Vale Max Burnet (1941-2023)
Max was a graduate of the University of Melbourne and spent four years at Weapons Research Establishment in Salisbury (South Australia) before returning to Melbourne to start Digital Equipment’s Australian operations in 1967.
Max was pioneer in the recognition and retention of our computing heritage and an authority on early Australian-made computers. He was a supporter of numerous computer heritage projects, including those at the University of Melbourne and Monash University.
Max mounted a number of significant exhibitions of computing history and provided computers for movie set props including the fabulous PDP-9 in “The Dish”. He started the Australian Computer Museum as well as “The Old Timers” annual lunch held each November in Sydney. Max was elevated to the Pearcey Hall of Fame in 2006.
A warm and generous person with infectious, boyish, enthusiasm he was widely admired and a great contributor to Australia’s rich ICT Heritage – he will be missed.
