1917: Melbourne at War

Dec
05
Tuesday, December 05, 2017 at 06:00 PM

Location

Old Treasury Building
20 Spring St
Melbourne, Victoria 3002
Australia
Google map and directions

Event contact

Margaret Birtley

0418 814 957

Melbourne was at war in 1917 – though you might not know that from the Anzac centenaries and their focus on Anzacs fighting on foreign fields. In this seminar, distinguished historians illuminated aspects of Melbourne’s war.

Judith Smart (Adjunct Professor at RMIT University and co-editor of Victoria and the Great War) explored a year of domestic disintegration in the national capital of Melbourne, culminating in the bitterness of the second conscription referendum. 

Joy Damousi (Professor of History, University of Melbourne and co-editor of The Conscription Conflict and the Great War) examined the 'yes' campaign at Melbourne University. 

The seminar was chaired by Alistair Thomson (Professor of History, Monash University).

John Lack (Associate Professor, University of Melbourne and co-editor of Victoria and the Great War) had kindly agreed to participate and to 'probe home front ferment in Melbourne’s western suburbs' but was unfortunately prevented by ill health from attending.

Prior to the seminar, participants celebrated the opening of a new exhibition, ‘A Nation Divided: the Great War and Conscription’, at the Old Treasury Building. The exhibition is open to the public throughout 2018.

The Making Public Histories series is offered jointly by the Monash University History Program, the History Council of Victoria and the Old Treasury Building. 

This event was fully subscribed. 

 

Images courtesy State Library Victoria.

Image courtesy State Library VictoriaImage courtesy State Library Victoria

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The History Council of Victoria Incorporated (HCV) is the peak body for history in the Australian state of Victoria. Its vision is to connect Victorians with history and to inspire engagement with the past, their identity and the world today. The HCV champions the work of historians and the value of history. It recognises that history can be written about any place, any person, any period. The HCV advocates why history matters.


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Summary

The HCV was formed as an advisory body in 2001 and incorporated in 2003. It comprises representatives from cultural and educational institutions and heritage bodies; history teachers and curriculum advisors; academic and professional historians; and local, Indigenous, community and specialist history organisations.

As the peak body for history, the HCV has both ‘outward-looking’ roles (including advocacy and representation to government and the wider community, consultation, community education, and networking with allied interest groups) and ‘inward-looking’ roles (including member support, information dissemination, and networking between members).

 
 

Credits

The History Council of Victoria acknowledges the State Library of Victoria and the Public Record Office Victoria for supply of the archival images that appear on this website.

We acknowledge the National Film and Sound Archive for the right to use of the video footage on the home page, titled "Melbourne: Life in Australia (1966)".

Image credits

  • Italian sailors on ship at Port Melbourne 1938, Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria
  • Chinese procession in Collins near Elizabeth Street 1901, Harvie & Sutcliffe, photographers, State Library of Victoria
  • People’s homes, Aboriginal station Coranderrk 1878, Fred Kruger Photographer, State Library of Victoria
  • Chinese nurses at Children’s Hospital under scholarship 1947, Argus Newspaper Collection of Photographs, State Library of Victoria
  • Ladies physical culture class VRI Melbourne c1931, Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 12903/P0001, 011/02
  • Melbourne Cup, Derby and Oaks Day, Flemington Racecourse 1936, Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 12903/P0001/4802, 372/30
  • Flinders Street viaduct at foot of Market Street with advertisement for McRobertson’s Chocolate on bridge, Public Record Office Victoria VPRS 12800/P0003, ADV 1342