Symbols of Australia: A Look at the Icons That Shape Us

A Presentation by Richard White

MacAdams Music Centre, Port Macquarie

Saturday, 19 July 2025

Why do we wear a sprig of wattle, queue for a democracy sausage, or argue about flags?

Symbols of Australia offers illuminating — and often surprising — insights into the symbols that shape how we see ourselves as a nation. From Uluru to the Australian flag, the rainbow serpent to the FJ Holden, the southern cross to the democracy sausage, the Akubra to the Great Barrier Reef, these symbols are often inspiring, occasionally embarrassing, yet always revealing.

Join us on Saturday, 19th July, at the MacAdams Music Centre, Port Macquarie, for a special talk by acclaimed historian Richard White. Presented by the Royal Australian Historical Society, supported by Create NSW, and held in collaboration with the Port Macquarie Historical Society, this event is part of the RAHS’s ongoing commitment to regional outreach and to sharing Australia’s rich and diverse history with communities across NSW.

RAHS Councillor Richard White, co-author of Symbols of Australia: Imagining a Nation, will explore how these familiar icons both reflect and shape our evolving sense of national identity. ‘National symbols never stand still — they are crucial in how we think of Australia,’ says Richard White. ‘We often think of them as fixed, but it is surprising how much they have changed over time — capturing everything from our national dignity to our everyday dagginess.’

RAHS Senior Vice President Christine Yeats adds: ‘The RAHS is grateful to Create NSW for supporting this event in Port Macquarie. It reflects our commitment to regional outreach and to sharing Australia’s rich and diverse history with communities across the state.’

Port Macquarie Historical Society Vice President Debbie Sommers highlights the value of the RAHS regional outreach program: ‘Events like this help regional audiences explore new aspects of Australian history. Local symbols — from Tacking Point Lighthouse to the Breakwall and the koala — are reflected in the stories we collect and share at the Port Macquarie Museum.’

The event will commence with morning tea at 10.00 am, followed by Richard White’s presentation at 10.30 am, including a Q&A session. The event will conclude by midday.