0-646-94298-8. Retrieved 11 October 2015.

1. ["RMIT Academic Profile: Professor Harriet Edquist"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150920225243/http://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff-contacts/academic-staff/e/edquist-professor-harriet). Archived from [the original](http://www.rmit.edu.au/contact/staff%2Dcontacts/academic%2Dstaff/e/edquist%2Dprofessor%2Dharriet) on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.

1. ["About SAHANZ"](http://www.sahanz.net/about/index.html#lifemembers). *Sahanz*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["OFFICE BEARERS/ COMMITTEE"](http://www.autohistoriansaustralia.org/new-page-1/). *Automotive Historians Australia Inc*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["Historyonics: Australia's first public library"](http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/historyonics3a-australia27s-first-public-library/4952160). *Radio National*. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. Sorensen, Rosemary. ["In search of the lost modernist of design"](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/in-search-of-the-lost-modernist-of-design/story-e6frg8n6-1226204077027). *The Australian*. Retrieved 11 October 2015.

1. ["Michael O'Connell: The Lost Modernist"](http://architectureau.com/articles/michael-oconnell-the-lost-modernist/). *ArchitectureAU*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["A skilled hand and cultivated mind: a guide to the architecture and art of RMIT University"](https://universitypress.rmittraining.com/skilled-hand-and-cultivated-mind-guide-architecture-and-art-rmit-university-second-edition-0). *English Worldwide*. 2015-01-27. Retrieved 2019-05-31.

1. ["The architecture of Neil Clerehan"](https://universitypress.rmittraining.com/architecture-neil-clerehan). *English Worldwide*. 2015-01-27. Retrieved 2019-05-31.

1. Edquist, Harriet (2002). [*Kurt Popper : from Vienna to Melbourne, architecture 1939-1975 / Harriet Edquist*](http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2334156). Melbourne, Vic: RMIT School of Architecture + Design. ISBN 0864592256.

1. ["Headlines"](http://architectureau.com/articles/headlines-41/). *ArchitectureAU*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["Stanhill: 14 images by Wolfgang Sievers of Frederick Romberg's Stanhill Flats, 1951; event at Design and Art Australia Online"](https://www.daao.org.au/bio/event/stanhill-14-images-by-wolfgang-sievers-of-frederick-rombergs-stanhill-flats-1951/). *www.daao.org.au*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["George Baldessin: an exhibition of drawings event at Design and Art Australia Online"](https://www.daao.org.au/bio/event/george-baldessin-an-exhibition-of-drawings/). *www.daao.org.au*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["Robin Boyd : the architect as critic / an exhibition at the La Trobe Library, State Library of Victoria - Details - Trove"](http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/18620069). *trove.nla.gov.au*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. Melbourne, The University of. ["Architecture and Design - Theme - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia"](http://www.womenaustralia.info/leaders/biogs/WLE0030b.htm). *www.womenaustralia.info*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["Building a new world: a history of the State Library of Victoria 1853–1913"](http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about-us/our-publications/building-new-world-history-state-library-victoria). *State Library Victoria*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. ["Home - La Trobe Journal"](http://latrobejournal.slv.vic.gov.au/latrobejournal/index.html). *latrobejournal.slv.vic.gov.au*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. Edquist, Harriet (2013-11-01). ["The Architectural Legacy of the Scots in the Western District of Victoria, Australia"](http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/arch.2013.0046). *Architectural Heritage*. **24** (1): 67–85. [doi:10.3366/arch.2013.0046](https://doi.org/10.3366/arch.2013.0046). [ISSN 1350-7524](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1350-7524)

1. ["Michael O'Connell : the lost modernist / Harriet Edquist. - Version details - Trove"](http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/154495159?q&versionId=168415408). *trove.nla.gov.au*. Retrieved 2015-10-11.

1. Edquist, Harriet (2004). *Harold Desbrowe-Annear: A Life in Architecture*. Carlton, VIC, Australia: The Miegunyah Press. ISBN 9780522850529.

1. Underhill, Nancy (2005). ["Harold Desbrowe-Annear, a life in architecture - a review"](http://www.nla.gov.au/ojs/index.php/ras/article/viewFile/219/250). Retrieved 11 October 2015.

1. ["Harriet Edquist"](https://humanities.org.au/fellows/fellow-profile/?fellow_id=918). *Australian Academy of the Humanities*. Retrieved 2024-05-27.

1. ["Professor Harriet Edquist"](https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2005269). *honours.pmc.gov.au*. Retrieved 2020-01-26.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Harriet Edquist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Edquist) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Edquist?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.