The RHSV is thrilled to invite our members and friends to join our President, Richard Broome, in a Zoom conversation with General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK AC (Mil) CVO MC (Retd) , one of Australia's most significant public figures who has spent a life-time making history. Sir Peter's memoir allows us an incredible insight into the role and world of Australia's Governor-General. He was there as two prime ministers were toppled by their own party. He was there through disasters both natural and man-made, such as the destruction of MH17. He was there for world leaders, and for ordinary Australians. You Shouldn't Have Joined ... is a true reflection of the man himself, filled with intelligence, forthrightness, compassion and a brilliant eye for a telling anecdote.

Our last cataloguing clinic for 2020, with our Collections Manager, Jillian Hiscock, is being held this week.  These are informal get-togethers, through Zoom, where Jillian tackles all your tricky questions about cataloguing. The clinics run for 1 hour and anyone involved in cataloguing can join in.  Zoom log-in details for Cataloguing Clinic:  10am - 11am,
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We are delighted that Amanda Scardamaglia will be able to join RHSV members and friends to discuss the research behind her book, Printed on Stone The Lithographs of Charles Troedel. This book is the first to document the visual history of print advertising in Australia and in so doing provides a valuable illustrated social history
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Join the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and Walk in St Kilda Rd & Environs, co-presenters of this event, along with the Astronomical Society of Victoria (ASV) and others, discussing the historical role and outstanding universal value of the magnificent Melbourne Observatory and its potential for UNESCO World Heritage listing nomination.

Please note that this is not a Zoom event but will be held live, in the Drill Hall in our downstairs gallery which is fully accessible. All COVID19 restrictions and cautions will be observed.  The RHSV is thrilled to host an event by our friends, the Good Girl Song Project. For those of you fortunate
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Anthony George Maldon (AGM) Michell was undoubtedly one of the greatest Australian engineers. A prolific inventor, he is best known for his tilting pad thrust bearing. It remains one of the greatest inventions in lubrication science, and revolutionised ship propulsion – without it, modern shipping would not be possible. Michell made significant contributions to Australia’s proud engineering heritage, and is truly one of our unsung heroes.

Her sumptuous book, In the Name of Theatre, is a kind of encyclopaedia of the Victorian stage. From the early colonial settlement when entertainment included the viewing of executions or dissections of bodies of the executed, amateur theatre has come a long way. This book is a celebration of and for theatre lovers across Victoria. It is lit by an inner passion which all of us share.

The History Writers' Group which is led by Dr Cheryl Griffin meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 11:30am - 1pm and these events are hybrid - some people choose to meet at the RHSV and others will Zoom in. This is a very interactive group which shares information and assists each other with problems they have encountered in their history writing.

Every year the RHSV hosts a fabulous second-hand history book fair where we sell history books of every imaginable genre. Victorian and Australian history dominate but you'll find biographies, war history, art history, natural history, classics, children's books, political and social history etc

In October 1934 a great air-race was planned from London to Flemington, Melbourne. From a field of 20 planes just 12 arrived. The winner took a whisker under 3 days; the last entrant arrived in February 1935. The best known tale is of the Dutch plane, Uiver, which made an emergency landing in Albury during a wild storm; the locals used the town’s lights to flash morse code to the plane and then lit the race-track, a make-shift aerodrome, with their car-headlights. Flight was one of the last frontiers and all the tales are unashamedly romantic and full of derring-do.