RAHS Latest News
Australian War Correspondents: ‘We go, so you know’
Liverpool Regional Museum presents: Australian War Correspondents: ‘We go, so you know’ Join Christopher Holcroft as he discusses the story of Australia’s war correspondents from colonial times to the present. Being a war correspondent is often considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in journalism. Some work for private news agencies, while others work for the military. They work on or close to the front lines, reporting back on what they witness. As the motto of the Australian War...
Sydney Whale Tales
Mosman Historical Society presents: Sydney Whale Tales by Nancy Cushing Nancy Cushing will explain that while whales literally have only a passing association with Sydney, they have captured the attention of residents for millennia, as can be seen in the rock carvings of whales along the coast. Her talk will focus on the interest in whales both before and after Federation and how it was driven by scientific enquiry, economic motives and curiosity about these ‘monster fish’. About the speaker...
A View from the Top: External Roof Works Begin
A View from the Top: External Roof Works Begin Back in July 2025, the Royal Australian Historical Society shared the exciting news that we’d received $112,790 in funding from the NSW Government’s Caring for State Heritage Grants program. The announcement featured the Hon. Penny Sharpe, MLC, Minister for Heritage, standing proudly in front of History House as we celebrated this important investment in conserving our much-loved heritage building. This week, the external roof works started. This...
Collections and Community: Trove and NSW Historical Societies
RAHS Hybrid Seminar Tuesday, 11 November 2025 | 10.30 am – 3.30 pm History House, Sydney – or join us online The RAHS invites you to Collections and Community: Trove and NSW Historical Societies, presented in partnership with the National Library of Australia. This special one-day event explores how community history organisations can use Trove’s tools, resources and partnerships to connect collections and strengthen the local history network. About the Event Collections and Community focuses...
The 37th James Jervis Memorial Lecture
Parramatta Historical Society presents: The 37th James Jervis Memorial Lecture Cleanliness is Next to Godliness: An archaeological perspective on the influences of Victorian values and city-wide health in Parramatta For more than 30 years, archaeologists have recorded and studied the colonial past of Parramatta, the second-oldest European settlement in NSW. Archaeological investigations provide a wealth of information that contributes to the interpretation of the landscape, the history of the...
Where Water Meets Memory: The Histories Behind Sydney’s Drinking Fountains
Written by Zoe McPherson, RAHS Volunteer For many of us, a drinking fountain is simply a place to quench our thirst. For others, they are objects of architectural admiration. Yet they are much more than that. They hold history. They offer experiences. They create opportunities. The hundreds of drinking fountains built throughout Sydney’s parks, main roads, and tourist attractions have become markers of storytelling that trace chapters of Sydney’s past and present. (1) Hidden in plain sight,...
2025 Academy Lecture: When Universities Mattered
2025 Australian Academy of the Humanities Annual Lecture Professor Stephen Garton will present the 2025 Australian Academy of the Humanities Annual Lecture, ‘When Universities Mattered’. When Universities Mattered Universities have existed in Australia for 175 years, but the Commonwealth has only been funding and setting the policy frameworks for 82 of these. Today, the Commonwealth is the dominant player in shaping the system. The history of how and why the Commonwealth became involved in...
Nominations for the 2025 Certificates of Achievement
Nominations are now open for the 2025 RAHS Certificates of Achievement The Certificates of Achievement recognise members of affiliated societies whose contributions are significant and noteworthy. In 2024, we awarded Certificates that recognised contributions to the work of local historical societies. These included contributions to leadership and administration, publications and research, maintaining archives, museums and collections, and community advocacy. Learn more about the 2024...
Film Heritage Academy: Screening of Snow White (1916)
The Film Heritage Academy presents: A screening of silent era film, Snow White (1916) Join the Film Heritage Academy at History House for a screening of the silent era adaptation, Snow White (1916). Run time: 65 minutes. The film will be introduced by Ursula Dubosarsky, acclaimed Australian prize-winning author of over 60 books for children and young adults. About the Film Snow White (1916) is an early silent film adaptation of a successful play based on the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm....
2025 Cultural Grants – Successful Projects
Sixteen local history projects will receive funding from the 2025 Cultural Grants RAHS President Carol Liston AO announced today that 16 local history projects will receive funding from the 2025 Cultural Grants Program. This grant program is administered by the RAHS on behalf of the NSW Government. ‘The Royal Australian Historical Society thanks Create NSW for funding this grants program, which supports local and community history projects. These projects provide unique insights into the...
History Week 2025: Water Stories
Celebrate History Week with the RAHS! Celebrate History Week with the Royal Australian Historical Society! The RAHS is hosting two special events during History Week. This year’s History Week theme is Water Stories. RAHS Special Lecture – Dangerous Passage: A Maritime History of the Torres Strait On Wednesday, 10 September, we’ll be joined at History House by Ian Burnett. Ian will discuss the history of the reef-strewn passage between Australia and Papua New Guinea, which remains the most...
Love, Loss and Yearning: Women and Romance in the Life of Lachlan Macquarie
Love, Loss and Yearning: Women and Romance in the Life of Lachlan Macquarie Join the Parramatta and District Historical Society for its September 2025 Meeting. Robin Walsh will present on the women in Lachlan Macquarie's life. The dynamics of the love life of Lachlan Macquarie is not a topic that has attracted much scholarly attention. Biographers have tended to focus on his actions and achievements as the Governor of New South Wales between 1810 and 1821: what he did, where he went, and what...
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