Professor Miles Lewis

Miles Lewis has always been interested in the interaction of technology and culture. The Built Heritage Collection, created and added to over the length his career, is a reflection of this interest, which can also be seen in his publications and in his teaching.

As well as being a significant collection of  Australian building materials, the pieces included have important connections with the history of building construction in Australia. For example, the Marseille roof tile, little known in France but exported all over the world,  became the standard roof tile in Australia. This reinforces the notion that building history is not just about scientific or technical advancements,  but also incorporates the economic and trade histories of communities, and the adaptation and innovation that occurs.