The Australian Computer Museum Society (ACMS) was established in 1994 with the goal of creating a museum in Australia dedicated to the evolution of computers and computing. Most major countries in the world have such a museum, but Australia did not.
Australia was only the third country in the world to design and build an electronic computer – CSIRAC. Australia deserved a computing heritage museum to preserve the artefacts and history of the marvellous technology which we helped pioneer.
Our members have been working tirelessly for many decades to save and preserve these invaluable historic computers and associated documentation, software, peripherals, photos, manuals, and magnetic media.
Our inaugural exhibition launches mid April 2021 at our new Croydon home, the National Computing Heritage Centre. Keep an eye out on this page and our Facebook for updates coming soon! A pop up museum is also coming this easter long weekend in Portland NSW (TBA)!!.
The ACMS is a not-for-profit charity supported through our members, volunteers, and private and corporate donations. These have enabled us to collate, restore, and preserve equipment. The ACMS is a covid safe venue.
Our passionate members have significant experience in computing and its history. We love to share this passion and our unique stories and heritage items with others. We concentrate particularly on the history of computing in Australia, and on the collection of machines made or assembled in Australia or of particular importance to the development of the industry in this country.
We invite you to join the society to enjoy, preserve and restore items. All financial donations are tax deductible. Even If you are unable to assist financially, we are always looking for support in any way you may be able. All assistance is greatly appreciated.
Are you a retro computing user or enthusiast?
Maybe you used a minicomputer. Maybe you used punch cards. Maybe you programmed in COBOL or assembled Microbees. Or maybe you are just interested in the history of computing and old stuff.
Join us! We encourage anyone to engage with us in our quest to document and provide a full picture of the history of computing in Australia.
From the early days of valve machines, to the minicomputers of the 1970s, to the bedroom revolution of home PCs, to the Internet revolution —the history of computers and computing is a rich, fascinating and compelling tale.
Help us tell this story by joining or making an ongoing contribution.
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We lose a lot in life and love without ever even knowing
We lose the little things between the coming and the going
And before we even know it we find the end is coming
We live, we die, we laugh, we love – we try to make it something.
– From the Poem ‘Lost and Found’ by Graeme Philipson
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and colleague, Graeme Philipson, has passed away after a tragic accident. Graeme was the founding and current president of the ACMS and Australia’s most prolific Computer Historian. The ACMS is determined to continue his legacy and establish a library of computing history in his name.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends.