THE NATURAL HISTORY OF EARLY MELBOURNE

 

Melburnians are invited to celebrate Melbourne Day (30 August) by exploring the role that nature and the environment has played in creating our city’s rich history.

 

Archaeologist and historian, Gary Presland, will present his fascinating talk, The Natural History of Early Melbourne, at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria on Tuesday 30 August.  

 

“History is undoubtedly about human action but it is often written as though the actions took place in a vacuum,” explained Gary.

 

“What is not commonly included in the stories told about the European settlers of the Port Phillip region is anything relating to the physical context in which their activities took place.

 

“Little heed was paid by the settlers at the time - or, indeed, has been by subsequent generations in the 180 plus years since – to the role of the surrounding environments. 

 

“Yet many features of the Port Phillip landscapes can be seen as having exerted an influence, in both the founding of the town and in the subsequent development and spread of the built environment.

 

“In my lecture I will focus on a variety of aspects of the history of Melbourne and illustrate that nature was always an active agent in these matters.”

 

About the speaker

 

Dr Gary Presland is an archaeologist and historian and former Head Curator with Museum Victoria. His research interests have long been in the Indigenous history and natural history of the Melbourne region, in both of which he has been published widely.  His most important works are The place for a village: how nature has shaped the city of Melbourne (Museum Victoria, 2008) and First people: the Eastern Kulin of Melbourne, Port Phillip and central Victoria (Museum Victoria, 2010). Gary is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, and an Honorary Fellow of the School of Geography at the University of Melbourne.

 

About the event

 

Date:                            Tuesday 30 August

Time:                           1pm – 2pm (tea/coffee from 12.30pm)

Address:                      Royal Historical Society of Victoria

239 A’Beckett Street

Melbourne 

Cost:                            free

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Melbourne Day events:  Learn the secrets of Flagstaff Gardens

 

Prior or following Gary’s talk, Victorians are invited to join RHSV experts on a guided tour of the Flagstaff Gardens – the historic heart of the city. Tour Flagstaff Hill to learn about its place in Melbourne’s topography and pre-European history. Discover secrets of its early role as a burial ground, flagstaff signalling station and magnetic and meteorological observatory. An absolute “must do” walk for an understanding of the history and character of Melbourne.

 

When:             11am and 2.15pm (duration 60 minutes)

Meeting:          at the RHSV office, 239 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne

Cost:                free on Melbourne Day

Bookings:        preferred 9326 9288 or [email protected]

 

Note – following Melbourne Day, walks will also be held every Monday at 11am and 2.15pm for a cost of $10 per person.

 

About the RHSV

 

Formed in 1909, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria (RHSV) is committed to collecting, researching and sharing an understanding of the history of Victoria. Housing the most extensive single information resource on the history of Melbourne and Victoria, collections are open Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm. The RHSV is a community organisation that relies on membership subscriptions. Join today and help promote and preserve the history of Victoria – www.historyvictoria.org.au. You can also keep up to date with the past via the RHSV’s Twitter http://www.twitter.com/historyvictoria and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/historyvictoria

 

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