Simmie & Co was a prominent building company in Melbourne (1924-1978) and in Canberra (1926-1969). In Melbourne the company was highly successful and built many iconic buildings, churches, monasteries, schools, housing, factories, defence works, the Shrine forecourt (1939-45), offices and theatres including some heritage-listed constructions (one designed by Robin Boyd). The founders were three Victorian brothers, all born in the last decade of the nineteenth century and all worked at the Sunshine Harvester factory before World War One – William, Jock & George. All were World War One veterans (two were Gallipoli veterans). All were wounded and survived. Two were closely involved with the Master Builders Association in Melbourne. Discover their story of a pioneering building company of the early to mid-twentieth century, of World War One veterans, of courage and a willingness to take a risk, of the beginning of the capital city of Australia and the workers, the unsung heroes, who made it all happen.
We have the pleasure of hosting Author Stuart Kells who has written several volumes in the category of ‘books about book’ (our personal favourite being his one titled "The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders"). His most recent book is a history of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious university press, Melbourne University Publishing. He also wrote Read More...
The Altona-Laverton Historical Society members and volunteers invite you to drop into the Altona Homestead on the first Sunday of the Month (February to December) to enjoy a serve of our famous Devonshire Tea or Cream Tea or Cornish Tea, anyway you look at them they are delicious.
Authors Heather Arnold and Isaac Hermann invite you to the launch of their book, Enchanted Beneath the Bluff, Agnes & Geraldine’s Pursuit of Elwood’s Elusive Black Diamonds. Within a place of love, sorrow and salvation, where Elwood's Swamp met St. Kilda's Red Bluff, two ardent women - Agnes Simmons and Geraldine Minet - with their Read More...
Rev. Dr. D’Arcy Wood will explore a phenomenon that began with the large open-air rallies held by the Wesley brothers in the mid-18th century and developed into the stirring tunes and expressions of devotion that became the bedrock of congregational singing in the nineteenth century. Here is your opportunity to sing along with a guest Read More...
Christina Browning, the RHSV Marketing Officer, leads these forums which each month tackle a different aspect of marketing for historical societies - they tend to concentrate on social media as it is very available and is free to use, however, Christina will tackle any aspect of marketing which you want to raise. Christina will prepare Read More...
Australian Garden History Society presents ‘Love of a crowd, a band, and “a gardens’’’: Music, Recreation, and Gardens at Nineteenth-Century International Exhibitions Winter online lecture by Sarah Kirby International exhibitions were some of the most significant cultural events of the nineteenth century, drawing together displays from across the world that (supposedly) demonstrated the breadth of Read More...
Join the Professional Historians Association to hear eminent environmental historian Dr Margaret Cook at the second annual Wilson History Oration, environmental historian, Dr Margaret Cook will explore the ways history can engage with the public, the media, other professions and policy makers. In discussing her work on floods, she will highlight how her
role and training as a public historian shapes her scholarship and historical practice. Join us as we consider these themes during one of our greatest crises in history: the climate emergency.
La Trobe University and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria invite you to the launch of FAILED AMBITIONS: KEW COTTAGES AND CHANGING IDEAS OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
written by Lee-Ann Monk and David Henderson with Christine Bigby, Richard Broome and Katie Holmes
Published by Monash University Publishing
Join Jillian Hiscock, the RHSV Collections Manager, each month is 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. This is an Read More...
Sludge is the compelling story of the forgotten filth that plagued nineteenth-century Victoria. It exposes the big dirty secret of Victoria’s mining history – the way it transformed the state’s water and land, and how the battle against sludge helped lay the ground for the modern environmental movement.
North and West Melbourne have streets that are made for walking; During the Covid pandemic as we walked the streets for the good of our health (and the health of our dogs) many of us came to a fresh appreciation of the life around us. We became familiar with the diversity of building shapes and Read More...
Dr Cheryl Griffin leads this group which has been meeting since 2020. This group is for people who are tackling writing a history project or two and want a sounding board / source of information / guidance and HELP! Each month from February to November Cheryl convenes the group via Zoom for 90 minutes and Read More...
Protected industries, protected men: the dilemmas of wartime service, 1939-46
The 2023 Weston Bate Oration will be delivered by distinguished historian, Dr Bart Ziino in what is a thrilling first for the RHSV. Bart was the recipient of our inaugural study grant, generously funded by our magnificent philanthropist, Gordon Moffatt AM.
As part of the Robert Burns Festival held over three days, the Camperdown & District Historical Society offers a lecture program with four experienced presenters on Saturday 1st July.
The Altona-Laverton Historical Society members and volunteers invite you to drop into the Altona Homestead on the first Sunday of the Month (February to December) to enjoy a serve of our famous Devonshire Tea or Cream Tea or Cornish Tea, anyway you look at them they are delicious.