Author: Rosemary Cameron

Congratulations Ruby Louise Oosthuizen!

The annual Don Gibb RHSV Australian History Prize is awarded to the La Trobe University student who gained the highest mark in the third-year subject ‘Making History’ and , in 2024, the prize was presented to Ruby Louise Oosthuizen. Ruby made a podcast: ‘The Whitewashing of Australia’s Ecological History Seen Through the Tale of a Platypus’. Ruby is completing a double degree in Science and Arts. She earned a cash prize and an RHSV membership,

read more...

We hope to be able to make an announcement soon about the launch of the Victorian Community History Awards 2024.

 

read more...

We look forward to welcoming as many members as possible to the RHSV’s Special General Meeting (SGM) and Annual General Meeting (AGM). To register for the SGM and AGM or to record your apologies please click here.  You can use the same link to book for the Weston Bate Oration which follows the AGM (with a short break for refreshments). Non-members too are always welcome.

On Tuesday evening,

read more...

 

Our 4th podcast, VOICES FROM MELBOURNE’S CHINATOWN, is available for download from Spotify.

 

In this episode of our History Victoria Podcast, Past Lives, Sean Reynolds interviews Mark Wang, CEO of Melbourne’s Chinese Museum to explore the evolving identity and culture of the vibrant Chinese-Australian community. 
 
Mark delves into his family’s deep roots in Victoria, tracing back to his great-great-grandfather who arrived before the gold rush.

read more...

PROV is facing more than just funding cuts at the moment.

A bill was introduced into the Legislative Assembly this week by the Government that would, amongst other things, see the abolishment of the Public Records Advisory Council.  Given the importance of the PRAC in advising the Minister and the Public Records office on the operation and implementation of the relevant Act, and subsequently the storage and archival of public records, we were looking for feedback from the perspective of historical societies,

read more...

The Royal Historical Society of Victoria has written to The Honourable Gabrielle Williams, Minister for Government Services regarding the faltering funding for the Victorian Community History Awards and PROV’s essential grants program, Local History Grants. These two modestly funded program are essential to the ongoing well-being of Victoria’s 350 historical societies which are a much-loved feature in every electorate across Victoria.

Richard Broome, RHSV President, has also written to all our members asking them to lobby the Minister and their local member to ensure that funding is secured for the quadrennial period 2024 –

read more...

The 1.68 hectare bush garden and historic home of Australia’s second Prime Minister Alfred Deakin is on the lands of the Wadawurrung People, in the middle of “old Lonnie” (Point Lonsdale, VIC). Ballara is under threat of auction and development.

Join the campaign to save Ballara for the nation and to give it a future.

THE THREAT

Ballara on Victoria’s Bellarine peninsula, remains in the hands of Deakin’s descendants. However, it is now under threat.

read more...

Through a donor we’ve been able to commission talented artist, Alissa Duke, to do a series of sketches of life at the RHSV. So, if you come in to the Drill Hall over the next few weeks you might see Alissa sketching corners of our library, our volunteers lunching together, books (of course!), suitcases, manuscripts etc  These sketches will appear in our 2023 Annual Report and I hope they’ll end up in the book shop as ‘merch’.

read more...

We are thrilled to announce that the RHSV welcomes a new Marketing Officer, Sean Reynolds, this week. Sean says, “I’ve had over two decades leading marketing and content production for global companies, such as Electronic Arts and Warner Bros. I’ve spearheaded strategic campaigns across digital platforms, TV and emerging social media channels. When I’m not finding the core story to connect the audience with brands, you’ll find me geeking out over history with my “Melbourne Ghost Signs”

read more...

In 2008, Melbourne joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network when it was designated the first and only City of Literature in Australia, and the second in the world after Edinburgh.

The network of Cities of Literature has grown considerably since then and one of the wonderful initiatives between these cities is to arrange virtual residencies for writers. This is the first year the RHSV has taken part and we are thrilled to host Bria Cotton,

read more...

History Month 2023 saw us launch a new History Month website and a record number of events and exhibitions and social media happenings across Victoria – all highlighting the great work that happens in the history sector and especially that generated by the 350 historical societies across Victoria. I hope all the organisations that took part in 2023 are dreaming up more exciting events for October 2024.

Many thanks to our co-ordinator, Susannah Beardsell and a huge thank you to The Vera Moore Foundation which funds the RHSV to produce History Month.

read more...