Friends of the History Council of Victoria are warmly invited to visit the Heidelberg Historical Society where the current exhibition interprets an intriguing document of social history: a signature (or autograph) quilt that resulted from a nineteenth-century fundraising campaign.

The quilt is constructed from 213 embroidered squares. It carries 139 legible names plus many initials and decorations. Contributors to the quilt lived in various Melbourne suburbs and elsewhere in Victoria. They came from church groups, community organisations, businesses and government, and through family and social networks.

The Society is located at the Old Heidelberg Courthouse and received the quilt by donation last year. Members have investigated the why, how and when of the quilt’s creation, and have researched the stories and connections of the eight women from Heidelberg’s Scots Church who formed a ‘Busy Bee’ group and made the quilt. Representatives of the Society will be on hand to introduce the exhibition.

To learn more about the exhibition and the Society, visit this website:
http://www.heidelberghistoricalsociety.com.au/

Admission: $5 (includes afternoon tea), payable on arrival at the museum. You are welcome to bring 'Future Friends', people who share your interests and might join the Friends in the future. The RSVP form makes it easy to register your +1. If you wish to bring more than one guest, please email the Executive Officer (info@historycouncilvic.org.au)

Also in the area: Heide Museum of Modern Art is a 20-minute walk from the Heidelberg Historical Society, across the Yarra River. You may wish to visit its exhibitions in the morning. It has an excellent Cafe where you may like to have lunch. 

Our visit to the Heidelberg Historical Society is a special networking event for HCV Friends and their guests.

If you are not yet a member of the HCV Friends, please click HERE to sign up now! Then return to this page to RSVP.

If you are already a Friend of the HCV, please accept this invitation by clicking on the RSVP button below. 

To assist with catering, please book before 10 am on Tuesday 10 September.

All images courtesy Heidelberg Historical Society Inc. No. A0042118P

Historical sources' survival may be the result of chance rather than deliberate and careful preservation. How do historians locate and use material that was never designed to be retained? This seminar considers the importance of ephemera: material that carries printed information that was not intended to be kept or preserved.

The seminar will be facilitated by Mandy Bede, President of the Ephemera Society of Australia. We will hear three presentations, followed by questions from the audience and opportunity for discussion. The presentations are:

Out of the bag and into the archive: Royal Melbourne Show ephemera

Abstract: From tickets, posters, prize cards and maps to the ubiquitous showbag, the Royal Melbourne Show is a treasure trove for the ephemerist. As collection objects and historical resources, Show ephemera are both invaluable records of a community event and evocative snapshots of life.

Presenter: Dr Annette Shiell, Senior Curator Heritage, Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria

Where worlds collide: ephemera in science

Abstract: Charged with the history of collections at Museums Victoria, Rebecca researches the people and motivations that shaped the collection. In this talk she reveals the surprising depth that can come from using the often ignored ephemera of science.

Presenter: Rebecca Carland, Senior Curator, History of Collections & Scientific Art at Museums Victoria

Hazardous goods: the case of white lead in household paint

Abstract: We tend to associate household paint charts and advertising leaflets with choice of colour or homemaking aspirations. Using ephemera as a primary documentary resource, this presentation will, however, chart another story—the popularity and decline of toxic lead-based paint.

Presenter: Richard Aitken, a Melbourne-based historian, curator, and writer

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

With thanks to the series sponsors, Monash University Publishing and the Monash University History Program:

and to the organising partners:

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.

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.

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.