RAHS Latest News
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 town’s development and our understanding of the people who lived there. Dr E....
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...
Yurulbin Park and Foreshore join ‘Green Necklace’ on State Heritage Register
Written by Zoe McPherson, RAHS Volunteer We are pleased to share the news that the Yurulbin Park and Foreshore has been added to the State Heritage Register. The RAHS supported the proposed listing in a letter to the NSW Heritage Council in February 2025. Located in Birchgrove, the Yurulbin Park and Foreshore is a parkland recognised for its cultural significance, its past as an industrial site, and its current role as a public open space. The park is part of what is known as the ‘Green...
Help Shape the Future of the RAHS: 2025 Membership Survey
Help Shape the Future of the RAHS Take Part in the 2025 Membership Survey We're conducting Membership and Affiliate surveys, and we want to hear from you! A lot has changed since our last membership survey. We’ve introduced hybrid events, expanded our digital resources, and developed a long-term plan for History House and the Library. Through all this change, our core commitment remains: to promote a deeper understanding of Australian history through critical thinking, quality research, and...
Victory in the Pacific: 80 Years
Commemorate 80 years since Victory in the Pacific at the Anzac Memorial at Hyde Park In the lead-up to Victory in the Pacific Day on Friday, 15 August, the Anzac Memorial is holding a week of special commemorative activities honouring the service and sacrifice of Australians on the front lines and the home front. Watch as Sydney’s sky is lit with the beam of an original Second World War searchlight from the Memorial’s northern forecourt on the evening of Victory in the Pacific Day. Experience...
Call for Papers: JRAHS 2026 Issues
Call for Papers: Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society The Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society (JRAHS) invites members, historians, and researchers to submit original research articles for consideration in our 2026 issues. We welcome contributions that engage with all aspects of Australia’s history, including its people, places, communities and events. Themes for Submission We encourage papers that explore a broad range of topics, including but not limited to: Local...
RAHS Weekly News Round-Up