James Semple Kerr

[Iain]

ICOMOS Australia has passed on the news that Jim Kerr, died on Wednesday 15^th October 2014, at Elizabeth Lodge, Willoughby, a nursing home where he moved five months ago. He was 82.

For those TICCIH members who are not aware of his work, Dr Kerr was an early member of Australia ICOMOS, and best known for his major role in the development of the Burra Charter and the Charter Guidelines, and for his book “The Conservation Plan”, first published in 1982 by the National Trust (NSW), which is now in its 7th edition. It is still a most relevant document and worth studying.

In this work he sets out in a simple and clear manner how to prepare a Conservation Plan generally following the Burra Charter principals (I think the first addition predates the adoption of the Burra Charter). Although one could query and improve upon his treatment of archaeological evidence; this is a minor issue in the face of a readable and well thought out document that has been a major influence on heritage practice in Australia and elsewhere.

He also published several similar books being Conservation Plans for Goat Island, Cockatoo Island, Fort Dennison and Admiralty House in which his conservation planning approach was demonstrated. In an era of freedom, these were published by the National Trust not hidden away by the commissioning bodies.

Kerr also was an early student of the evidence of convict history publishing “Design for convicts: an account of design for convict establishments in the Australian colonies during the transportation era” and “Out of sight, out of mind: Australia's places of confinement, 1788-1988” works that set the foundations for studies of Australia’s convict era.

ICOMOS Australia reports that a few weeks ago he completed the task he set a decade ago of compiling the papers of his wife, Dr Joan Kerr AM (1938-2004, art historian, writer, lecturer), and his own papers, and recording his family history. This material, in bound volumes, is now in the National Library.

TICCIH sends its condolences to his children, Tamsin Kerr and James Kerr, and their families. Jim Kerr made an important contribution to the intellectual rigour to the practice of heritage conservation.

[Liz]

Thanks for this   We have honoured him at our Icomos AGM this evening. I will be forwarding this message and what I said this evening to his family. .  

Liz Vines 

+61 419 816 525

Architect 

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