Documenting modern Australia
About this module
This resource adopts an inquiry learning approach that develops students' skills and give them an opportunity to critically examine technologies - materials, systems, components, tools, and equipment - that are used regularly in the home and in local, national, regional or global communities, with consideration of social ethics, and social and environmental sustainability factors. Students consider why and for whom technologies were developed.
This resource also aligns with sections of the Australian Curriculum: HASS - Economics and Business standards for Year 5 and 6 students.
Copyright for teachers
You can download all collection materials in this resource for education purposes. For more information, go to copyright for teachers.
The Wolfgang Sievers Collection
Wolfgang Georg Sievers (1913–2007) was a well-known modernist photographer who documented Australian industry and architecture for almost 60 years. The Library’s Wolfgang Sievers Collection consists of about 19,000 prints and 52,000 negatives and transparencies.
It is not only the largest archive of Sievers’ work collected anywhere, but also the largest photographic collection held in the Library. The Library bought several instalments of photographs from Sievers between 1996 and 2001. In March 2002, the Library purchased his entire photographic archive, which was transferred to it by 2003.
Topics in this module
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1991). [Photograph of Wolfgang Sievers], Berlin, Germany, 1991 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-161009403
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1965). Aluminium profiles at Comalco's plant at Yennora, New South Wales, 1965, 3 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160295127
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1968). National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne - Forecourt with Rodin's Balzac, 1968, 2 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160765377
Introductory activities
- Have the students research the history of photography. Ask students to research a camera from any period in the history of photography and describe the mechanics of how it works. Use images and diagrams to show working parts.
- Have students discuss the role of photography as a way to document history and change. How does it differ from painting or writing things down? Is it a reliable way to document the past? What might we need to consider when taking information from photographs?
- Ask students to think about machines or technology they interact with daily. What do they do? How do they help their daily lives? Have students consider how people did these things before the machines or technology were invented. How has the use of these technologies or machines impacted our lives?
- Have students create a diagram that shows the interconnectedness of a workforce. Have them consider how a production chain would be staffed. Who runs the business? How are products made? How are the staff managed? Are machines involved in the production chain? Do the machines need people to manage them? As inspiration, have them consider the interconnectedness of their school. How are roles and jobs divided among the people at the school?
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1982). Two unidentified employees at ACI engineering plant, Melbourne, Victoria [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160464865
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1982). Two unidentified employees at ACI engineering plant, Melbourne, Victoria [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160464865
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1962). Rope making with ropeway ... James Miller & Company, Brunswick, Melbourne [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160291321
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1962). Rope making with ropeway ... James Miller & Company, Brunswick, Melbourne [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160291321
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1956). Associated Pulp and Paper Mills, Burnie, Tasmania, 1956 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160293425
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1956). Associated Pulp and Paper Mills, Burnie, Tasmania, 1956 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-160293425
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1971). Vickers Ruwolt employee checking crusher for mining industry, Burnley, Victoria, 1971 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-161733602
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1971). Vickers Ruwolt employee checking crusher for mining industry, Burnley, Victoria, 1971 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-161733602
Concluding activities
- Have students design their dream house using appropriate tools - grid paper, protractors, set squares, compass. Students should draw floor plans and elevations of their house. Ask them to consider the form and function of the house. What style is it in, how did they incorporate elements of this style? Ask them to consider how they would use the spaces within.
- Later in his career Wolfgang Sievers was saddened by the effect of industry on the environment. Have students research the impact of a large-scale industry (such as mining or cattle grazing) on the environment. As a class, discuss if the industry or company has an obligation to mitigate or rectify the damage done to the environment. What steps can industry take to minimise their environmental impact?
- Look at the below photographs showing reforestation and environmental protection efforts at Alcoa’s Anglesea brown coal mine in 1977. The mine closed in August 2015. Use Google Maps to view the site of the mine today. Have students consider what land rehabilitation would need to be done to return the site to its unworked state. Research other similar locations where mines have closed and land needs to be rehabilitated.
- What role does industry play in the future? Ask students to consider the world in 50, 100 or 200 years. What kind of industries will be emerging? What kind of machines or tools might be developed to deal with new situations or industries? What kind of industry and technology will be obsolete? Have students produce a creative work based on their projections.
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1977). Environment protection, Geoff Watson at Alcoa's brown coal mine, Anglesea, Victoria, 1977 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143347221
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1977). Environment protection, Geoff Watson at Alcoa's brown coal mine, Anglesea, Victoria, 1977 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143347221
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1977). Planting trees at Alcoa's brown coal mine, Anglesea, Victoria, 1977 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143347120
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1977). Planting trees at Alcoa's brown coal mine, Anglesea, Victoria, 1977 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143347120
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1977). Reafforestation at Alcoa's brown coal mine, [Geoff Watson studying some plants], Anglesea, Victoria, 1977 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143347326
Sievers, Wolfgang, 1913-2007. (1977). Reafforestation at Alcoa's brown coal mine, [Geoff Watson studying some plants], Anglesea, Victoria, 1977 [picture] / Wolfgang Sievers. nla.gov.au/nla.obj-143347326
Curriculum links
This resource has been developed with specific reference to:
- Australian Curriculum: Design and Technologies for Years 5 and 6, and
- Australian Curriculum: HASS Economics and Business Knowledge and Understanding area of study for Years 5 and 6.
- Examine how people in design and technologies occupations address competing considerations, including sustainability in the design of products, services and environments for current and future use. (ACTDEK019)
- Investigate characteristics and properties of a range of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment, and evaluate the impact of their use. (ACTDEK023)
Economics and business
- Examine types of resources (natural, human, capital) and the ways societies use them to satisfy the needs and wants of present and future generations. (ACHASSK120)
- Investigate the reasons businesses exist and the different ways they provide goods and services. (ACHASSK151)
More to learn and do
Kathy Weeden reading her book Phonobet, illustrated by Kim Drane and published by NLA Publishing, at Enlighten at the Library 2024
