Past Events

The Reserve Bank of Australia Museum tells the story of Australia’s banknotes against the background of the nation's economic and social development, from colonial settlement through to the current era.

Peter Cochrane is best known as an Australian historian but he has recently made the transition to successful novelist with his novel The Making of Martin Sparrow (Penguin 2018). Peter will discuss the life and times of Martin Sparrow, how he came to write the book and history’s part in the exercise.

In this presentation, Tegan Anthes will explore conservation fundamentals such as handling, cleaning, display and storage of a variety of objects, and provide some demonstrations of techniques that you can use and when you should call a conservator.

Join us at History House for the opportunity to learn more about the RAHS and our facilities. Enjoy light refreshments in our beautiful Reception rooms while mingling with RAHS staff, Councillors and long-term members.

Join us for an exciting regional seminar in Orange to learn about history in your local community and gain practical skills for your historical research. Topics will include how cemeteries can be used as sources for local history of an area, research tips and strategies from professional historians and insights into the various sources available on Trove and the new HLRV.

Have you ever wanted to go back in time and find out more about the history of your house and the area where you live? This seminar will discuss how to search for your property’s previous owners, learn about what it might have looked like – inside and outside − 50, 60 or 100 years ago and suggest strategies for discovering more about the history of your locality.

Gundagai’s statue of the Dog on the Tuckerbox, about half way between Melbourne and Sydney, was arguably Australia’s most popular purpose-built tourist attraction for half a century from its unveiling in 1932. Richard White will use the monument as a case study to consider the ways in which the past is visualised as it is turned into tourism.

The Museum of Freemasonry contains an extensive collection of objects with Masonic decoration including pottery and porcelain, glassware, silver, furniture and clocks, jewels and regalia. Items belonging to famous Freemasons are also on display. The collection is housed in a building considered the finest example of Brutalist Architecture in the Southern Hemisphere.

The old Darlinghurst gaol is one of Australia’s oldest and best preserved examples of colonial sandstone architecture, which over the last two centuries has transformed from a place of abject misery to one of Australia’s premier arts institutes.