In recognition of 2020 as the UN International Year of Plant Health, this seminar will illuminate the challenging and contested past, present and future of Victoria’s native vegetation.

Professional historian Dr Gary Presland, author of many books about Victoria’s natural and human heritage (including Understanding our natural world: the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 1880-2015) will speak about the importance of native vegetation in understanding past human activity.

Professor Mike Clarke from the Centre for Future Landscapes at La Trobe University will consider the place of fire in the history of Victoria’s vegetation: 'The Bush will be OK, it’s evolved to cope with fire…hasn’t it?'.

Dr Lilian Pearce, a research fellow on the ARC-funded project Owning nature: mapping the contested country of private protected areas and a member of the Landscape Reference Group with the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), will consider the changing role of history in contemporary environmental management activities.

This seminar contributes to the 2020 Australian Heritage Festival for which the theme is ‘Our Heritage for the Future’. The discussion will be chaired by Professor Alistair Thomson of Monash University.

Bookings for this free event are now open.  To reserve your seat, click on the button at the foot of this page.

The seminar is part of an ongoing series, Making Public Histories, that is offered jointly by the Monash University History Program, the History Council of Victoria and the Old Treasury Building. Each seminar aims to explore issues and approaches in making public histories. The seminars are open, free of charge, to anyone interested in the creation and impact of history in contemporary society. Click HERE to learn about other events in the series.

We thank the series sponsors, Monash University Publishing, the Monash University History Program and the Old Treasury Building:

and the organising partners:

Historical buildings on display, including the courier printing office with its fantastic array of printing machines. This year we are featuring The Broadford State School/Primary School as our exhibition in the schoolhouse.

The study of the past and telling its stories are critical to our sense of belonging, to our communities and to our shared future.

History shapes our identities, engages us as citizens, creates inclusive communities, is part of our economic well-being, teaches us to think critically and creatively, inspires leaders and is the foundation of our future generations.

Identity
History nurtures identity in a world characterised by difference and change. History enables people to discover their own place in stories of families, communities, First Peoples, and nations—individuals and groups who have shaped the world in which they live. There are stories of freedom and oppression, justice and inequity, war and peace, endurance and achievement, courage and tenacity. Through these varied stories, the systems of personal and community values that guide approaches to life and relationships with others are shaped.

Engaged citizens
History helps people craft solutions that meet community needs. At the heart of democracy are individual citizens who come together to express views and take action. Understanding the history of contemporary issues that confront our communities, nation and world can clarify misperceptions, reveal complexities, temper volatile viewpoints, and open people to new possibilities, leading to more effective solutions.

Strong communities
History lays the groundwork for strong, diverse and inclusive communities that are vital places to live and work. Communities are wrapped in human memory: Indigenous knowledge, family stories, oral histories, social customs, cultural collections, heritage and civic commemorations. These all strengthen our connections and commitment to one another. History supports a sense of community identity and place; and that in turn promotes social cohesion, individual and collective wellbeing, and resilience.

Economic development
History is a catalyst for economic growth. People are drawn to communities with a strong sense of historical identity, material heritage and character. Cultural heritage is a demonstrated economic asset and an essential component of any vibrant local economy, providing an infrastructure that attracts talent and enhances business development, including cultural tourism.

Critical skills
History teaches independent thinking and vital skills for the twenty-first century. Historical thinking requires critical approaches to evidence and argument and develops contextual understanding and historical perspective, encouraging meaningful engagement with concepts like continuity, change and causation, and the ability to interpret and communicate complex ideas clearly and coherently.

Leadership
History inspires leaders. It provides them with role models to meet complex challenges. Personal stories of leadership reveal how women and men met the challenges of their day and can give new leaders the courage and wisdom to confront the challenges of our time.

Legacy
History is the foundation for future generations. It is crucial to our future because it explains our shared past. When we preserve authentic, meaningful and significant stories, places, documents, images and artefacts, we leave a foundation upon which future Australians can build.

Call to action

We call on individuals and organisations in Australia to endorse, share, and use this statement on the value of history in contemporary life. With common agreement, commitment, and open conversation about why history is important, we believe the historical community can better articulate history’s critical role in the public sphere.

Endorsing this statement in principle, via your nearest History Council, is an initial step. See below for contact details. Look for the Value of History statement on these sites to see how you can show your support.

We encourage you to adapt and incorporate these ideas into projects, funding applications, training materials, mission statements, websites, marketing materials, submissions and other organisational outlets.

Further information

History Council of New South Wales

Email: admin@historycouncilnsw.org.au

Website: www.historycouncilnsw.org.au/value-of-history-statement

Facebook: @HistoryCouncilNSW

Twitter: @HistoryNSW 

History Council of South Australia

Email: secretary@historycouncilsa.org.au

Website: www.historycouncilsa.org.au

Facebook: @HistoryCouncilSA

Twitter: @history_sa

History Council of Victoria

Email: info@historycouncilvic.org.au

Website: www.historycouncilvic.org.au/value_of_history

Facebook: @HistoryCouncilVic

Twitter: @History_Vic

History Council of Western Australia

Email: office@historycouncilwa.org.au

Website: www.historycouncilwa.org.au/value-of-history

Facebook: @HistoryCouncilWA

Twitter: @WAHistccl

Our Australian 'Value of History' statement is adapted with permission from History Relevance, a campaign that started in the USA in 2012.

The 2018 Making Public Histories seminar series was presented as a joint initiative of Monash University, the Old Treasury Building and the History Council of Victoria.

The series was generously supported by the three partner organisations and sponsored by the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies at Monash University. Gifts for the speakers were kindly donated by Old Treasury Building and Monash University Publishing.

Here is an outline of the seminars:

Tuesday 6 March 2018

Tuesday 8 May 2018

Material Culture: Stories from Objects

Presenters:
Sarah Hayes, Deakin University
Margaret Anderson, Old Treasury Building

Convenor:
Margaret Birtley, History Council of Victoria

Click HERE for further information.

Tuesday 12 June 2018

Wikipedia and history

Dr Mary Tomsic, The University of Melbourne 
Justine Clark, co-founder of Parlour; women, equity, architecture
Associate Professor Murray Phillips, The University of Queensland

Convenor:
Pru Mitchell, President of Wikimedia Australia

Click HERE for further information.

Tuesday 10 July 2018

Making Aboriginal histories

Presenters:
Alexandra Roginski, Australian National University
Dr Billy Griffiths, Deakin University
Dr Shannon Faulkhead, Museums Victoria and Monash University

Convenor:
Professor Lynette Russell FRHistS FASSA, Monash University

Click HERE for further information.

Tuesday 28 August 2018

History and Fiction

Presenters:
Dr Linda Weste, The University of Melbourne
Dr Kelly Gardiner, La Trobe University
Dr Ali Alidazeh, Monash University

Convenor:
Dr Kathleen Neal, Monash University

Click HERE for further information.

Tuesday 13 November 2018

Curating the Anzac Centenaries: War, Memory and the Museum

Presenters:
Jean McAuslan, Shrine of Remembrance
Deborah Tout-Smith, Museums Victoria

Convenor:
Professor Alistair Thomson, Monash University

Click HERE for further information.

2 March 2018

The History Council of Victoria (HCV) is pleased to advise that Australian Scholarly Publishing has released a history of state secondary schooling in Victoria by John Andrews and Deborah Towns.

The authors have prepared two separate publications:

• ‘A secondary education for all’?: A History of State Secondary Schooling in Victoria, and
  
  
• Unlocking the Past: What Stories Does Your School Have to Reveal?

The HCV commissioned the authors to write a centenary history of post-primary state education in Victoria, then provided support to Australian Scholarly for its publication. The resulting volumes were released in late February 2018 with a foreword by Dr Adrian Jones OAM, a former Chair of the HCV.

Australian Scholarly has kindly offered the HCV Friends a substantial discount on the recommended retail price for each book. The discounted prices ($30 and $16.50) include postage within Australia.

Use this order form to obtain your own copies of these two significant volumes.

Update, October 2018: This book won the 2018 Collaborative Community Award in the Victorian Community History Awards. The HCV congratulates the authors and the publisher on their fine achievement.

Polish Your Presentation Skills Workshop - HTAV Members Event

An exclusive offer for Friends of the HCV

When:            Tuesday, 13 February 2018, 4.00 pm – 6.30 pm

Where:           Melbourne Grammar School

Presenter:      Dr Deb Hull, Executive Officer of the HTAV

Cost:               $25.00

Registrations close:  Wednesday, 7 February 2018

Click HERE to download the booking form.

About the Workshop...

Want to be a more memorable and charismatic public speaker?

Sure, you can talk to students and close colleagues. But perhaps you still get nervous about presenting to your peers. Or you’d like to present at a conference but you’re hesitating. Maybe you have (or aspire to) a leadership role where you need to present to large gatherings of people

Join Dr Hull for a workshop which will improve your skills and banish your nerves, and all without losing your own authentic style. You will cover the three pillars of great oral presentations:

• Organising your content so that your audience absorbs and remembers it.
• Choosing your non-verbal communication.
• Using visual content to enhance (and not compete with) your narrative.

It will be fun, fast-paced and relevant. You WILL use what you learn. And by the time you leave you’ll have your next speech, workshop or lesson plan completely sorted!

Just a 10 minute tram trip from Flinders Street Station, this event is not to be missed.

On 19 October 2017, friends and supporters of the HCV gathered at the Old Treasury Building in Melbourne for the official launch of the Friends of the History Council of Victoria.

The HCV Chair, Dr Liz Rushen, welcomed guests and introduced the guest speaker, Professor Emeritus Stuart Macintyre AO, FAHA, FASSA, the HCV’s first Chair and one of Australia’s most influential historians. Professor Macintyre is currently the Chair of the Heritage Council of Victoria. His talk was entitled 'History and Heritage'; here is the abstract: 

Heritage is in the news as Melbourne’s growth threatens places that people want to keep. History, an awareness and appreciation of the past, receives less attention. How might Victorians make more of their history?

A vote of thanks was then proposed by HCV Board member Garrie Hutchinson. 

LISTEN NOW! If you missed the event, or want to hear the speeches again, you can listen via this link:

L-R above: Garrie Hutchinson, Dr Liz Rushen (current HCV Chair), Diane Gardiner AM (past Chair of the HCV) and Professor Stuart Macintyre AO (inaugural HCV Chair).

The launch was part of History Week in Victoria.

These photos from the event capture the enthusiasm and attentiveness of everyone on the night:

The 2017 Making Public Histories seminar series was presented as a joint initiative of Monash University, the Old Treasury Building and the History Council of Victoria.

The series was generously supported by the three partner organisations and sponsored by the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies at Monash University. Gifts for the speakers were kindly donated by Old Treasury Building and Monash University Publishing.

Here is an outline of the seminars:

Performing Refugee History: Voices from Contemporary Australia

Speakers / performers:
Michael Green
Stephanie Arnold 

Convenor: 
Professor Alistair Thomson, Monash University

Click here to learn more

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Reinterpreting Heritage Houses: Re-imagining Rippon Lea

Speakers:
Martin Green, National Trust of Australia (Vic)
Emeritus Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor Graeme Davison AO, Monash University
Dr Linda Young, Deakin University

Convenor: 
Professor Alistair Thomson, Monash University

Click here to learn more

Tuesday 6 June 2017

Making Digital Aural History: Australian Lives: An Intimate History  

Speakers:
Anisa Puri, President, Oral History NSW
Professor Alistair Thomson, Monash University

Convenor: 
Professor Christina Twomey, Monash University

Click here to learn more

Monday 24 July 2017

Slavery and its Legacies

Speakers:
Professor Manisha Sinha, Draper Chair in American History, University of Connecticut
Dr Clare Corbould, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Monash University

Convenor: 
Professor Christina Twomey, Monash University

Click here to learn more

Tuesday 3 October 2017

The Medieval Past in Melbourne

Speakers:
Professor Stephanie Trigg, The University of Melbourne
Dr Felix Nobis, Monash University
Dr Helen Young, La Trobe University)

Convenor:
Dr Kathleen Neal, Monash University

Click here to learn more

Tuesday 5 December 2017

1917: Melbourne at War

Speakers:
Professor Joy Damousi, The University of Melbourne
Adjunct Professor Judith Smart, RMIT University

Convenor: 
Professor Alistair Thomson, Monash University

Click here to learn more

The History Council of Victoria (HCV) has completed a number of projects that promote history and heritage. These include:

Advocacy about current issues to decision-makers in government (ongoing)

The Value of History, a statement developed co-operatively by the HCV and the History Councils of New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia and jointly adopted in July 2019

Drought Stories: A Spoken and Visual History of the Current Drought in Victoria, 2009-2010

One Place, Many Stories, a digital learning resource for middle to upper primary students, 2011-2016

Sponsorship of the annual Historical Fiction Competition for Year 9 and Year 10 students, since 2015

The HCV also delivers an annual program of events, including:

Annual Lecture, sharing fresh thinking and new evidence on an historical topic, since 2004

History Roadshow for VCE history students in rural and regional Victoria, with support from the Department of Education and Training since 2006

Making Public Histories, a series of free seminars, since 2008

Each project requires resources, so please contact us if you are able to support our work or would like to discuss commissioning a new project.