Royal Australian Historical Society

25/08/2026

Tribute to early cinema and its relationship with breaking the sound barrier and negotiating pre-codes and censorship

Join the Film Heritage Academy at History House for a screening of the early sound classic, The Letter (1929).

This adaptation of Somerset Maugham’s play provides a powerful structure for the astonishing performance of Jeanne Eagels in this celebrated drama film. Australian-born star of stage and film O.P. Heggie plays a key role. An affair, the shooting of a lover, the torrid aftermath and trial all combine to deliver an early talkie that attracted widespread critical acclaim and established that sound movies had a unique artistic potential that differed from silent film. This film and its success helped to normalise sound and establish its dominance.

📅 Friday, 28 August 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 am
📍 Auditorium, History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000
🎟 General $25 | Concession $20.
🎫 RSVP: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1623409

Film Heritage Academy: The Letter (1929) - Royal Australian Historical Society

24/08/2026

RAHS Day Lecture – Discovering Bessie Rischbieth

We are pleased to welcome Dr Michelle Staff to History House for the RAHS Day Lecture on 2nd September 2026 at 1 pm.

Michelle will speak about her current project: a biography of Western Australian feminist Bessie Rischbieth.

Bessie Mabel Rischbieth (1874–1967) was many things: a feminist leader, an ardent internationalist, a lifelong theosophist and a global traveller, as well as a wife, aunt and sister. Her name might not be so well known now, but at her peak from the 1910s to the 1940s, she was one of the most significant feminists in the country.

This presentation will share key features and events from her long life and showcase archival materials that offer insights into her fascinating and sometimes enigmatic character.

📅 Wednesday, 2nd September 2026, at 1 pm.
📍 History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney, and online for remote viewers.
🎟 Free. All welcome! Booking recommended.
👉 https://www.rahs.org.au/shop/tickets-discovering-bessie-rischbieth/

📷 Bessie Rischbieth in India, 1929-30 (National Library of Australia)

23/08/2026

New Lift and Upgrades Planned for History House

With the new roof complete, we are turning our attention to the next major stage of work at History House: installing a new internal lift.

The lift will improve disability access and make History House easier to visit. It has been ordered through Harwel, a lift company based in Gloucester, NSW. The lift is being specially manufactured in Spain to fit within the existing lift shaft while meeting current accessibility requirements. Once completed, it will be shipped to Australia for installation by Harwel.

History House will temporarily close to the public on 16 October 2026 so that we can move library materials and prepare the building for the work ahead. The back of the library, where the current library toilets are located, will be reconfigured to create the new lift entrance.

Dismantling of the old lift will begin on 9 November. The new lift is expected to arrive on 15 January 2027, with installation beginning on 18 January and scheduled for completion by 26 February.

We will also improve the tenancy spaces on Levels 2 and 3 and in the basement. Rental income from these spaces will help maintain History House and support the RAHS’s work to promote Australian history.

The RAHS will remain active throughout the closure. Events will move online, and we hope to organise some excursions. RAHS Librarian Donna Newton will continue to answer research enquiries by phone and email.

Thank you to our members, donors and supporters for making this important work possible. We will provide regular updates as the project progresses and look forward to welcoming you back to a more accessible and improved History House in March 2027.

21/08/2026

Before watching the Netflix miniseries of 'My Brilliant Career', read about the author, Miles Franklin!

📖 👉 https://www.rahs.org.au/miles-franklin-1879-1954/

📷 Miles Franklin, author – portrait, 1901, Rozelle, Auburn Street, Goulburn (Image courtesy State Library of NSW)

17/08/2026

🔎 Exclusive experiences at the Anzac Memorial this History Week!

Hear the stories behind the Memorial's remarkable bas reliefs, then return after hours to see the darker side of the Memorial and uncover the secrets hidden within.

Two special events on Wednesday 9 September:
👉 Curatorial Talk: Revealing stories behind the Anzac Memorial's bas reliefs (3:30pm – 4:30pm)
👉 Tour: Secrets of the Anzac Memorial (6:30pm – 8:00pm)

Places are limited.

🔗 For full details and to book: www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/event/history-week-2026-anzac-memorial

16/08/2026

Congratulations to the shortlisted entries for the 2026 Prime Minister's Literary Awards in the Australian History category

Learn more: https://creative.gov.au/news-events/news/announcing-shortlist-2026-prime-ministers-literary-awards

13/08/2026

RAHS Special Lecture – Unravelling the story of Elizabeth Fulloon and the Parramatta Female Factory, 1824–1827

We are pleased to welcome Heather Garnsey to History House and online for a RAHS Special Lecture on 19 August 2026 at 1 pm.

Heather will speak about Elizabeth Fulloon, the first female Superintendent of the Parramatta Female Factory.

Described by Governor Darling as ‘a woman of extraordinary bodily strength and energy of character’, Elizabeth Fulloon was a 43-year-old recently widowed mother of five when she arrived in NSW to take up her role at the Parramatta Female Factory.

How did the wife of a London schoolmaster become the Factory’s first female Superintendent? How should we remember her time there, and was she really responsible for the infamous 1827 riot?

📅Wednesday, 19 August 2026, at 1:00 pm.
📍History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney, and online for remote viewers.
🎟Free. All welcome! Booking recommended.
👉 https://www.rahs.org.au/shop/tickets-unravelled-elizabeth-fulloon/

12/08/2026

Nominations for the 2026 RAHS Certificates of Achievement

The Certificates of Achievement recognise members of affiliated societies whose contributions are significant and noteworthy.

Certificates will be presented during a special event at History House in October. Recipients are warmly invited to attend in person or online to receive their Certificate and celebrate with colleagues from Affiliated Societies across NSW.

Nomination Deadline: 24 September 2026.

Nominations for the 2026 Certificates of Achievement - Royal Australian Historical Society

12/08/2026

Congratulations to this year’s National Biography Award winners! 👏

Helen Ennis’s “intricate portrait” of Max Dupain has won this year’s $25,000 National Biography Award. 'Max Dupain: A portrait' was published by 4th Estate Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Books Australia.

The $5000 Michael Crouch Award for a Debut Work was awarded to Micaela Sahhar for her memoir, 'Find Me at the Jaffa Gate: An encyclopaedia of a Palestinian family' (NewSouth Publishing), a “profound contribution to contemporary life writing”.

The Award is supported by the State Library of NSW Foundation, in particular, Graham Bradley AO and Charlene Bradley, Sarah Crouch, and the John Lamble Foundation.

Learn more: https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award

11/08/2026

Nominations now open for the next round of Blue Plaques

If you know of a person, group or event that deserves recognition for their contribution to NSW, nominate them for a Blue Plaque. Nominations close at midnight on Sunday, 13 September 2026.

Nominate here: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/blue-plaques-nsw-nominations-now-open

Nominations must:
• Relate to a person, group or event that has had a lasting impact on NSW.
• Be real and historically accurate.
• Be appropriate, sensitive and engaging.
• The person/people must have passed away, or the event must have taken place, more than 20 years ago.

Register for the upcoming webinar:
• Hear a brief overview of the Blue Plaques NSW Program
• Understand how to submit a quality nomination
• Get answers to your queries in a live Q&A session

When: Wednesday, 19 August 2026, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Where: Online via Microsoft Teams
Register here: b021906b-44f8-4e24-b29f-18003d15d5c2@96ef8821-2a39-471c-b89a-67b0833dd3b9" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/b021906b-44f8-4e24-b29f-18003d15d5c2@96ef8821-2a39-471c-b89a-67b0833dd3b9