Save Yallourn 1980-1985 is a community led architectural intervention project where the citizens of Yallourn act to protect the core community spaces of the town, which was sanctioned for demolition by the SEC in 1979. The community responds to the crisis by salvaging materials found within the town and its infrastructure and using those to install barricades around the town core, protecting the community spaces for which Yallourn was known for in the Latrobe Valley.
Timeline
The project weaves itself into the historical narrative of the town, which serves as the final act of rebellion in a series of protests enacted by the community against the unjust abuse of power by the SEC. Those points of rebellion range from going against SEC housing policies to create affordable settlements outside the official company town, critiquing working conditions at the SEC through local publications, standoff strikes at the open cut over the years and forming local clubs and associations to push back against the demolition announced by the SEC.
Demolition Plan
The project takes place in 1980, after the first event of demolition has taken place in Yallourn in 1979, directly placing itself within the crisis of demolition. Due to its position, the project takes opportunity of understanding the timeline of the demolition process from house evacuation to winning coal. The project aims to interrupt this process of demolition bit by bit by securing the town core of community facilities by 1985.
Material Inventory
Being placed within the crisis, the project made possible connections of the events of demolition with the materials available on site. Through the analysis of archival imagery, a material inventory was established. The inventory included materials salvaged from the demolition rubble, coal mining infrastructure and by-products.
Barricade Manual
A step by step manual proposes the installation of a barricade device by the community which traces its steps from the demolition site, to material procurement and implementation of the materials together to build architectural devices which can safeguard the community core of the town.
In the spirit of reconciliation Monash University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
