The Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand (SAHANZ) promotes standards of excellence in the field of architectural history research with a focus on Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.

SAHANZ acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which our members practice.

Events

Events

Events

ABSENCE

A healthy number of abstracts – more than 200! – were received for SAHANZ-AUHPH 2026, “Absence,” being hosted by the University of Melbourne from 7 to 9 December. The review process is underway, and acceptances will be sent out in early April. Conference updates are being posted on the conference …

Events

Next SAHANZ PhD Colloquium: EoI

We are calling for Expressions of Interest to host the next PhD Colloquium, to take place later in 2026. We imagine this being an online event. Doctoral candidates might consider taking the lead on it themselves. It would take a committee of 3-4 people to run it, with support from …

News

2027 SAHANZ Conference: Advance Notice

At the AGM in Launceston, it was announced that the 43rd annual SAHANZ conference will be hosted by Deakin University, Geelong, late in 2027. Mirjana Lozanovska, Elsie Telford and colleagues will be developing a call for papers addressing themes of Land/Country/Whenua, with more detail to be provided in due course. 

December 23, 2025

Events

Where Do We Draw the Line? Architectural History and Theory in the Digital Age – SAHANZ PhD Colloquium 2025

The 2026 SAHANZ PhD Colloquium abstracts is now available for download.

Events

Extremities: South, East, North, West of Architectural History

Congratulations and many thanks to Dave Beynon, Julian Worrall, Helen Norrie, Andrew Steen and Freya Su for a wonderful 41st annual SAHANZ conference, “Extremities,” in Launceston earlier this month!

Drawing entitled "Neo-Gaya" by Rui Shen Chong, 2022

Events

Islands

Proceedings from Islands, the 40th Annual Annual SAHANZ Conference are now available on our site.

Publications

Publications

News

CfP: Fabrications

37.3 Architectures of Solidarity Fabrications: The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia & New Zealand invites papers for Fabrications issue (Vol. 37 No. 3) on the theme of “Decolonization x Architecture.” The deadline for full papers is January 29, 2027, and the publication is scheduled for November 2027.  For …

Pages

Calls for papers

Fabrications: The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand —

37.3 Décolonisation x Architecture – January 29, 2027
37.2 Architectures of Solidarity – August 21, 2026

An Island

News

CfP: Fabrications Architectures of Solidarity

Fabrications: The Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia & New Zealand invites papers for a special issue (Vol. 37 No. 2) on the theme of “Architectures of Solidarity”, edited by Ipek Türeli and Anoma Pieris.

Media

Fabrications

34.3 (2025)

Across Australasian and Pacific scholarship there has been an uneven history of interest in First Nations architecture. In Australia in recent decades there has been a long overdue acknowledgement of the millenia of architecture, land stewardship, history, and family connections to Country by First Nations people, which has slowly gained acceptance in the academy. Some of this has recognised the work, skills, knowledge, and experiences of First Nations people as designers and creators of their own living environments prior to colonisation. Another strand has emerged from academic research into pre-invasion First Nations architecture and the responses First Nations people had to the brutal colonisation of their Countries, including creative and canny strategies to house themselves and their families and to enable the continuation of their communities. In Aotearoa New Zealand and Moana Pasifika, there is more advanced architectural research of Māori and Pacific people’s building and place making activities across both pre- and post-colonisation or contact with Europeans eras. Likewise, in the decades since then, there has been an increasing body of architectural history scholarship that explores the ways in which the economic and governance structures of colonisation (in all its varied forms across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Pacific) take hold and grow through the built environment. This is an important element of working towards the reckoning of this traumatic era in our region. The editors’ themed issue asked authors to consider the history of the building types and styles designed specifically to accommodate First Nations communities, whether by them or by others, including those from colonial and European-contact eras such as missions and reserve buildings and precincts; and the governance relationships and engagement of First Nations communities that have affected the architectural outcomes.
Taylor and Francis

Media

Fabrications

34.2 (2025)

Across Australasian and Pacific scholarship there has been an uneven history of interest in First Nations architecture. In Australia in recent decades there has been a long overdue acknowledgement of the millenia of architecture, land stewardship, history, and family connections to Country by First Nations people, which has slowly gained acceptance in the academy. In Aotearoa New Zealand and Moana Pasifika, there is more advanced architectural research of Māori and Pacific people’s building and place making activities across both pre- and post-colonisation or contact with Europeans eras. Likewise, in the decades since then, there has been an increasing body of architectural history scholarship that explores the ways in which the economic and governance structures of colonisation take hold and grow through the built environment. The editors’ themed issue asked authors to consider the history of the building types and styles designed specifically to accommodate First Nations communities, whether by them or by others, including those from colonial and European-contact eras such as missions and reserve buildings and precincts; and the governance relationships and engagement of First Nations communities that have affected the architectural outcomes.
Taylor and Francis

News

News

News

Applications for the David Saunders Founder’s Grant are Open

SAHANZ annually offers The David Saunders Founder’s Grant in memory of the founder of the Society, to support research by emerging researchers in the disciplines of architectural history and theory. Applications can be made to apply for funds to assist in field-work, archival assistance, printing and reproduction costs in preparation …

May 21, 2026

David Saunders

News

CfP: MATERIA ARQUITECTURA N°30 – BEYOND OCCUPANTS

Materia Arquitectura 30 invites us to explore how human, non-human and post-human patterns of occupation shape the more-than-human conditions in which architecture operates. Submission deadline: April 27, 2026.

March 30, 2026

News

2026 SAH Conference, Mexico: Programme

The programme for the 2026 Society of Architectural Historians conference in Mexico, taking place on 15-19 April, is available. Our region is well represented in sessions, roundtables and paper presentations. Click through for more details.

March 30, 2026

News

CfP: MATERIA ARQUITECTURA N°30 – BEYOND OCCUPANTS

Materia Arquitectura 30 invites us to explore how human, non-human and post-human patterns of occupation shape the more-than-human conditions in which architecture operates. Submission deadline: April 27, 2026.

February 11, 2026

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