Royal Historical Society of Victoria

This week we're reading the latest in the "Streets Beneath Our Feet" series by historians Professor Robert Pascoe (who you might also know as President of the RHSV) and Dr Chris McConville.

Part history book, part walking guide, each book in the series invites readers to view familiar neighbourhoods – in this case, Melbourne's formerly industrial suburb of Richmond - with fresh eyes.

Covering the origins of Richmond, its development and notable characters, the book is a gentle, easy read, one that captures a nostalgia for a version of Richmond that is rapidly fading as the suburb continues to change.

The book includes walking itineraries for Richmond Hill, Cremorne, and Burnley. A fun option for those in the area, the routes are designed for easy walking and encourage readers to explore further.

I really enjoyed this book – my biggest complaint about it would be that it isn't longer, as it felt like a taster rather than a full meal and has whet my appetite for something bigger.

Available now in the RHSV bookshop. Come in and grab a copy or order online at https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/product/richmond-streets-beneath-our-feet-by-robert-pascoe-and-chris-mcconville/

The fingerprints of Victoria's first Surveyor-Generals still linger on the fabric of our lives today. If you've ever consulted a property boundary, enjoyed a quiet moment in a Melbourne park, or caught a train between regional towns, you've been affected by decisions made by these men more than 150 years ago.

Join us for a fascinating lecture tracing the lives and work of Victoria's earliest Surveyors-General. Through gold rush, rapid settlement, and the expansion of the railways, these men shaped Melbourne's CBD grid, established our property system, built our transport networks — and formalised the dispossession of First Nations peoples from their land.

Wednesday 17 June 2026 | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
239 A'Beckett St, Melbourne OR online via Zoom
Tickets at https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/event/surveyors-general-of-19th-century-victoria/

Their decisions were political, practical, and permanent. Come and meet the people whose hands drew our maps.

The RHSV accepted this telephone book cover a couple of years ago when collecting material for our "Living in the 70s " exhibition.

This wonderful and joyful cover was produced for Telecom Australia when they shifted from the Postmaster-General's Department's utilitarian solid-colour Post Office covers. The new covers featured vibrant, mod patterns and psychedelic or pop-art illustrations. They were coloured in bright orange, mustard yellow, avocado green, and brown which reflected the period's interior design and fashion trends.



(Object: "Plastic telephone book cover; c.1970s"; object number OBJ-0178. The Royal Historical Society of Victoria has more than 100,000 licensable items in its archives. For a high-resolution copy of this image or others, contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria)

The Victorian Community History Awards 2026 are now open!

If you've produced a community history project – or know someone who has – now is the time to put in a submission. There are nine categories covering a wide range of history work:
- The Collaborative Community History Award
- The Community Diversity Award
- The Local History Project Award
- The Oral History Award
- The History Publication Award
- The History Interpretation Award
- The Digital Storytelling Award
- The History Article Award
- The Small History Publication Award

Submissions close Tuesday 30 June, and this year's awards cover work completed between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026 – so there's plenty to celebrate.

Head to https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/victorian-community-history-awards-2026/ for the submission form and full terms and conditions. Good luck to everyone entering! 🏆



(Image: "Two ladies dressed in long gowns on beach, Brighton.; c.1890"; object number PH-980268. The Royal Historical Society of Victoria has more than 100,000 licensable items in its archives. For a high-resolution copy of this image or others, contact Royal Historical Society of Victoria)

What a wonderful evening! On Tuesday 26 May we held our 2026 AGM followed by the Weston Bate Oration, which was well attended by members, friends and supporters.

At the AGM we welcomed new office bearers, elected council members, and celebrated some outstanding contributions to the RHSV and Victorian history. Highlights included the induction of four new members into the Victorian History Hall of Fame: Professor Weston Bate OAM, Tommy McRae (Yakaduna), Andrew Lemon AM, and Dr Dianne Reilly AM — as well as a Fellowship awarded to Margaret Anderson and a Barbara Nixon Volunteer Award to Vicki McNamara, among many others.

The evening concluded with the Weston Bate Oration, delivered by Professor Richard Broome AM. Speaking on National Sorry Day, Richard reflected on his journey into Aboriginal history since the 1970s and how the field has evolved — towards respect, consent, and centring traditional story-holders in the telling of these histories. A fitting and moving note to end on.

See full event recap and more photos on the RHSV website: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/2026-agm-and-weston-bate-oration/

Local historians, archivists & heritage enthusiasts: this one's for you!

The Association of Eastern Historical Societies presents their 2026 Conference:
Local History: Thinking Outside the Archival Box

Saturday 18 July 2026 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Yarra Ranges Civic Centre, Lilydale
$45 per person | Lunch and snacks included

This conference brings together some of Australia's leading historians, archivists, and heritage professionals for a full day of fresh ideas and practical insights.

Join an outstanding lineup of speakers including keynote Professor Sarah Baker (Griffith University), plus experts from Deakin University, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, AMaGA Victoria, and more, covering oral histories, community collections, exhibitions, succession planning, and beyond.

Register now at trybooking.com/DLLAE
Full program: aehs.org.au/index.php/2026conference/

🥳 We turned 117 years old this week.

The Royal Historical Society of Victoria was founded in 1909, after an article in The Argus made an urgent case: that Australia's history was slipping away, and someone needed to do something about it.

W.J. Hughston's 'Vanishing Records', published on 20 March 1909, moved reader Alfred Woolley Greig to track down the author, organise a public meeting, and invite anyone who cared about Victoria's past to join forces. On 21 May 1909, the Historical Society of Victoria was born (the 'Royal' came later).

In the 117 years since, we've lived through world wars and depressions, the arrival of television and the internet, waves of migration and moments of great celebration. Through all of it, we've been here, collecting and protecting the history of this state.

The work is never finished. Every year, more history is made, and more history is at risk of being lost.

Somewhere in our collection, there is a photograph of your suburb before it was your suburb. A diary written by someone who walked your street a century ago. We preserve these stories, support more than 350 local historical societies across Victoria, and make them available to anyone who wants them.

If you'd like to wish us a happy birthday with a donation, we'd be truly grateful. Every gift of $2 or more is tax-deductible. https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/2026-annual-appeal/ 🎂

Volunteers are what make the RHSV mission possible.

From its founding in 1909, we have been a community-based organisation committed to collecting, researching and sharing an understanding of Victoria's history. Though we now employ a small skeleton staff, it is still the hands of our volunteers that carry the work forward.

This National Volunteer Week, we'd like to thank every one of our volunteers for the great and varied tasks they perform — digitising photographs, transcribing manuscripts, accessioning donated items, editing journals, and so much more. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

We're also delighted to announce that RHSV volunteer Vicki McNamara has been awarded the 2026 Barbara Nixon Award, given annually to recognise exceptional volunteer contributions.

The award is named for the late Barbara Nixon, who volunteered at the RHSV for over 40 years, serving as honorary librarian from 1976, on Council, and receiving a Fellowship in 1982 and an OAM in 2003.

Regular visitors will recognise Vicki as a friendly face at reception. Her nomination honoured her immeasurable contributions to the society's administrative, front of house and bookshop operations. In the words of nominator Henry Shand: "Tasks on the front desk are innumerable and Vicki approaches them with a deft hand and unshakable positivity… her relaxed demeanour and exceptional sense of humour raise the spirits of both staff and volunteers alike."

Three cheers for Vicki, and all RHSV volunteers. We couldn't do it without you.

Vicki will receive her award at the RHSV AGM on Tuesday 26 May, where Professor Richard Broome will deliver the 2026 Weston Bate Oration: "Finding Aboriginal History". Members and non-members welcome, in-person or online. Register at https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/event/rhsv-agm-2026-weston-bate-oration-professor-richard-broome-am/

Did you hear – the Victorian Community History Awards are BACK in 2026.

Submissions will be open from 9am on Monday 25 May and close on Tuesday 30 June.

To make up for the hiatus in 2025, the 2026 will encompass from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2026.

You can find the form and full terms and conditions on the event website at https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/victorian-community-history-awards-2026/

Get ready to celebrate Victoria’s incredible history, community stories, and those who keep them alive.

Please join us in congratulating James Garner Lyttle, who, on 5 May, was awarded the Don Gibb RHSV Prize for achieving the highest mark in the core third year Australian History subject, ‘Making History: Communicating the Past’ at La Trobe University.

His major essay explored how counterculture elements of punk music challenged racism and conservatism. The prize of $300 and three year’s membership of the RHSV was presented by Richard Broome and Don’s widow Ann Gibb.

Given in honour of the late historian, Don Gibb, this annual prize is award to the highest scoring student of Australian history at La Trobe University. We only wish we had a copy of the essay to share with you as it sounds truly fascinating.

Don Gibb became a teacher in 1960 and joined the History Teachers Association’s committee, soon becoming president (1973-75). He sat on Victorian History curriculum and examination committees and published three textbooks for senior secondary students. In 1971 he became a lecturer in History at the Monash Teachers College and completed his MA at Melbourne University on Sandringham under Weston Bate. He later taught history at Deakin University, where he retired as an Associate Professor.

Don was an RHSV Councillor from 1998‒2008, convenor of the Publications Committee for 11 years, and a judge of the Victorian Community History Awards for six years, and a former councillor of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies. He began a training program for History undergraduates working on projects at the RHSV. He was an editor of ‘Remembering Melbourne’ (2016). His book ‘Canterbury: a History’ (2019) was published after his death in 2017, with the help of his RHSV colleagues.