Melbourne Rock 'n' Roll High School Archive
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Historical Note
Founded in 1990 by Stephanie Bourke, a drummer and singer for band Hecate (called Litany when touring overseas), Melbourne Rock 'n' Roll High School provided a venue for hundreds of mostly female students to collaborate and learn to play rock music. Bands launched by the school include Bindi, Midget Stooges, Sourpuss, Tuff Muff and Sheraw.
Bourke began the school after her experiences teaching classical music piano to students in (mostly female) highschools, where students were interested in learning guitar, drums, keyboards, and bass and making their own music. Bourke began running a summer school from a space in East Melbourne in summer 1989. At first she was able to borrow gear and set up a band room and recording facilities, putting out the word through girl networks and employing friends as teachers, and working out some basic fees to cover costs. Bourke and others then approached the Victorian Women's Trust and Government agencies (VicHealth) for funding, and rented a space for a permanent Rock 'n' Roll High School in 1990 at 186 Easy Street, Collingwood. The school's programs resulted in CDs, live shows, and an eventual worldwide network of musicians as Riot Grrrl emerged as a movement.
Sources:
- Shaw, Megan. (1997, December 29). "Sounds like the girls are playing up" The Age.
- Milne, Lachlan. Email correspondence, February 2012
Arrangement
The collection is divded into two series by material type. Within the series, original order has been retained.
Series I: Administrative files, Promotional materials, and Press
Series II: Media
Scope and Content
The Melbourne Rock 'n' Roll Highschool Archive contains administrative materials, including grant applications and a student application; promotional materials including flyers, stickers and tickets for performances by associated bands; issues of Rock 'n' Roll High School Newsletter; press about Rock 'n' Roll High School including issues of Polymer News and Westinghouse Magazine; media, including CDs, audiocassettes and a 7" vinyl of recordings by bands involved with Rock 'n' Roll High School.
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Conditions Governing Access
Materials are open to researchers. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright (or related rights to publicity and privacy) for materials in this collection was not transferred to New York University. Permission to use materials must be secured from the copyright holder. Please contact the Fales Library and Special Collections, fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Melbourne Rock n Roll Highschool Archive; MSS 325; box number; folder number; Fales Library and Special Collections, New York University Libraries.
Provenance
The collection was donated to Fales by Lachlan Milne in 2010.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Access copies for some materials are available by appointment for reading room viewing and listening only. Please contact fales.library@nyu.edu, 212-998-2596.