encouraging student participation in its activities;
supporting the teaching of architectural history;
supporting the processes of conservation in relation to such matters as significant structures and sites, documents and archives.
History
SAHANZ was established in 1984 by Professor David Saunders, at the University of Adelaide, South Australia. Professor Suanders Served as the first President. Throughout its history the society has promoted collegiality amongst its members, however, as Julia Gatley has written, this history has not been without its tensions, particularly between the empiricist historians and those with a commitment to theory. The society is a partner organisation of the Society of Architectural Historians. The society has had 19 individuals serve as Presidents. Among these, were Judith Brine, Fiona Gardner, Philip Goad, , Hannah Lewi, Peter Kohane, Robin Skinner and Stuart King.
Publications
SAHANZ produces two main publications: the Fabrications journal, and proceedings of the annual Society conference. A listing of the conferences back to 1984 is available on the . Fabrications is the refereed journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Australia and New Zealand and is available through . Established in 1989, it is devoted to scholarly publication in the field of architectural history. While one need not be a member of SAHANZ to publish in Fabrications, the Journal's contents reflect the wide interests of the Society's diverse membership. It particularly welcomes papers on the architectural, urban and landscape history of Australia, New Zealand, the SouthPacific and South-East Asian regions, while casting its net much further afield. The journal thus publishes refereed, academic essays and book reviews that are both purely concerned with the region, and which take a wider view of international questions, or issues beyond the Society's obvious frame of reference. Two issues are published each year: usually one is open and the other themed. The Books Received and Book Reviews sections account for new publications in architectural history concerned with Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and South-East Asian regions. Fabrications is indexed in the Avery Index of Architecture Periodicals. . Listings of the contents of all back issues of Fabrications are available on the .
Membership
SAHANZ invites professional, academic and student members who have an interest in the field of architectural history and theory in Australasia, Asia and the Pacific. Membership is renewed annually at the end of June. Members receive copies of Fabrications, and discounted attendance at the annual conference of the Society. There is currently a membership of around 170, consisting primarily of academics from universities in Australia and New Zealand.
Grants
SAHANZ offers an annual grant in memory of the founder of the Society, David Saunders. The David Saunders Founders Grant is intended to support research by beginning researchers who are members of SAHANZ.