Port Jackson Painter (fl. 1788-1792) [Half length portrait of an Aborigine] Challenging Australian History: Discovering New Narratives Frank Hurley (1885-1962) Detail of [Australia & New Zealand Expedition 1929Ð31 with Sir Douglas Mawson and Frank Hurley]

How do Australians understand themselves and their nation? What is the future for the study of Australian history? How important to such issues is the vast collection of personal papers (and other primary material) held in repositories such as the National Library?

This conference will explore these and other important issues, including the public roles and responsibilities of historians, the future development of the Australian history profession, the place and importance of remembering, and the use of private papers by historians and biographers.

The cultural and cross-cultural work of historians will be highlighted, and the influence of cultural studies on the history profession will be explored. Australian creative writers will talk about how they have used historical material in their work. Historians will characterise the ‘research adventure’ involved in working with library collections.

The Program   The Papers   The Speakers