Melbourne General Cemetery Walk
2026-05-11 10:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne)
Melbourne General Cemetery is the oldest and most historic of our existing cemeteries. For the last century and a half, it has been the final resting place of Melbourne’s famous and infamous. On this tour you will learn about its history, and about some of the interesting or notorious characters who are buried there.
10am to 12 noon, Monday 11 May.
Starting point – Outside the Cemetery Office, at southern gate on College Crescent. Cost – Free. This walk is being organized by Yarra Libraries.
To register go to: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/walking-melbourne-general-cemetery-tickets-1985342840881

RACS Tour: Changes Over Time
2026-05-12 11:00 - 12:00
The tour will show how surgery has changed over the years through the evolution of ideas and discoveries in medicine.
The tour takes in a viewing of the historic Hughes room, Council room, Kolbe room, Hailes room, surrounding corridors and the Museum. The items of interest are the Presidential portrait collection throughout the College, some of which have been painted by prominent artists and have been entered in the Archibald Prize. We have one that was the winner.
Other items of interest are the historic furniture, significant mementos to the College, surgical instruments, and the built heritage of the College. It was previously the Old Model School.
We have several exhibitions to be viewed in the Museum – Early Women Surgeons, Arts and Surgery, Plastic Surgery during WW1 and WW2 amongst other material.
Please book to come along on a tour on one of these dates.

Tuesday 21 April, 1.30 PM- 2.30 PM
Tuesday 28 April, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Tuesday 05 May, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Tuesday 12 May 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

For more details and to book, contact curator.collections@surgeons.org

Book Launch - I'll Walk Beside You by Peter Mitchell
2026-05-13 18:00 - 20:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
Please join us to launch the publication of I’ll Walk Beside You, featuring author Peter Mitchell with special guest speaker Professor Joan Beaumont

I’ll Walk Beside You by Peter Mitchell is a continuation of the acclaimed Under the Same Moon (2025). A vivid portrait of the most desperate chapter in our nation’s history, I’ll Walk Beside You has been written from never seen before, letters, diaries and oral histories and weaves a story of soldiers against a parallel story of love between real life couple Jean and Cal.
Told through the perspective of ordinary men drawn into the heart of war, I’ll Walk Beside You is an ode to heroism, the unyielding human spirit, and enduring resilience that shaped Australia’s military history.
In February 1942, with a battalion stranded in Java, soldiers are uncertain of their fate. Meanwhile, families in Australia endure the anguish of lost contact.
After a heroic but futile defense of Java, the Australians surrender and endure years of captivity where they are forced to work on the Burma Railway under savage conditions. Disease, starvation, violence and cruel guards claim many lives, yet courage, resilience and a distinctly Australian humour persist, offering moments of humanity amid the horror. Peter deftly personalises the narrative with letters, diaries, official documents and newspaper reports to vividly bring these experiences to life.
Running alongside the soldiers’ ordeal is a love story between Jean and Cal. Rooted in wartime Melbourne, Jean waits for Cal, uncertain whether he is alive. After victory finally comes in 1945 and the survivors return home, the long-awaited reunion brings both joy and unease. Who have they become in the wake of what they have endured? I’ll Walk Beside You is a masterful narrative portrayal of resilience, courage and love, diving into the deeply human experiences of real people through these wartime years.
About the author
Peter Mitchell is a lawyer by training and was a partner in a major law firm. More recently, for many years he ran a regional non-profit organisation, based in Singapore. History is his passion. He grew up listening to his father and his friends regularly talk about their wartime experiences and has read extensively. He lived in Singapore for twenty years and has travelled and worked extensively throughout East Asia.
Housekeeping
This event can be attended in-person or online via Zoom (the zoom event will begin at 6:30pm).
An automated confirmation email is sent to your email address when you book. If this email doesn’t turn up in your inbox please check your Spam or Junk Mail folders. Don’t worry if you cannot find it – there will be a list of names at the door so you will be able to gain entry without your ticket.
The RHSV Downstairs Gallery is an accessible venue.

South Parkville Walk
2026-05-16 10:00 - 12:00
Experience some of the best examples in Australia of the eloquent ‘boom era’ architecture of the 19th century, in the quiet and picturesque residential enclave of South Parkville. You will hear something of its history, of some colourful characters who lived there, and visit the scene of a notorious murder.
10am to 12 noon, Saturday 16 May.
Starting point – Corner of Royal Parade and Gatehouse Street, Parkville.
Cost $15 per person + booking fee.
To register, contact Princes Hill Community Centre: https://princeshill.org.au/?page_id=1591
Email: enquiries@princeshill.org.au

Revealing the Hidden: Historical Archaeology and Conservation of Unique Artefacts from 19th Century Melbourne
2026-05-19 18:30 - 19:30 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
A National Archeaology Week Event
This panel event draws on two recent conference papers: “A Walk in Someone Else’s Shoes: Successful Collaboration and the Preservation of 19th Century Footwear from Deep Deposits below the Melbourne Rail Yard” and “Sound as a Barrel: Historical Archaeological Conservation of a Unique Timber Barrel from Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.”
The first paper examines artefact-rich deposits uncovered during works on a recent project which included more than 200 preserved nineteenth-century shoes recovered from the former West Melbourne Swamp. It highlights the challenges of excavating and managing unstable artefacts and the importance of collaboration between archaeologists, conservators and regulators.
The second paper focuses on the excavation and conservation of a rare timber barrel from another recent development and infrastructure project, demonstrating how adaptive strategies can stabilise fragile objects while revealing historical evidence.
This event is aimed at researchers, historians, educators, archaeologists, heritage professionals and the wider community interested in Melbourne’s past. Many of our members are in the heritage/architecture/ archaeology sector and we want to expand our reach to them with this informative talk.
Dr Michelle Negus Cleary holds a PhD in Archaeology from the University of Sydney (awarded in 2015) and more than fifteen years of experience working with archaeological projects in Australia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the Republic of Georgia. She is the Technical Director at Dr Vincent Clark Archaeology & Heritage and has worked as an archaeologist, heritage advisor and spatial data specialist in Australian archaeology since 2010.
Ramona Angelico specialises in the management of archaeological collections, the cataloguing of artefacts, and the analysis and interpretation of material culture. She has worked as a Historical Artefact Specialist at Dr Vincent Clark Archaeology & Heritage since 2019 and as Team Leader – Historical Artefacts since 2024.
Jaimi Houston completed her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) majoring in Archaeology and Ancient Cultures at Monash University in 2021. She has worked as an Archaeologist at Dr Vincent Clark Archaeology & Heritage since 2022 and as the Historical Artefact Assistant and Artefact Photographer since 2024.
Dr Holly Jones-Amin is an internationally recognised conservator specialising in low-fired archaeological pottery conservation and people‑centred approaches to material heritage. She has directed conservation archaeological projects across Syria, Georgia, Turkey and Australia, with additional work throughout the Pacific, Southeast Asia, Italy, and the Himalayas. She is a University of Melbourne lecturer.
Marica Mucic holds a Bachelor of Arts (La Trobe University) and a Master of Cultural Materials Conservation (University of Melbourne). A member of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM), she is an objects conservator specialising in archaeological artefacts as well as commemorative, memorial, and heritage works.

Curator’s Talk – Hoddle Grid: The Great Land Grab
2026-05-20 18:00 - 18:30 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
Join Dr Liz Rushen, curator of our new exhibition, “Hoddle Grid – The Great Land Grab”, for a special Curator’s Talk event at 2PM on Thusday 7 May in the gallery at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.
Enjoy some light refreshments as Dr Rushen takes us back to 1 June 1837 when Robert Hoddle stood on a log and began auctioning the first allotments of land in the newly-surveyed Hoddle Grid, now the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. The exhibition explores the identities and contributions of 29 of the original 271 buyers — from former convicts and publicans to merchants and investors whose fortunes were tied to global trade. They acquired land on Wurundjeri country for next to nothing, setting in motion changes that would shape the city for generations.
Please be aware that this is an in-person only event and will not be streamed online.

RHSV Birthday x Biggest Morning Tea Fundraiser
2026-05-21 11:00 - 12:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
The Royal Historical Society of Victoria turns 117 years old on May 21.
To celebrate we’ll be hosting a morning tea as part of the Cancer Council’s “Biggest Morning Tea”.
Come along, have a cuppa, a piece of cake, and help us raise much needed funds for Cancer Council. These funds will go towards vital cancer research, support services, prevention programs, and advocacy.
To donate to our Morning Tea, please visit https://www.biggestmorningtea.com.au/fundraisers/Historical-Society-Victoria
Please RSVP below so we have numbers for catering.

From Ruin to Renewal: Hidden Histories of Melbourne’s Plains
2026-05-21 18:30 - 19:30 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
A National Archeaology Week Event
Western Melbourne’s open plains may look like blank space between suburbs—but dig a little deeper and you’ll uncover stories written into every ruined homestead. These forgotten landmarks tell of colonisation, survival, and cultural change, connecting today’s fast-growing communities with the region’s layered past.
In this fascinating talk, we’ll explore how heritage experts are reimagining the role of ruins—from forgotten relics to vibrant community hubs and storytelling spaces. Through real case studies like Doherty and Missen Houses, discover how creative conservation blends history, design, and ecology to breathe new life into what remains.
You’ll see how these half-lost homesteads spark conversations about memory, identity, and belonging in a changing landscape. Perfect for anyone passionate about architecture, local history, or the power of place.
Roger Beeston is a Registered Architect and Associate of the Australian Institute of Architects AIA. He is actively engaged in both the contemporary building and heritage management fields. In doing so, he has acquired expertise in traditional and contemporary building technologies, developing authentic and sustainable remedial conservation interventions. This expertise has been central to establishing his expertise and reputation in the conservation of stone facades, for which his detailed and attentive work has earned his practice the AIA John George Knight Award for Heritage Architecture at multiple places, including at the State heritage listed Maryborough Railway Station and South Melbourne Town Hall.
Phillipa Hall is a UK registered architect with diverse experience on all stages of projects, from small residential extensions to the adaptive reuse and conservation of large public buildings. She believes that architecture should be accessible to all members of society, enhancing the existing situation while considering the long-term social, economic, physical and environmental outcomes.

How to Grow and use Herbs for Cooking, Medicine and Pleasure
2026-05-26 14:00 - 15:00 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
Join award-winning author, broadcaster and organic gardening expert, Penny Woodward, for an inspiring talk on how to grow and use herbs for cooking, medicine and pleasure. Drawing on her decades of experience as a horticultural editor, writer, and photographer, Penny will share her practical tips for cultivating healthy herbs at home and explore the fascinating history and science behind their many uses.
This session will delight foodies, gardeners, and anyone curious about natural living. Discover how herbs can enrich your garden, support your wellbeing, and transform everyday cooking into something truly special.
Penny Woodward has a background in Botany and Zoology. She brings both expertise and enthusiasm to everything she does—from her years as ABC’s Organic Gardener magazine horticultural editor to her popular books like the award-winning Garlic: An Organic Guide and Tomato: Know, Sow, Grow, Feast.

RHSV AGM + 2026 Weston Bate Oration: Professor Richard Broome AM
2026-05-26 17:00 - 19:30 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
AGM: 5pm – 6.10pm
Break: 6.10pm – 6.30pm
Weston Bate Oration: 6.30pm – 7.30pm
The Weston Bate Oration follows the RHSV’s Annual General Meeting. The AGM runs from 5pm until about 6:10pm when we have a short break before resuming for the Oration at 6:30pm. Refreshments will be served in that break.
If you wish to attend the Oration only then there is no need to arrive at the Drill Hall until, say, 6:15pm for 6:30pm.
Both the AGM and the Oration are hybrid and will be available on ZOOM for those who cannot attend in person at the Drill Hall. The same ZOOM log-in will apply to both the AGM and the Oration and those log-in details will be sent to those who RSVP 24 hours before the event. You just need to log-in when you are able to join the meeting/oration.
There is the opportunity below to record your apologies if you cannot attend the AGM in person or via ZOOM.
Members will be sent the papers for the AGM 14 days prior to the AGM.
Non-members are more than welcome to attend the AGM – we just ask members to identify themselves when RSVPing as it makes it easier for us to count votes, etc.
Weston Bate Oration:
Presented by Professor Richard Broome AM, FAHA, FRHSV, FFAHS
In this lecture Richard will explain how he found Aboriginal history in the 1970s and how his practice and methodological approach to this field has changed over five decades. He will reveal how and when he shifted from a position of youthful ignorance; to being interested in and talking about Aboriginal people; to listening to and talking with them; and finally, to deep collaboration with them.
About the presenter:
Emeritus Professor Richard Broome AM taught Australian and Indigenous History at La Trobe University for over three decades. He is a former President of the RHSV and currently co-editor of the Victorian Historical Journal. He is the author of twenty books, including Aboriginal Australians. A history since 1788 (Allen & Unwin 5th ed., 2019) and the multi-prize-winner Aboriginal Victorians. A History since 1800 (Allen & Unwin, 2nd ed., 2024). He co-edited with Ashley Pratt, Analyzing Australian History, a 4 volume VCE text (Cambridge University Press, 2021). Richard has co-authored three books for the RHSV, the latest being The Story of Melbourne’s Lanes (2024).
The Weston Bate Oration is one of the RHSV’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

Cataloguing Clinics 2026
2026-05-28 11:00 - 12:00 | Join via Zoom
Join Jillian Hiscock, the RHSV Collections Manager, each month in this informative and easy-going Zoom forum on all aspects of cataloguing collections for historical societies.
Jillian has a different topic each month and is happy to be guided by those who attend as to what they would like covered in upcoming clinics. Bring your questions (no matter the topic) – this is an interactive space where questions are encouraged. The RHSV does not endorse any particular cataloguing software – we believe it is horses for courses – and Jillian will talk about issues that impact on cataloguing whether you are using cataloguing cards or software.
The one-hour clinics are free and the Zoom log-in below is used every month in 2026, however, we do ask you to register each month as this enables Jillian to send you extra material / links etc. after each session.
Sessions:
11am (AEDT) Thursday 26 February 2026
11am (AEDT) Thursday 26 March 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 30 April 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 28 May 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 25 June 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 30 July 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 27 August 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 24 September 2026
11am (AEDT) Thursday 29 October 2026
11am (AEDT) Thursday 26 November 2026

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
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Mechanics' Institutes Resource Centre
2026-06-16 14:00 - 15:00 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
Do you want to learn more about the history of your local mechanics’ institute? This talk will showcase the wide variety of material held in the Mechanics’ Institutes Resource Centre (MIRC). This rich collection has records relating to 130 mechanics’ institutes and consists of photographs, scanned records such as minute books, books and realia. Discover how the MIRC can help you research the history of your mechanics’ institute and your local area and you may even find an ancestor was a member of the committee.
Heather Arnold is the President of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society, Secretary of the South Eastern Historical Association and the Mechanics’ Institutes of Victoria and was for many years the Local History Librarian at Casey Cardinia Libraries. She is a local history enthusiast, lives and breathes history and firmly believes that everyone and everything has a story worth telling.

Family History Workshop: Understanding Military Records
2026-06-24 10:30 - 14:00 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
Have you discovered a relative who served in the military but aren’t sure how to uncover their story? Join us at the PMI Victorian History Library for a hands-on workshop, and learn how to interpret, locate, and make sense of military records to bring your ancestor’s service to life.
What You’ll Learn:
Finding the right records: Understand where Australian and international military records are held and how to access them.
Decoding service documents: Learn how to interpret abbreviations, ranks, regiments, and campaign references.
Tracing a soldier’s journey: Use maps, unit histories, and archives to follow your ancestor’s experience through time and place.
Family connections: Discover how military service impacted families and what related documents can reveal.
Preserving and sharing the story: Learn how to store, digitise, and include military information in your family history projects.
Whether you’re tracing a grandfather’s ANZAC history or uncovering a distant relative’s military past, this workshop will guide you through the process with clarity and confidence. Wendy has researched family histories since 1997 and is an active member of several genealogical societies.
About the Facilitor, Wendy Eldridge: Wendy has done family history research since 1997. She is a qualified researcher, and is active with many Family History groups.

Cataloguing Clinics 2026
2026-06-25 11:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-27 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM, Join from anywhere in the world
Join Jillian Hiscock, the RHSV Collections Manager, each month in this informative and easy-going Zoom forum on all aspects of cataloguing collections for historical societies.
Jillian has a different topic each month and is happy to be guided by those who attend as to what they would like covered in upcoming clinics. Bring your questions (no matter the topic) – this is an interactive space where questions are encouraged. The RHSV does not endorse any particular cataloguing software – we believe it is horses for courses – and Jillian will talk about issues that impact on cataloguing whether you are using cataloguing cards or software.
The one-hour clinics are free and the Zoom log-in below is used every month in 2026, however, we do ask you to register each month as this enables Jillian to send you extra material / links etc. after each session.
Sessions:
11am (AEDT) Thursday 26 February 2026
11am (AEDT) Thursday 26 March 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 30 April 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 28 May 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 25 June 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 30 July 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 27 August 2026
11am (AEST) Thursday 24 September 2026
11am (AEDT) Thursday 29 October 2026
11am (AEDT) Thursday 26 November 2026

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZUodu6tqDgiHd1GR_iE8TH4ES68fGZNptVS/ics?icsToken=DG-8nju0TlavGLpMYAAALAAAAHjKVvjojHkP8b0WEF3xBU3_ND_gQsgdvSNgtqHVOZ5zsuq6aJanYT-P0Z-4fXQe-__Qy-vPVgC56bc5rzAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=zzNd4ZUyTrmUVJnN31jJmA

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Writing the Crocodile
2026-07-14 06:30 - 19:30 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
In this lively, engaging discussion Aaron and Michelle will discuss their co-written novel for middle grade readers, Spirit of the Crocodile. They’ll talk about why they wrote it, how they wrote it (given that they live 5000kms apart) and why stories like theirs are an important part of Australia’s reconciliation process.
A recent ABC Radio review of the book said: “This is technically a middle-grade novel but if you ask me I think Spirit of the Crocodile is a book for everyone. Kids will love it because it’s funny, relatable and full of adventure. But adults – like teachers, parents and policy-makers – need to read this too. This book is a wake-up call. It shows us what climate change looks like right now: not in graphs or reports but through the heartbreak of a child watching his island disappear. It’s also a celebration of Torres Strait Islander culture – of kinship, community and resilience. For readers unfamiliar with these stories it’s an invitation to listen, to learn and to stand in solidarity with them. And for readers who are from this community, it’s a mirror that says we see you and your stories matter.” Mara Mahoney, Yapese-Fijian Reviewer, Radio Australia (Review begins at 1:42:42)”
Aaron Fa’Aoso is a proud Torres Strait Islander film producer, director, screenwriter and actor. While well known for his roles in East West 101, The Straits and Black Comedy, and as the presenter of Strait to the Plate, young fans know him best as the voice of Old Dog, in Little J and Big Cuz.
In 2022 Aaron published his memoir, called So Far So Good. He is on the board of SBS and of Screen Queensland, and was the proud co-chair of Queensland’s Interim Truth and Treaty Body. Aaron is the founder of film and television production company, Lone Star, whose many outputs include the documentary series Blue Water Empire, about the history of the Torres Strait Islands.
Michelle Scott Tucker is the author of Elizabeth Macarthur: A Life at the Edge of the World – a biography of the woman who established the Australian wool industry (although her husband received all the credit). Elizabeth Macarthur was shortlisted for the 2019 NSW State Library Ashurst Business Literature Prize and the 2019 CHASS Australia Book Prize. Michelle is the co-writer of Aaron Fa’Aoso’s memoir So Far, So Good. She is currently working on a biography of Louisa Lawson, to be released in 2027.

Lives lived and clothes worn: reading Gwen Jones' gowns
2026-07-21 17:30 - 19:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
This lecture honours the life of Gwen Jones, a keen member and generous supporter of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria over many years until her death in 2021, aged 98. The lecture series will promote the vital role of The Jones Collection of the RHSV in documenting and supporting research on these themes.
The Jones Collection was donated to the RHSV by Gwen shortly before she died. Gwen’s creation, stewardship, and generosity surrounding the collection has ensured that future historians have an incredibly rich archive on which to draw.
Lives lived and clothes worn: reading Gwen Jones’ gowns
Clothing is a personal document that records experiences, reflects moments in time and captures aspects of its wearer. In this presentation, Lorinda Cramer delves into three gowns related to Gwen Jones in the collection of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria). As she reads these garments for the lives lived in and through them, she teases apart the social, cultural and fashion history in which these dresses were worn.
About Dr Lorinda Cramer
Dr Lorinda Cramer is a Lecturer in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at Deakin University. Her work as a dress historian sits at the intersections of social history, cultural history and material culture studies. She employs an innovative methodology that draws on the materiality of museum objects to deepen insights into clothing’s connections with gender, race and class, to explore consumer preference, and to interrogate fashion as a worn experience.
Housekeeping
This event will be hybrid so presented in person in our rooms and also via ZOOM. Those purchasing ZOOM tickets will be sent the log-in details 24hrs before the event.
An automatically generated confirmation of booking email is sent on booking – please check your Trash or Spam folders if this email does not turn up in your in-box.
As with most of our events, refreshments will be served from 5:30pm – 6pm when the lecture starts (the Zoom session also starts at 6pm). There will be Q&A at the end of the lecture.

The Antique Experience
2026-07-23 14:00 - 15:00 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
More than just furniture and fine china, every antique holds a story, and few people know that better than Peter Leaver. In 1970, Peter and his partner Ken opened Kenneth Lay Antiques and began a lifelong adventure that would take them far beyond Australian auction houses. Their search for rare and meaningful pieces became a global quest, exploring Sri Lanka and India for remnants of the Raj, wandering the old Dutch trading centres of Indonesia, finding French, English, and Dutch treasures in South Africa, and ultimately falling in love with Argentina’s hidden wealth of antiques. Along the way, they built one of Australia’s largest collections of Staffordshire pottery and shared their expertise through talks at The Johnson Collection.
At The Antique Experience, Peter is joined by collector Marcus Bunyan, whose thrill for op shop discoveries and online finds proves that valuable treasures are not always where you expect them. Together, they will share their passion for authenticity, value, and the enduring beauty of timeless objects. Audiences are even invited to bring along a small item of their own to be reviewed by the panel, because sometimes the most fascinating stories are the ones sitting quietly on your own shelf.

Cataloguing Clinics 2026
2026-07-30 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-24 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-29 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-26 11:00 - 12:00 | ZOOM, Join from anywhere in the world

Beyond the Book: Redefining Rarity in a Digital Age
2026-07-30 18:30 - 19:30 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
In twenty years will the most valuable collection items still be printed on paper, or born in code? Join a cross-sector panel from the NFSA, ACMI, and the PMI Library to explore the future and evolution of collecting in a post-print world. Learn how born-digital materials are reshaping what institutions preserve, the challenges of obsolescence, and sourcing material in the first place, and how smaller cultural organisations, like the PMI Library, are navigating an increasingly digital heritage. Attendees will gain insight into how collectors and institutions alike can future-proof their work, ensuring today’s digital voices don’t become tomorrow’s lost history. Expect a lively conversation on technology, authenticity, and what “collecting rare” will mean in 20 years.
Panellists are Ellen Coates, Collections Librarian at the PMI Victorian History Library. Johanna McMahon, Assistant Curator, Industries Collection Acquisition Programs at NFSA and Taryn Ellis, Digital Preservation Archivist at ACMI.

Save the Date: HSSC metropolitan event
2026-08-14 08:00 - 17:00 | Drill Hall, Royal Historical Society Victoria, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Join the Historical Society Support Committee (HSSC) on Friday, August 14 at the RHSV Drill Hall.
This leadership seminar brings together historical society representatives from across the state to discuss emerging trends, shared challenges, and the future of our sector.
More details to follow — mark your calendar now.

Movies at the Mechanics' Institute
2026-08-20 18:30 - 19:30 | 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC 3181, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
Our Bruce Turner Lecture
In the early years of cinema, the Mechanics’ Institute played a surprising role in bringing movies to life. Travelling showmen used these halls to share the wonder of film with small towns and growing suburbs across Victoria.
Join Royce Harris, Archivist and President of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society, as he uncovers how these early screenings grew into regular film events that entertained communities and supported the Institutes financially.
The talk includes rare and fascinating images from the CATHS archive, showing the many venues that once hosted picture shows, some of which are still standing today.
Royce Harris is the President and Archivist of the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society (CATHS), whose archive is housed in the PMI Victorian History Library’s building.
He grew up in a small country town, where local picture shows were a treasured part of community life. His lifelong interest in the history of cinema and Institutes has shaped much of his work. Royce contributed to the book These Walls Speak Volumes, compiling a detailed list of 172 Mechanics’ Institutes known to have shown films.
Through his research and CATHS’ remarkable archive, Royce brings to life the story of how Mechanics’ Institutes helped shape the early movie experience in Victoria.

The Mysterious Dr David Hailperin: Kabbalah, Black Magic and Jewish Life in 1850's Victoria
2026-08-25 17:30 - 19:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
The Lamm Jewish Library of Australia, Australian Jewish Historical Society and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria present
The Mysterious Dr David Hailperin: Kabbalah, Black Magic and Jewish Life in 1850’s Victoria
This lecture will explore the remarkable and little-known story of Dr David Hailperin — rabbi, physician, collector of rare Jewish books, and reputed practitioner of black magic. Hailperin arrived in Melbourne from England in 1855 and died just five years later in Englewood, Victoria. Yet despite his short time in Australia, he left behind a rich documentary trail that reveals an eccentric and complex personality.
Join us for an intriguing journey into colonial Victoria, Jewish mysticism, and the life of a man who brought Black Magic and controversy to the streets of Melbourne and to the goldfields.
About the presenter
Dr Merav Carmeli holds a PhD in Jewish Studies and specialises in Jewish mysticism. She has taught at universities and academic institutions in Israel, the United States and Australia. She served as an advisor to the State Library of Victoria for the exhibition Luminous: A Thousand Years of Hebrew Manuscripts and contributed to the cataloguing of SLV Halperin’s Hebrew manuscript collection. Dr Carmeli is currently the Director of the Lamm Jewish Library of Australia.
Housekeeping
This event will be hybrid so presented in person in our rooms and also via ZOOM. Those purchasing ZOOM tickets will be sent the log-in details 24hrs before the event.
An automatically generated confirmation of booking email is sent on booking – please check your Trash or Spam folders if this email does not turn up in your inbox.
As with most of our events, refreshments will be served from 5:30pm – 6pm when the lecture starts (the Zoom session also starts at 6pm). There will be Q&A at the end of the lecture.

Balwyn Heritage Walk
2026-10-07 10:15 - 12:00 | Balwyn Baptist Church, 517 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills, VIC,, 3103, Australia
Reimagine Balwyn of the past
Join us for an Senior and History Month event!
Explore a guided walk through Balwyn’s fascinating past, starting at the Balwyn Baptist Church and winding our way to the Palace Cinema. Along the way, you’ll trace the suburb’s journey from open paddocks and grazing land to one of Melbourne’s most sought-after neighbourhoods.
Hear how trams changed everything in 1916, how a simple land tax in 1921 spurred rapid development, and how a humble vet who once tended horses and cows adapted to care for beloved pets. We’ll stop at every street to uncover stories that shaped this community — from bonfire nights in Beckett Park to the thrill of billy cart races flying down Balwyn Road.
It’s more than a walk — it’s a stroll through living history.
Come curious. Leave inspired.
Tour starts at Balwyn Baptist Church – corner of Parring and Whitehorse Roads.
Please remember to wear sensible shoes, weather appropriate clothing and to take care through out the walk as there are uneven surfaces.

Glenferrie Heritage Trail
2026-10-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Central Gardens
Join PMI Victorian History Library and the Hawthorn Historical Society for a special Seniors and History Month stroll along Glenferrie Road, a place where quiet woodland retreats once stood, now transformed into vibrant city life.
As we wander the streets together, you’ll uncover the stories that shaped this beloved precinct, from runaway hearses to forgotten brick pits, and even a misplaced Brownlow medal or two. It’s a walk full of surprises, laughter and plenty of “I never knew that” moments.
So lace up your walking shoes and step into the past. It’s history told right where it happened.
Tour starts at Central Gardens, Hawthorn – on William Street
Please remember to wear sensible shoes, weather appropriate clothing and to take care through out the walk as there are uneven surfaces.
About your Guide Elizabeth Love, who has deep family roots in Hawthorn and a passion for preserving its stories, the walk will explore the geography, gardens, remarkable homes, and local legends that shaped Hawthorn.
