Australian history Archives

Features //

Cassandra Pybus, Truganini and the role of public history

Charting the career of historian Cassandra Pybus via her latest book Truganini: Journey through the apocalypse.

April 6, 2020 Robbie Mason

Analysis //

Wooden Ships and Iron Men: Race and Violence on the Beach Frontier

Maritime history without rose-tinted glasses. (Part 2 of 2.)

January 28, 2020 Robbie Mason

Analysis //

Mimicry and Memory: Aboriginal and Māori Seafarers during the Age of Sail

Cultural entanglements, commemoration and the Tasman Sea. (Part 1 of 2.)

January 24, 2020 Robbie Mason

Image of legislation with excerpts of letters laid over it

Analysis //

Australia’s Forgotten Labourer History

Seb Rees provides a historical account of Australia’s Pacific Island Labourers Act through various letters written at the time.

January 25, 2019 Seb Rees

Bungaree, dressed in colonial clothes, stands in front of the Endeavour ship.

Perspective // Australian History

Scott Morrison’s Endeavour voyage politicises Australian history

Scott Morrison’s $6.7 million Endeavour tour is not only guilty of historical inaccuracy, it erases the role of Aboriginal individuals in early colonial Australia.

January 24, 2019 Robbie Mason

Repeated image of an emu in style of propaganda poster with text "we want you to spoil all crops".

Misc //

One Bird And A Lot Of Stones

Adam Murphy on when emus fought the war and won.

October 16, 2015 Adam Murphy

Perspective //

Reproducing History

Phoebe Maloney on abortion and white supremacy.

March 18, 2015 Phoebe Moloney

Features //

Lest we remember

Australian public art whitewashes our uncomfortable past, writes Matilda Surtees.

April 28, 2014 Matilda Surtees