Past Events
October 2020
The West Gate Bridge Collapse: 50 Years On
50 years ago, the partially-constructed West Gate Bridge collapsed, killing 35 workers and injuring 18 more. The disaster remains Australia’s worst industrial accident to this day. Join us in conversation with Tommy Watson and Danny Gardiner of the West Gate Bridge Memorial Committee to learn about that fateful day, their work on the bridge, and their ongoing battle for workplace safety. This will be an online event. A link will be emailed to registrants the day before the event along…
February 2021
Williamstown Croquet Club – Past, Present and Future
Come along and learn about croquet’s origins in the 19th century and the history of Williamstown’s own club, founded in 1926. Club president, Paul Lund, will also provide information on the club's operations today including membership, competitions, social activities and events. This event will be held online via Microsoft Teams. Bookings are essential so that we can send you a link to join the session. You will be emailed a link prior to the event along with instructions on how…
April 2021
Australian Heritage Festival – Preserving your Photos for the Future
Do you have a collection of old photos that you’re not quite sure what to do with? Do you know how to care for them so they survive into the future? Join Debra Parry from Melbourne Conservation Services for an online workshop to learn how to best care for your photos. During this Zoom presentation, Debra Parry will give a talk on photos from the 19th and 20th century, and how to conserve these for the 21st century. Find out…
May 2021
Researching Aboriginal Family History
Tracing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family histories poses a unique set of challenges. YPRL is proud to be a partner in the presentation of a half-day webinar to assist people wanting to research their Aboriginal Family History. Join Jenny Bates (Koorie Heritage Trust), Maxine Briggs (Koorie Heritage Unit at State Library Victoria) and Tsari Anderson (Koorie Records Unit at Public Records Office Victoria and National Archives of Australia) to discover their tips and tricks. Topics will include: how to get started, staying organised,…
August 2021
Together Apart: Meet the Authors
When COVID-19 hit Melbourne harder than a runaway tram, our lives changed – literally overnight. Photographer Jude van Daalen and editor Belinda Jackson join us to talk about their experience capturing Melbourne's lockdown through 'Together Apart: Life in Lockdown', a beautiful, black-and-white coffee table book featuring 60 interviews and portraits of people in the Hobsons Bay community.
Uncovering the Past with Sands Directories
Before the internet, postal directories provided information on Melbourne’s properties, residents, businesses and streets. Learn how to find and navigate these directories to discover everything from where your ancestors lived to when your house was built.
September 2021
Learn how to edit oral history and sound recordings (online workshop)
Have you recorded oral history interviews but don't know how to edit them to create clips? Are your oral history recordings sitting in an archive, not being used? Have you ever wanted to make use of the recordings for displays or presentations? If so, this workshop is for you. This hands-on workshop will- • introduce you to audio editing software, • teach you how to create clips from oral history interviews and sound recordings, • show you how to remove…
October 2021
Create a video using oral history recordings and images (online workshop)
Have you ever wanted to make a video from oral history interviews? Are your oral history recordings sitting in an archive, not being showcased? Have you ever wanted to make use of interview files for displays or presentations, or to put on a website? Would you like to make a digital story? Have you interviewed family members and would like to create a special video for them using the audio and family photos? If so, this workshop is for you.…
Who Lived in My House?
Ever wondered who the past occupants of your house were? Or interested in researching your house history? Come along to this Heritage Help session and learn how to use research tools to find the history of houses and properties in Hobsons Bay and Melbourne.
Who Lived in My House?
Ever wondered who the past occupants of your house were? Or interested in researching your house history? Come along to this Heritage Help session and learn how to use research tools to find the history of houses and properties in Hobsons Bay and Melbourne. This session will run online.
Heritage Victoria Presentation with Geoffrey B. Austin
Are you interested in hearing about how some of the most curious things get on the Victorian Heritage Register? Join Hobsons Bay City Council and like-minded heritage enthusiasts for an evening presentation by Geoffrey B. Austin, Manager at the Heritage Register at Heritage Victoria, who will be presenting about some of the remarkable and curious assets of the Victorian Heritage Register. Geoffrey will also discuss how the HMAS Castlemaine recently earned its entry on the 75th anniversary of the end…
Transcribing oral history workshop (online)
Have you completed some oral history interviews, but aren't sure how to go about transcribing them? Do you have interviews in your library, museum or historical society collection that haven't been transcribed yet? Would you like some guidance on how to go about preparing clear and informative transcripts that will be valuable research tools? If you answered yes to any of these, then this workshop is for you. This hands-on workshop will cover: the importance of transcribing oral history…
November 2021
Trove for Beginners
Discover how to use Trove, the National Library of Australia's extensive online database. Trove is a National Library of Australia website which provides access to historic newspapers, photographs, and much more. Come along to this session to learn what’s available on Trove, and some tips and tricks to find what you’re looking for.
The Siege That Forged an Enduring Australian and Polish Friendship: The Rats of Tobruk
At this very special event, hear how the friendships forged in a small, coastal town in northern Africa influenced Australia’s post-war migration and created lifelong bonds across cultures. The Shrine of Remembrance, in partnership with the Institute of National Remembrance, Poland, presents a digital event on Saturday 27 November honouring the enduring legacy of the Australian and Polish Rats of Tobruk. Join Dr Mark Johnston, Professor Marek Wierzbicki and Lucyna Artymiuk as they discuss the shared experiences of the…
December 2021
Discover Your Military Ancestors
Discover the huge range of military records you can search online, and find out what your ancestors did during the wars of the 20th century. Recommended for beginners.
February 2022
Uncovering the Past with Sands Directories
Before the internet, postal directories provided information on Melbourne’s properties, residents, businesses and streets. Sands & McDougall online directories have changed recently. Learn how to use the new interface to discover everything from where your ancestors lived to when your house was built. We’ll give you the tips and skills to easily navigate and search the updated directories. Some computer skills recommended.
March 2022
The Women of Little Lon
Sex workers in nineteenth-century Melbourne were judged morally corrupt by the respectable world around them. But theirs was a thriving trade, with links to the police and political leaders of the day, and the leading brothels were usually managed by women. Who were they? What did their daily lives look like? What became of them? Drawing on the findings of recent archaeological excavations, rare archival material and family records, historian Barbara Minchinton brings the fascinating world of Little Lon to…
April 2022
LGBTIQ+ Inclusion in the history of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force policies banned lesbian, gay and bisexual people from serving until November 1992 and transgender people until September 2010. Yet, there is a long history of their service, as the Australian military evolved from an institution that actively persecuted LGBTIQ+ members to one that actively welcomes and values their contributions. Join historian Noah Riseman - co-author of Pride in Defence (2020) and Serving in Silence? (2018) - as he provides an overview of Australian LGBTIQ+ military service, past…
June 2022
Colonial Australia Trivia Night
Calling all Colonial Australia enthusiasts to show off your knowledge! It is with great pleasure for members of Grattan Street Press to announce that all our books in Colonial Australian Popular Fiction series are now available in eBook formats. To celebrate the ebook launch, we are happy to invite you to our big night of online trivia! Whether you're an expert in Colonial Australia, or if you just can't resist a feisty round of Kahoot, this is the event for you.…
July 2022
Next Steps with Trove
Trove is a National Library of Australia initiative providing a single point of entry to a treasure trove of artefacts, curiosities and stories from Australia’s cultural, community and research institutions. In this session you'll learn advanced search techniques to uncover this wealth of resources to research family, local, and Australian history. Some experience with Trove recommended. This is an online event via Microsoft Teams. Bookings close at 10am on the day of session.
239 A'Beckett Street Melbourne, Victoria, 3000 
03 9326 9288 
office@historyvictoria.org.au 
Office & Library: Weekdays 9am-5pm
