Royal Australian Historical Society

04/09/2026

CELEBRATE HISTORY WEEK WITH OVER 60 EVENTS ACROSS NSW

Australians are renowned for spinning a good yarn but how do stories keep history alive and what do they tell us about ourselves?

Keeping Stories is the theme of this year’s History Week which runs from 5 – 13 September.

History Week is the annual, state-wide celebration of history organised by the History Council of NSW (HCNSW). Initiated in 1997, History Week is a fantastic opportunity for member organisations, large and small, throughout New South Wales to engage with community about the vitality, diversity, and meaning of history and its practice.

HCNSW members are invited to host public events - talks and lectures, behind the scenes tours and heritage trails, exhibitions, podcasts, film festivals, open days for homes and gardens, book launches and more - relating to the theme of Keeping Stories to foster an understanding and appreciation of the work of historians and its relevance in current times.

HCNSW President, Dr Naomi Parry Duncan, says this year’s theme is more significant than ever. “We are living in a rapidly changing world, of global conflict and heightened security concerns, and at the same time we are facing a crisis in university education and the domestic pressure to develop our cities and towns to create more housing. So how do we keep the stories that matter to our communities?”

As part of History Week, the HCNSW Annual History Awards and Lecture will take place on Friday 11 September at Glebe Town Hall. This year the Annual History Lecture will be given by the Mitchell Librarian, Richard Neville.

To find a History Week event near you check out the Events Calendar at https://historycouncilnsw.org.au/whats-on-2/

📷 History Council of NSW and City of Sydney History Week flags flying in the city.

04/09/2026

Richard Neville is telling stories at the Annual History Awards and Lecture.

"This lecture will focus on the history of the State Library of NSW, but more importantly its role as the keeper of, and the facilitator of, the collecting and the telling of Australian history. The Library was at this game long before the Mitchell Library was established - really from the late 1860s onwards - in curating a European version of Australian history, albeit a bit unsure about how to deal with the convict legacy.

"Into the 20th century the Library mixed a general positivist view of Australian history with a strong moral purpose: that reading and books were a force for good, and economic development - a view that started to unwind in the 1980s and was accelerated by both new ways of thinking and an online world."

Richard Neville, Mitchell Librarian & Director, Learning, Scholarship and Outreach, The State Library of New South Wales

To hear Richard's lecture, celebrate the award winners, and enjoy canapés and a drink while you mingle with other like-minded history boffins and buffs purchase your ticket to the Annual History Awards & Lecture.

Friday September 11, 6 - 9pm, at Glebe Town Hall.

https://events.humanitix.com/history-council-of-nsw-annual-awards-and-lecture

31/08/2026

The Rum Corps: Rulers of the Colony

Join the Military History Society of New South Wales at the Anzac Memorial Hyde Park on 5th September for their monthly lecture.

The NSW Corps was raised to protect and police the people of the infant colony of NSW. Instead, they became corrupt traders in rum, goods, land and power for twenty years. They defied several Governors, culminating in the overthrow of Governor William Bligh and the Rum Rebellion of 1808. Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Lyons (retd) will talk about this turbulent time in the military history of NSW.

📅 Saturday, 5 September 2026 at 10:30 am.
📍 The Auditorium, Anzac Memorial Hyde Park, Sydney C*D.
🎟 Free entry, but a donation is appreciated.
For more information: https://militaryhistorynsw.com.au/

📷 The arrest of Governor Bligh, 1808 (Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW)

27/08/2026

Uncovering Musquito with Naomi Parry Duncan

Join Naomi Parry Duncan in conversation with Rachel Franks about her book, 'Musquito: The real story of a legendary colonial warrior' (Allen & Unwin, 2026).

Nibbles and drinks will be provided, and Naomi will have books available for purchase and signing. Note that this event will be followed by the PHA NSW & ACT Annual General Meeting, commencing at 7.30 pm.

📅 Tuesday, 1st September 2026, from 5:45 pm for a 6:00 pm start.
📍 Hybrid - History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW and Online.
🎟 PHA Members Free | Non-members $10.

Register here: https://phansw.wildapricot.org/event-6780951

26/08/2026

Australians Believe History Matters

RAHS Members and Supporters do not need convincing that history matters. But what does the wider Australian public think? A recent national survey provides some encouraging answers.

'History Matters: Australian Attitudes to the Past' was written by Dr Nicole Townsend, Lecturer in War Studies at UNSW Canberra. Funded by the War Studies Research Group, it draws on responses from 1,503 Australian adults surveyed in January 2026.

Around 80 per cent of Australians are interested in Australian history, although only 57 per cent feel knowledgeable about it. The report also found that history retains a firm place in public life. Eighty-three per cent of respondents believe the past is relevant to society today, and 85 per cent say understanding history can help prevent earlier mistakes from being repeated.

Respondents were also alert to the risks surrounding how history is used. Seventy-seven per cent believe it is vulnerable to simplification, misuse or misrepresentation by politicians, policymakers, the media and others.

Some findings will be of particular interest to the RAHS and Affiliated Societies. Museums and historic places were the most trusted sources of historical information, with each trusted by 83 per cent of respondents. Sixty-eight per cent also preferred learning through original documents and objects, including diaries, letters, maps, clothing and photographs.

So, what does this mean for the RAHS and its Affiliated Societies? The survey confirms there is a public appetite for the work we already do: researching and publishing history, caring for collections, and helping people understand their local communities. It also points to an opportunity to make that work more accessible to people interested in history who may not know where to begin.

Read the full History Matters report: https://www.unsw.edu.au/canberra/about-us/our-schools/hass/our-research/war-studies/survey-of-australian-attitudes-towards-the-past

25/08/2026

Tribute to early cinema and its relationship with breaking the sound barrier and negotiating pre-codes and censorship

Join the Film Heritage Academy at History House for a screening of the early sound classic, The Letter (1929).

This adaptation of Somerset Maugham’s play provides a powerful structure for the astonishing performance of Jeanne Eagels in this celebrated drama film. Australian-born star of stage and film O.P. Heggie plays a key role. An affair, the shooting of a lover, the torrid aftermath and trial all combine to deliver an early talkie that attracted widespread critical acclaim and established that sound movies had a unique artistic potential that differed from silent film. This film and its success helped to normalise sound and establish its dominance.

📅 Friday, 28 August 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 am
📍 Auditorium, History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
🎟 General $25 | Concession $20.
🎫 RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1623409

Film Heritage Academy: The Letter (1929) - Royal Australian Historical Society

24/08/2026

RAHS Day Lecture – Discovering Bessie Rischbieth

We are pleased to welcome Dr Michelle Staff to History House for the RAHS Day Lecture on 2nd September 2026 at 1 pm.

Michelle will speak about her current project: a biography of Western Australian feminist Bessie Rischbieth.

Bessie Mabel Rischbieth (1874–1967) was many things: a feminist leader, an ardent internationalist, a lifelong theosophist and a global traveller, as well as a wife, aunt and sister. Her name might not be so well known now, but at her peak from the 1910s to the 1940s, she was one of the most significant feminists in the country.

This presentation will share key features and events from her long life and showcase archival materials that offer insights into her fascinating and sometimes enigmatic character.

📅 Wednesday, 2nd September 2026, at 1 pm.
📍 History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney, and online for remote viewers.
🎟 Free. All welcome! Booking recommended.
👉 https://www.rahs.org.au/shop/tickets-discovering-bessie-rischbieth/

📷 Bessie Rischbieth in India, 1929-30 (National Library of Australia)

23/08/2026

New Lift and Upgrades Planned for History House

With the new roof complete, we are turning our attention to the next major stage of work at History House: installing a new internal lift.

The lift will improve disability access and make History House easier to visit. It has been ordered through Harwel, a lift company based in Gloucester, NSW. The lift is being specially manufactured in Spain to fit within the existing lift shaft while meeting current accessibility requirements. Once completed, it will be shipped to Australia for installation by Harwel.

History House will temporarily close to the public on 16 October 2026 so that we can move library materials and prepare the building for the work ahead. The back of the library, where the current library toilets are located, will be reconfigured to create the new lift entrance.

Dismantling of the old lift will begin on 9 November. The new lift is expected to arrive on 15 January 2027, with installation beginning on 18 January and scheduled for completion by 26 February.

We will also improve the tenancy spaces on Levels 2 and 3 and in the basement. Rental income from these spaces will help maintain History House and support the RAHS’s work to promote Australian history.

The RAHS will remain active throughout the closure. Events will move online, and we hope to organise some excursions. RAHS Librarian Donna Newton will continue to answer research enquiries by phone and email.

Thank you to our members, donors and supporters for making this important work possible. We will provide regular updates as the project progresses and look forward to welcoming you back to a more accessible and improved History House in March 2027.

21/08/2026

Before watching the Netflix miniseries of 'My Brilliant Career', read about the author, Miles Franklin!

📖 👉 https://www.rahs.org.au/miles-franklin-1879-1954/

📷 Miles Franklin, author – portrait, 1901, Rozelle, Auburn Street, Goulburn (Image courtesy State Library of NSW)

17/08/2026

🔎 Exclusive experiences at the Anzac Memorial this History Week!

Hear the stories behind the Memorial's remarkable bas reliefs, then return after hours to see the darker side of the Memorial and uncover the secrets hidden within.

Two special events on Wednesday 9 September:
👉 Curatorial Talk: Revealing stories behind the Anzac Memorial's bas reliefs (3:30pm – 4:30pm)
👉 Tour: Secrets of the Anzac Memorial (6:30pm – 8:00pm)

Places are limited.

🔗 For full details and to book: www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/event/history-week-2026-anzac-memorial