CATALOGUING CLINICS 2025
2025-08-28 11:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | 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 2025, however, we do ask you to register each month as this enables Jillian to send you extra material / links etc after each session.
11am (AEST) Thu 28 Aug 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 25 Sep 2025
11am (AEDT) Thu 30 Oct 2025
11am (AEDT) Thu 27 Nov 2025
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZ0pcOiuqjItH9JWUaZk1ZrdaP1uA9d1Yqc1/ics?icsToken=DESnOhi_USXAWOo5GQAALAAAAOsufSxu9e_o1VvEoUWUiVuOT3wUceY4gYwdUjlaNrGDW1VrT1KjyEhE0aD9QHm4eoEg_M9GmHYiFwIZujAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=3FhVroEqTuiqU-ygov-0vg
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89471649756?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 894 7164 9756
Passcode: [REDACTED]
If joining by phone:
One tap mobile
+61871501149,,89471649756#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
+61280156011,,89471649756#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
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Dial by your location
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• +61 2 8015 6011 Australia
• +61 3 7018 2005 Australia
• +61 7 3185 3730 Australia
• +61 8 6119 3900 Australia
Meeting ID: 894 7164 9756
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdoUG5MWlO

Heritage and the new Housing Zones: The Need to Reform the Reforms
2025-08-26 17:30 - 19:30 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria will hold a public meeting at the Drill Hall, 239 A’Beckett St Melbourne 3000:
Heritage and the new Housing Zones: The Need to Reform the Reforms

Three leading experts will discuss challenges to heritage in the new planning context and ways to address these challenges:

Michael Buxton, Emeritus Professor, Planning and Environment, RMIT University
Nigel Lewis, Leading Melbourne heritage architect since 1976
Scott Walker, Director Urban Living, City of Boroondara

Collette Brennan, CEO of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), will open the meeting, followed by Charles Sowerwine, Chair, Heritage Committee, Royal Historical Society of Victoria, who will chair proceedings.

The meeting follows on from the NTAV and RHSV joint statement “More Housing and Heritage Must Go Hand in Hand” https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/blog/national-trust-of-australia-victoria-and-royal-historical-society-of-victoria-joint-statement/ and the Charter 29 Report, “Reforming the Reforms” charter29.com

Housekeeping

As with most RHSV events, refreshments will be served from 5:30pm – 6pm when the speakers will commence.
This event is an in person event only.
An automated confirmation email is sent to your email address when you book. If this email doesn’t turn up in your ‘in-box’ please check your Spam or Junk Mail folders. Don’t panic – there will be a list of names at the door so you will be able to gain entry without your ticket.
The RHSV Gallery Downstairs is an accessible venue.

Farewell and Bon Voyage, Rosemary Cameron
2025-08-21 17:30 - 19:00 | RHSV, Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
“After eight years and three Presidents, our legendary Executive Officer is retiring from the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.
Please join us to celebrate all that she has done to help the Society become one of Australia’s success stories at a time when the arts and humanities need robust history societies more than ever.
Feel free to add any messages or memories of your involvement with Rosemary when you RSVP”.
Robert Pascoe, President RHSV

Farming Families of Whittlesea
2025-08-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Whittlesea Library, 57-61 Laurel Street, Whittlesea, VIC, 3757, Australia
Did you have farming ancestors? Join members of the Whittlesea Historical Society who will present the history of some key pioneer farming families within the City, recognising the history and heritage of the Whittlesea farming community since 1859 when the Agricultural Society was established. Visit display items and share your own stories as part of our family history month program.
Afternoon tea will be provided by students from Whittlesea Secondary College. Presented in partnership by Yarra Plenty Regional Library with Whittlesea Historical Society, Whittlesea Agricultural Society, City of Whittlesea and Whittlesea Secondary College .
Thursday 21 August 2.00pm–4.00pm
Whittlesea Library, 57-61 Laurel Street, Whittlesea, Vic. 3757
Free event – registrations essential.

Specimens Across Time: A 200th birthday tribute to Baron von Mueller
2025-08-14 18:30 - 20:00 | Mueller Hall, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
For National Science Week, scientists at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria will host a free talk about the legacy of the first Gardens director, founder of the National Herbarium of Victoria, and first Government Botanist of Victoria, Baron Ferdinand von Mueller. During the talk, scientists will share their favourite Herbarium specimens from Mueller’s time and discuss their contemporary significance. The talk also celebrates 200 years since Mueller’s birth.
“Baron Ferdinand von Mueller was a botanist, explorer, and patron of science, who founded our collection of plant, algal and fungal specimens through his own collecting, and through a network of collectors and scientists that he established globally,” said Alison Vaughan, Manager Collections at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
Approximately two-thirds of the 1.5 million plant, algae and fungi specimens in the National Herbarium of Victoria today were amassed through Mueller’s endeavours.
Free entry, bookings essential.
Mueller Hall, enter via Oak Lawn Gate.
To book to attend in-person or to register to watch online, go to: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/whats-on-melbourne/specimens-across-time/

Duneira Estate Winter House Tours with morning tea in the stables
2025-08-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-07-23 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-07-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Duneira Estate, 1 Officer Lane, Mount Macedon, VIC, 3440, Australia
Duneira is running guided Winter House tours showcasing Stuart Stoneman’s extensive Art Collection. Stoneman was Duneira’s last owner who, upon his death in 2002, bequeathed his estate and his collections to the care of the S.R.Stoneman Foundation.
Duneira is considered to be the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the few remaining grand hill stations left intact on Mt Macedon after the devastating bushfires of 1983. Along with the Stoneman Art Collection, the house features an extensive library, Persian rugs, grand pianos and interesting period furniture.
During this tour our knowledgeable guide will provide fascinating insights into the story of Duneira and its six owners. This tour includes morning tea in the newly stables.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/duneira-winter-house-tours-with-morning-tea-2025

An Evening With Peter Mitchell and Jane Sullivan
2025-08-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Eltham Bookshop, 10 Arthur Stree, Eltham, VIC, 3094, Australia
Peter and Jane will discuss Peter’s new book, “Under the Same Moon”; a powerful World War II story of two brothers, drawn from previously unknown letters and histories of Australia’s Middle East and Java campaigns.
Entry: Single $50 / Couple $65 – includes one copy of the book or a $25 book voucher, plus refreshments
Bookings are essential: 94398700 or https://elthambookshop.com.au/c/our-author-events

Researching your Family History in South Asian Countries
2025-08-11 10:30 - 11:30 | Thomastown Library
Most South Asian family history has been traditionally maintained only within families and has been passed down from generation to generation, with children hearing their stories from their “elders” from early childhood. In this session, Librarian and family historian Smita Biswas will share other basic steps and tips to get more clues about your South Asian countries’ family roots in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh and provide tips to learn more about your family history. Presented by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
Monday 11 August 10.30am–11.30am
Thomastown Library, 54 Main Street, Thomastown, Vic. 3074
Free event – registrations essential.

Rebels and Revolutionaries buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery: Zoom session
2025-08-05 19:30 - 20:30 | ZOOM, Join from anywhere in the world
This presentation by Jeff Atkinson will follow a brief Annual General Meeting of the Carlton Community History Group.
To take part you will need to register, which can be done by emailing jeffann@bigpond.net.au
A Zoom link will be sent to you on the day before the presentation.

Biographical Storytelling
2025-08-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Diamond Valley Library
Charlotte Chidell has researched the life of pioneer Katherine Rose Beale (1795-1856) who arrived at Port Phillip in 1839. The Beale family established the St Helena estate. Finding few reliable primary sources, her book, This Still Hearth tells the story of Katherine in a mix of fact and fiction.
In this presentation Charlotte will discuss her research, writing and pathway to publication journey and discuss various styles of storytelling to share your family history research. Books available for sale. Presented by Yarra Plenty Regional Library.
Diamond Valley Library, Civic Drive, Greensborough
Saturday 3 August 2.00pm–3.00pm
Free event – registrations essential.

CATALOGUING CLINICS 2025
2025-07-31 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 2025, however, we do ask you to register each month as this enables Jillian to send you extra material / links etc after each session.
11am (AEST) Thu 31 Jul 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 28 Aug 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 25 Sep 2025
11am (AEDT) Thu 30 Oct 2025
11am (AEDT) Thu 27 Nov 2025
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZ0pcOiuqjItH9JWUaZk1ZrdaP1uA9d1Yqc1/ics?icsToken=DESnOhi_USXAWOo5GQAALAAAAOsufSxu9e_o1VvEoUWUiVuOT3wUceY4gYwdUjlaNrGDW1VrT1KjyEhE0aD9QHm4eoEg_M9GmHYiFwIZujAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=3FhVroEqTuiqU-ygov-0vg
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89471649756?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 894 7164 9756
Passcode: [REDACTED]
If joining by phone:
One tap mobile
+61871501149,,89471649756#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
+61280156011,,89471649756#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
—
Dial by your location
• +61 8 7150 1149 Australia
• +61 2 8015 6011 Australia
• +61 3 7018 2005 Australia
• +61 7 3185 3730 Australia
• +61 8 6119 3900 Australia
Meeting ID: 894 7164 9756
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdoUG5MWlO

RARE BOOK WEEK: Scapegoats of the Empire
2025-07-29 12:30 - 13:30 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
Stories that divide us
Recently, the library of esteemed community historian Weston Bate was donated to the RHSV. Amongst the many gems was a rare book, Scapegoats of the Empire, written in Lancefield and published in 1907 about military crimes half a world away in South Africa. The author, George Witton, was the 3rd defendant in the military trial for murder brought against Breaker Morant and Peter Handcock. Morant and Handcock were executed by firing squad and Witton was jailed for life. Less than 3 years later he was released and returned home to Australia to write his dubious memoir.
Join distinguished historian Dr Andrew Lemon AM as he explores not just Scapegoats but looks to the rich literature that is spawned when the truth gets murky.
Andrew Lemon is a multiple award-winning Australian historian, best known for his three volume History of Australian Thoroughbred Racing (joint winner of the 2009 Australian Society for Sports History biennial book prize). He has written biographies, local, company and school histories, and co-authored Poor Souls, They Perished on Australia’s worst shipwreck (1986 FAW Wilke Prize). His book A Great Australian School: Wesley College Examined (2004) was shortlisted for the New South Wales state Premier’s History Award. In 2005 the University of Melbourne awarded him the degree of Doctor of Letters for his published work. In 2012 he was a John H. Daniels research fellow at the National Sporting Library and Museum, in Virginia, USA. Andrew is a former President of the RHSV.
Housekeeping
This event is part of Rare Book Week and, for those attending both the RHSV event at 12:30pm and the earlier Ephemera Society of Australia event at 11am in the same venue, we will be serving refreshments between the two events.
These events are in person only – there is no Zoom and nor are the events recorded.

RARE BOOK WEEK: Hoarder or Historian?
2025-07-29 11:00 - 12:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
Is our history in a drawer, a scrapbook, or a curated collection?
Speaker: Mandy Bede
This talk will focus on a selection of ephemera collections, teasing out the theme of how our history is preserved. Join Mandy Bede, President of the Ephemera Society of Australia, as she shows examples of printed Australian ephemeral material from the sublime to the mundane. Regardless of how these items have been collected and preserved, or by whom, or for whatever reason, they form part of the remarkable commonwealth of documents that record our past.
Housekeeping
This event is part of Rare Book Week and, for those attending both the RHSV event at 12:30pm and the earlier Ephemera Society of Australia event at 11am in our venue, we will be serving refreshments between the two events.
These events are in person only – there is no Zoom and nor are the events recorded.
Presented by: Ephemera Society of Australia
at Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 328 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne
Morning tea will be served immediately following this event.

Cranbourne Shire Historical Society: Annual Luncheon
2025-07-20 12:00 - 15:00 | Tooradin & District Sports Club, Recreation Reserve, Tooradin, VIC, 3980, Australia
Cranbourne Shire Historical Society invites you to their Annual Luncheon. The guest speaker is Judy Rand, who will talk about the history of her historic property, Balla Balla Homestead, at Cannons Creek.
When: Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 12 noon. Where: Tooradin & District Sports Club, Recreation Reserve, Tooradin. Cost: $30.00 per head – drinks at bar prices.
RSVP including any special dietary requirements by July 11, 2025 to either Barry Freeman at pauline.freeman2@bigpond.com or Sue Tobin at susantobin@bigpond.com

Labassa: Christmas In July
2025-07-20 10:30 - 16:00 | Labassa, 2 Manor Grove, Caulfield North, Victoria, 3161, Australia
Experience the sights, sounds and tastes of a traditional mid-winter Christmas in the lavish surroundings of Labassa. We’ve decked the Christmas tree and set the dining table with all the style of a sumptuous 1890 banquet. Join us for a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour. Creative activities for young visitors are available.
Guided house tours and tower tours operate through out the day, and the tea room is open 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Join us for a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour.
Guided Tour Times:

11am: Interior House Tour
12pm: ‘Who’s been living in this house?’ Tour (Note: this tour goes upstairs)
1pm: Exterior tour
2pm: Interior House Tour
3pm: Interior House Tour

Tower tours:

10:45am, 11.45am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm & 3.45pm

The tower will be open with a limit of 12 people per tour group. Due to the tower’s narrow, steep steps visitors are advised to wear sensible shoes.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your intended guided tour time. Capacity will be monitored on the day.
Cost: $0 – $50

Squatters, Snodgrass, and the spoils of colonialism in Victoria - law, land, and corruption
2025-07-16 17:30 - 19:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
We are delighted that Professor Kate Auty will deliver the Society’s second Paul Mullaly History and Law Lecture.
In this lecture Professor Auty considers a fraction of the history of First People’s exposure to the ‘Port Phillip’ legal culture that stripped them of their country. She specifically examines the corruption that made colonial land theft, occupation, and ‘entitlement’ possible. She uses the activities of corrupt squatter – Peter Snodgrass – as her launching pad. He was one of many. He was involved in and led some of the earliest arbitrary reprisals in north-east Victoria. He was a highly significant proponent of the corruption associated with squatters’ opposition to the Nicholson Land Acts. More specifically he was corruptly and cynically instrumental in the machinations that led to the theft of Taungurung country at Acheron, a place to the east of Euroa, where Professor Auty lives.
Professor Auty lives and works on Taungurung country in north-east Victoria and she acknowledges the Taungurung people, pays respect, and dedicates this paper to their place on country.
It is because of the struggle and commitment of First Peoples and their allies that our jurisdiction has striven to be a leader in respect of justice initiatives. In relatively recent times (compared with First Nations time of occupation of country), building partnerships, we established an ALS. We committed to on-country community consultation at the broadest scale during the RCIADIC. We established an Aboriginal Justice Agreement which has led to elders, respected persons, and Koori justice workers guiding Koori Courts across the state. Kooris also started the legal push for repatriation of cultural material, and then remarkably Budj Bim was appropriately declared as a world heritage site, it being a place that celebrates the oldest living culture and also that of the colonial squatting class. More recently the Yoorrook Justice Commission was established to listen, confer, and report on the truths that underpin our colonialist past and its present and continuing impacts. First Peoples are now leading the work of crafting a Treaty to recognise their entitlement to economic justice. These achievements have often involved the law. They all rest upon the robust bedrock of First Nations resilience and resourcefulness and they respond in various ways to the great inequity of the colonial and post-colonial culture of entitlement.
Today the Taungurung and others are resuming control of their country. Treaty and truth-telling are making this possible. It is time. Professor Auty hopes this paper contributes to their just claims.
His Honour Paul Mullaly QC
The Royal Historical Society of Victoria was much saddened at the death of long-serving member, His Honour Paul Mullaly QC, in 2022 just shy of his 93rd birthday. Paul contributed substantially to the RHSV over many years and in many ways however his greatest contribution has been his transcription and annotation of Judge Willis’ Port Phillip Casebooks, for which legal scholars will always be in his debt. Paul’s work can be found on a mini-website within the RHSV website here: The Judge Willis Casebooks . To honour Paul’s contribution we have established this biennial lecture on history and law in our Distinguished Lecturer series.
Speaker: Professor Kate Auty
Barrister, historian, environmentalist, active community member in regional Victoria, and author, Professor Kate Auty is passionate about diversity and inclusive community development. She is involved in a number of community-based intermediary organisations in respect of environment, climate change, energy and Indigenous matters. She is a member of the Australian Accountability Roundtable; co-chair of the Australian Open Government Partnership Multi-Stakeholder Forum; chair of the governing board of the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority; Professorial Fellow School of Law University of Melbourne and Senior Research Fellow with Melbourne Energy Futures.
She was the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability in Victoria from 2009 to 2014. She has formerly held appointments as a magistrate in Victoria and in the goldfields and western desert of Western Australia, in both positions establishing Aboriginal sentencing courts in consultation with Aboriginal people.
Kate holds tertiary qualifications in environmental science, law and history, having graduated from University of Melbourne (Arts Hons/Law), Monash University (Masters in Environmental Science), and La Trobe University (PhD in Law and Legal Studies). She also holds a Diploma of International Environmental Law from UNITAR. Kate is member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Kate continues as a barrister in Victoria (1992 – ).

Housekeeping

From 5:30pm – 6pm the RHSV serves refreshments before the lecture commences at 6pm. Zoom audiences will join at 6pm. Zoom log-in details will be sent to attendees 24 hours prior to the lecture.

Speaker photo by Janet Fogarty

Echoes of the 19th Century
2025-07-15 18:30 | Prahran Mechanics Institute, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the enchanting sounds of the 19th century with the Four Seasons String Quartet at the PMI Victorian History Library. Led by internationally acclaimed cellist Nora Brownrigg, this talented ensemble will bring history to life through a captivating program of period music.
Experience the elegance and charm of a bygone era as the quartet performs timeless pieces that once graced grand halls and intimate gatherings of the 1800s. Whether you’re a lover of classical music, a history enthusiast, or simply seeking a unique cultural experience, this magical evening promises to transport you to another time.
Join us for this unforgettable journey through historical arts accompanied by delicious snacks, made possible by a generous grant from Stonnington Council.

Protesting the Vietnam War and National Service Talk
2025-06-26 18:00 - 19:00 | Library at the Dock, 107 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands, Victoria, 3005, Australia
During the Vietnam War, a huge national protest movement grew around the conscription of young Australians ordered to fight in the contentious war. In Victoria, many women were at the forefront of the historic protest movement. These brave women are the focus of the award-winning podcast Women, Conscription, War.
Discover this pivotal moment in Australian history in a talk by historian and podcaster Alexandra Pierce.

📍 Library at the Dock
📆 26 June, 6pm

Book here: https://bit.ly/43jVjYV

CATALOGUING CLINICS 2025
2025-06-26 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 2025, however, we do ask you to register each month as this enables Jillian to send you extra material / links etc after each session.
11am (AEDT) Thu 27 Feb 2025
11am (AEDT) Thu 27 Mar 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 24 Apr 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 29 May 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 26 Jun 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 31 Jul 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 28 Aug 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 25 Sep 2025
11am (AEDT) Thu 30 Oct 2025
11am (AEDT) Thu 27 Nov 2025
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZ0pcOiuqjItH9JWUaZk1ZrdaP1uA9d1Yqc1/ics?icsToken=DESnOhi_USXAWOo5GQAALAAAAOsufSxu9e_o1VvEoUWUiVuOT3wUceY4gYwdUjlaNrGDW1VrT1KjyEhE0aD9QHm4eoEg_M9GmHYiFwIZujAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=3FhVroEqTuiqU-ygov-0vg
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89471649756?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 894 7164 9756
Passcode: [REDACTED]
If joining by phone:
One tap mobile
+61871501149,,89471649756#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
+61280156011,,89471649756#,,,,*[REDACTED]# Australia
—
Dial by your location
• +61 8 7150 1149 Australia
• +61 2 8015 6011 Australia
• +61 3 7018 2005 Australia
• +61 7 3185 3730 Australia
• +61 8 6119 3900 Australia
Meeting ID: 894 7164 9756
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdoUG5MWlO

Labassa Open Day
2025-06-15 10:30 - 16:00 | Labassa, 2 Manor Grove, Caulfield North, Victoria, 3161, Australia
Although more than 700 people have lived at Labassa, it has miraculously survived with most of its opulent Victorian era decoration intact. Come and experience the complex richness of Labassa’s architectural and human history. Young visitors will have fun tracking down all those non-human “critters” who still live at the mansion.
Guided house tours and tower tours operate through out the day, and the tea room is open 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Join us for a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour.
Guided Tour Times:

11am: Interior House Tour
12pm: ‘Who’s been living in this house?’ Tour (Note: this tour goes upstairs)
1pm: Exterior tour
2pm: Interior House Tour
3pm: Interior House Tour

Tower tours:

10:45am, 11.45am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm & 3.45pm

The tower will be open with a limit of 12 people per tour group. Due to the tower’s narrow, steep steps visitors are advised to wear sensible shoes.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your intended guided tour time. Capacity will be monitored on the day.
Cost: $0 – $50
Photograph by Jon Rendell.

Curator's talk: Yarra Birrarung Artists, Writers and the River exhibition
2025-06-10 11:00 - 12:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
Join the curator, Dr Judith Buckrich, of our current exhibition Yarra Birrarung: Artists, Writers and the River in a behind-the-scenes talk about the exhibition.
The exhibition is an illustrated history of life on the Yarra. Through the lens of artists and writers, the exhibition explores how life has flourished on the river, including recreation, industry and land use, as well as infrastructure, natural history and social history.
Despite much despoiling, our river remains the vital artery of the city and beyond to the Yarra Ranges. Just as it was the fulcrum of Wurundjeri life, it continues to inspire and fulfil our lives. From the Heidelberg School to the MCG, the river has been a centre of Australian arts and culture for decades.
Judith Buckrich has published a book, of the same name, which is the first comprehensive illustrated history of the Yarra Birrarung from before European settlement to the present day, a 200 year story, examined through the lives of its creatives.
Dr Judith Buckrich was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1950 and emigrated to Melbourne in 1958. She has several entries in the Encyclopedia of Melbourne and Remembering Melbourne 1850–1960. Her book The Village of Ripponlea won a Victorian Community History Award in 2016 and Acland Street: the Grand Lady of St Kilda won the 2018 Fellowship of Australian Writers (VIC) Award for non-fiction. She has also published with Melbourne Books before, releasing The Long and Perilous Journey: A History of Port Melbourne in 2002. At present, she is working on an illustrated history of Fitzroy North.
Judith has written her own one-woman shows, short stories, feature articles and essays and worked as a curator, editor and translator. She was Chair of the PEN International Women Writers’ Committee from 2003 to 2009 and President of the Melbourne PEN Centre from 1993 to 2005. She is a past President of the Prahran Mechanics Institute Victorian History Library.
Housekeeping
This free event is in person only (no Zoom). Morning tea is served before the event.

You will be sent a confirmation email on booking. Please check your Spam or Junk Mail folder if you cannot find the automatically-generated email in your in-box.

CATALOGUING CLINICS 2025
2025-05-29 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 2025, however, we do ask you to register each month as this enables Jillian to send you extra material / links etc after each session.
11am (AEST) Thu 29 May 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 26 Jun 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 31 Jul 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 28 Aug 2025
11am (AEST) Thu 25 Sep 2025
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RHSV AGM + 2025 Weston Bate Oration: Professor Emeritus Graeme Davison
2025-05-27 17:00 - 19:30 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
Melbourne from the Air
From the balloon to the drone, and from the Exhibition Building viewing platform to Skydeck, Melburnians have thrilled to the spectacle of their city from the sky. They were fascinated by the exploits of hot-air balloonists like the accident-prone Henry L’Estrange.
When they could not actually fly above the city, artists like Albert Cooke reconstructed it from the ground in the black and white ‘bird’s eye views’ published in popular newspapers. In the twentieth century aerial photographers like Airspy’s Charles Pratt shot the city and suburbs in fine detail, producing the most comprehensive photographic record of the city’s changing topography. In this lecture Graeme Davison reviews the aerial history of Melbourne and asks: Why does the view of the city from the air so enchant us? And what is the value of the Melbourne’s rich archive of aerial views to the social and local historian?
Graeme Davison AO is Professor Emeritus at Monash University and one of Australia’s leading historians. He has written widely on Australian urban and cultural history and on the public uses of history. His books include The Rise and Fall of Marvellous Melbourne, which won the Ernest Scott Prize, My Grandfather’s Clock, The Unforgiving Minute: How Australia Learned to Tell the Time, The Use and Abuse of Australian History, Car Wars: How the Car Won Our Hearts and Conquered Our Cities, which won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Non-fiction, University Unlimited: The Monash Story (with Kate Murphy), Lost Relations: Fortunes of My Family in Australia’s Golden Age and, as co-editor, The Oxford Companion to Australian History.
The Weston Bate Oration is one of the RHSV’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
Housekeeping
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. A digital version can be found here.
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.

Historical Society Network Leaders: Victoria-wide Conference and Networking Day 2025
2025-05-23 09:00 - 17:00 | RHSV, Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
There are some 350 historical societies across Melbourne and Victoria. Most of these historical societies, as well as being a member of the RHSV, belong to local networks of historical societies. These local networks are usually geographically based and are vitally important in sharing information, sharing challenges and providing key support. In our turn, the RHSV wants to support not just individual historical societies but also the networks that link them.
So, the RHSV is delighted to host our second Network Leaders day – an opportunity for leaders and representatives of these diverse historical society networks throughout Victoria to come together and connect.
Please note that this event will not be Zoomed as a key aim is for leaders to meet with their peers from across Victoria and then, when they return home, to share their findings with their member societies.
COST
All attendees receive full-day refreshments and lunch

FREE for qualifying attendees who are both:

a Network Leader (and up to additional 2 network members) who, on returning home, is willing to share their new knowledge with their network AND
is an RHSV member OR a member of an RHSV-affiliated historical society

$20 for network members who are neither an RHSV member nor a member of an RHSV-affiliated historical society.

TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT

Available for long-distance travellers who are both representing a historical society network AND are a member of the RHSV or of an affiliated member society of the RHSV. Please first speak to your network to see if they have funds available to support your trip.
Reimbursement amounts:

Up to $50 for attendees living 50-150km from Melbourne
Up to $150 for attendees living beyond 150km from Melbourne

To qualify for reimbursement, you must:

Represent a historical society network and
Be a member of the RHSV or an RHSV-affiliated historical society

Submit your expense claims via email to Oliver Sperlich, RHSV Operations Officer, at operations@historyvictoria.org.au

Event Program

Friday, May 23

Registration

9.00am

Program Start

9.45-10.00am

Emeritus Professor Richard Broome AM FRHSV

Presentation 1: No time, no money, no resources: Challenges for Historical Societies

Can historical societies as we know them survive? Why is it important that they do? We would generally agree that most societies are facing increasing challenges, from a dwindling volunteer workforce to limited funds, to the challenges and costs of technology, to changing expectations from our communities and dwindling membership numbers.Are historical societies more than collection depots for unwanted family heirlooms, and how do we ensure their survival?Why do we need to work together and what are the advantages and challenges of networking in this context?This presentation aims to challenge our current way of working and pose some questions on how we not only survive but move forward.

10.00-10.45am

Robyn Vincin

Presentation 2: Responses to challenges: what some Networks are doing and could do

Historical Society Networks have often existed for decades with leadership and membership changing constantly. Networks are in the position of understanding the challenges faced by their member groups; geography can provide a Network with common perspectives but also with additional challenges. This presentation considers some of the initiatives Networks have adopted over many years and others they might consider embracing in orderto value add to their member groups’ work and engagement with other potential stakeholders.

10.45-11.30am

Graham Goulding OAM,Craige Proctor

Short break

11.30-11.45pm

Short presentation: How the Federation of Australian Historical Societies can help Network Leaders

Few network leaders know about the Federation of Australian Historical Societies. Established in 1977, its constituents come from each state and territory, and it is a national body representing approximately 1,000 historical societies and 100,000 members. This brief presentation outlines its work and why Network leaders should become subscribers, ‘free’.

11.45-12.00pm

Dr Rosalie TrioloOAM FRHSV

Presentation 3: Attracting young people to local history, now and into the future

Many historical societies have primary school groups visit them, or have representatives take objects into schools. But there are approaches outside school hours for helping young people see and value the history around them. While some encounters might seem ‘fleeting’, today’s young historians will more likely care ‘long-term’ for their local history–and the society that hosts much of it.

12.00-12.30pm

Dr Rosalie Triolo OAM FRHSV

Lunch break

12.30-1.30pm

Presentation 4: Working 'good way' with First Nations stakeholders

Australian history is a highly contested space where the tensions between uncovering the truth and the discomfort this often brings are often experienced as points of contention. At the heart of this tension is the violence of the colonisation and genocide in Australia. One of the responses to this discomfort has been an effort to erase First Nations histories from the national narrative and in the 1960s this was described as the Great Australian Silence. One of the key strategies to uncover erased histories is being able to effectively engage with First Nations stakeholders. This presentation will focus on the importance of building relationships with First Nations stakeholders and how to navigate these complex spaces to maintain cultural responsiveness and safety for all partners.

1.30-2.15pm

Dr Aleryk Fricker

Forum: Cultivating hope: empowering historical societies for the future

Rosemary Cameron and Craige Proctor will lead this forum looking at strategies to make historical societies relevant and resilient. We will discuss the many ways in which the RHSV/HSSC can support societies and their networks. Share your success stories, knowledge of new technologies and examples of positive collaboration and community involvement – we want to discover what is common to all successful historical societies.

2:15-3.00pm

Rosemary Cameron, Craige Proctor

Close

3.00pm

Drill Hall Tour

Following

About the presenters
Robyn Vincin – Presentation 1: No time, no money, no resources: Challenges for Historical SocietiesRobyn has had a career in librarianship and town planning, including NSW Executive Officer for the Planning Institute of Australia.With a strong commitment to public engagement and communication, she continues to be a passionate advocate for networking and member engagement in both professional and volunteer organisations.She has a keen interest in genealogy and local history and the “stories of place.”After moving to Bayside in 2013, she volunteered at Brighton Historical Society, where she assisted with collection management, answered research inquiries and was Secretary for a couple of years. In May 2024 she began volunteering at Sandringham and District Historical Society where she is currently Secretary and continues to provide research assistance. Robyn is a member of the RHSV Historical Societies Support Committee.
Graham Goulding OAM – Presentation 2: Responses to challenges: what some Networks are doing and could doGraham is currently the President of the Moe and District Historical Society. He served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Gippsland Association of Affiliated Historical Societies between 2006 and 2013. He has authored seven publications on Moe’s and Gippsland’s history and for some twenty years edited Coach News newsletter for the Moe Society and wrote many of the articles published. Between 2009 and 2021 he was a member of the Walhalla Board of Management looking after heritage sites in Walhalla and for nineteen years has been Secretary for the Gippsland Immigration Park which built the Gippsland Immigration Wall of Recognition and the Gippsland Heritage Walk with 72 panels of information on Gippsland history. Graham is a member of the RHSV Historical Societies Support Committee.
Craige Proctor – Presentation 2: Responses to challenges: what some Networks are doing and could do, and Forum A member and office bearer of a broad range of historical societies and heritage groups in south-western Victoria and the Wimmera, Craige is both Chair of the RHSV’s Historical Societies Support Committee and President and Newsletter Editor of the Western Victorian Association of Historical Societies whose membership stretches from the coast to the Murray River. Craige has authored or co-authored nine books ranging from school and local histories to biographies of pioneer women, a rural fire brigade and a disability support provider. While researching and chronicling aspects of local history is a passion for Craige, he is also driven by the pleasure networking with other groups offers. In 2022 Craige was the recipient of an RHSV Award of Merit for services to local history.
Dr Rosalie Triolo OAM FRHSV – Short Presentation: How the Federation of Australian Historical Societies can help Network Leaders and Presentation 3: Attracting young people to local history, now and into the futureRosalie is FAHS President, a RHSV Councillor and a past-HSSC Chair. She has enjoyed over 40 years in professional and volunteer History contexts, including long-term, volunteer Victorian and national leadership, advocacy, presentation and publication roles. She believes that knowledge of the past can inform life into the future while being of profound interes tto individuals or whole communities. For 25 years at Monash University, she helped facilitate the development of specialist History teachers.
Dr Aleryk Fricker – Presentation 4: Working ‘good way’ with First Nation StakeholdersAssociate Professor Aleryk (Al) Fricker is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung academic at the NIKERI Institute at Deakin University. He is a former Primary and Secondary school teacher and focuses on how to decolonise Australia’s neo-colonial education system to support the outcomes of all students.
Rosemary Cameron – Forum: Cultivating hope: empowering historical societies for the futureRosemary has been the RHSV’s Executive Officer since 2017. Her entire career has been in not-for-profit membership-based arts management. Overseas she worked for London’s English National Opera and Royal Opera House and Oslo’s Early Music Festival. She is former director of the Melbourne Writers Festival (2005 – 2009) and the Brisbane Writers Festival (2003 – 2005). She was involved in Melbourne’s successful bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature.

The rise of public health engineering in Victoria 1925-1940
2025-05-20 17:30 - 19:00 | VIC
The rise of public health engineering in Victoria 1925-1940:
The Sewerage Districts’ Acts 1915, 1925 and 1928, and the consulting engineers who rose to the occasion
A century ago, the final 1914 report of the 1898 UK Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal provided an improved scientific knowledge of sewage treatment and an increased awareness of public health. This led to a greater desire to correctly treat sewage, rather than the previously recommended processes of ‘disposing’ of it by spreading it onto land or piping it into the sea.

Sewerage is a necessary consequence of water supply. Victorian towns had previously been given the powers to raise funds to develop reticulated water supply systems, but without the corresponding authority to develop reticulated sewerage schemes, public health was placed at risk. The Sewerage District’s Act 1915 was meant to enable this, but the dark shadows of the First World War and the post-war influenza pandemic slowed progress.

Furthermore, the young Commonwealth of Australia did not yet have a Department of Health to provide a national focus for Public Health, and there were few engineers in Victoria, and indeed across Australia, who were knowledgeable or skilled in the design and operation of sewage treatment systems.

This talk will provide a contextual history of the development of public health engineering overseas and in Australia; outline the social and economical constraints of the period; explain the legislation in Victoria that enabled the formation of Sewerage Authorities; and identify the key civil engineer leaders in Australia and Victoria who successfully guided the design, construction and operation of most of the town sewage treatment plants in Victoria from 1925 to 1940.

Many of the engineering practices they established then, still continue as the leading consulting engineering practices of today.

This session will be presented by Ken McInnes
Ken has been researching engineering history and heritage for five decades and has served on many related statutory, professional and community organisations including: Historic Buildings Council of Victoria; Engineering Heritage Victoria (past chair); Engineering Heritage Australia (past chair); and National Trust Timber Bridges Committee (chair). He has also helped steer many heritage studies. His professional career as a civil, environmental and computer software engineer has included senior roles in major consulting engineering practices, state Public Works Agencies, and convening and lecturing University subjects on internet and web technologies. He is currently an Adjunct Research Fellow, at Swinburne University of Technology, and his current research focus is on researching and adding biographies of engineers and works into the “Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation”.

Friends of La Trobe's Cottage Reception
2025-05-19 17:30 - 19:00 | RHSV Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
La Trobe Society Members and Friends are invited to attend the Friends of La Trobe’s Cottage Reception to meet the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), Collette Brennan.
Date: Monday 19 May 2025
Time: 5.30 – 7.00 pm
Venue: Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Cnr William and A’Beckett Streets, Melbourne
The ‘Friends of La Trobe’s Cottage’ was formed in 2009 under the umbrella of the C J La Trobe Society. Its aims are to promote information about La Trobe and his family, and especially to support the National Trust in its efforts to maintain the Cottage through fund-raising, improved visitor experience with regular public opening times, enhanced interpretation, and improved interior and exterior appearance.
Collette Brennan was formerly CEO and Artistic Director of the Abbotsford Convent, and has worked across arts, culture, education and heritage in a diversity of organisations. She is currently a member of the International Society for Performing Arts and National Institute of Circus Arts Boards.
Collette will share an update about the vital work being undertaken by National Trust, including at La Trobe’s Cottage, and she is very much looking forward to meeting everyone. The National Trust is the community-based, non-government organisation committed to promoting and conserving Australia’s Indigenous, natural and historic heritage places of cultural significance in Victoria, including the Trust’s responsibility for La Trobe’s Cottage.
Bookings
Online: https://www.eventbookings.com/b/event/friends-of-la-trobe-s-cottage-reception
For those unable to book online:
EFT to C J La Trobe Society Inc: BSB 033-018 Account 149584. Please ensure your name is on the EFT, and email: secretary@latrobesociety.org.au with names of those attending
Or send a cheque for $………… at $25.00 per person, payable to C J La Trobe Society Inc with this form to P.O. Box 65, Port Melbourne, 3207. Please add the names of those attending.
For information, phone 0412 517061.

Labassa Open Day
2025-05-18 10:30 - 16:00 | Labassa, 2 Manor Grove, Caulfield North, Victoria, 3161, Australia
Although more than 700 people have lived at Labassa, it has miraculously survived with most of its opulent Victorian era decoration intact. Come and experience the complex richness of Labassa’s architectural and human history. Young visitors will have fun tracking down all those non-human “critters” who still live at the mansion.
Guided house tours and tower tours operate through out the day, and the tea room is open 10.30am to 3.30pm.
Join us for a guided tour or opt for a self-guided tour.
Guided Tour Times:

11am: Interior House Tour
12pm: ‘Who’s been living in this house?’ Tour (Note: this tour goes upstairs)
1pm: Exterior tour
2pm: Interior House Tour
3pm: Interior House Tour

Tower tours:

10:45am, 11.45am, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm & 3.45pm

The tower will be open with a limit of 12 people per tour group. Due to the tower’s narrow, steep steps visitors are advised to wear sensible shoes.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your intended guided tour time. Capacity will be monitored on the day.
Cost: $0 – $50
Labassa 2 Manor Grove, Caulfield North
Sunday 18th May 2025 – 10.30am – 4pm

Malvern Walk: Explore Stonnington's Rich History
2025-05-14 10:30 - 12:00 | Malvern Town Hall, Corner High Street and Glenferrie Road Malvern, Melbourne, 3144, Australia
Starting at the iconic clock tower of the Malvern Town Hall, you’ll embark on a captivating journey through the heart of Malvern. As you stroll through the streets, you’ll uncover fascinating stories behind the Town Hall, the nearby Police Station, and the former Court House. Marvel at St George’s Anglican Parish, explore Stonnington’s only bluestone house, and take in the beauty of Malvern Square and its sculptures.
But that’s just the beginning! You’ll also visit landmarks like the former Malvern Fire Station, De La Salle College, and the historic Malvern Tram Depot. Each stop reveals a piece of our rich heritage, culminating at the former ES&A Bank.
