The South Pacific and the European Mind 1763-1840. European scrutiny of the distant mirror of the South Pacific in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries helped to refashion dominant conceptions of the character and development of humankind. Though the role of Pacific contact in the emergence of the social sciences is known it has not been analysed in the depth that its importance merits nor given the comparative, cross-European dimension this project proposes. Such a study offers th ....The South Pacific and the European Mind 1763-1840. European scrutiny of the distant mirror of the South Pacific in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries helped to refashion dominant conceptions of the character and development of humankind. Though the role of Pacific contact in the emergence of the social sciences is known it has not been analysed in the depth that its importance merits nor given the comparative, cross-European dimension this project proposes. Such a study offers the opportunity to scrutinise the ways in which the mapping of knowledge as well as of the globe were shaped by Pacific exploration with consequences that endure.Read moreRead less
Encountering the Pacific in the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution. Through a study of the interaction of the peoples of Europe and of the Pacific the project will explore the character of attitudes towards other peoples and human society more generally which helped to shape European Australia in its formative phase. The strong historical imprint of such attitudes means that they still have to be reckoned with in assessing our position in the increasingly troubled region of the Pacific. Since t ....Encountering the Pacific in the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution. Through a study of the interaction of the peoples of Europe and of the Pacific the project will explore the character of attitudes towards other peoples and human society more generally which helped to shape European Australia in its formative phase. The strong historical imprint of such attitudes means that they still have to be reckoned with in assessing our position in the increasingly troubled region of the Pacific. Since the project draws heavily on major collections here in Australia it will help to raise the profile of such cultural institutions and to promote their usage by others including postgraduates. Read moreRead less
The British Diaspora in the Modern World: A Social History of British Migration and Transnational Networks since the 1960s. As a migrant nation Australia has a vital interest in maintaining informed discussion of the diverse and overlapping historical threads that contribute to national make-up and identity. The substantial British contribution to this process in the later 20th century, and the wider shift in migration processes it illuminates, has been significantly understated in migration re ....The British Diaspora in the Modern World: A Social History of British Migration and Transnational Networks since the 1960s. As a migrant nation Australia has a vital interest in maintaining informed discussion of the diverse and overlapping historical threads that contribute to national make-up and identity. The substantial British contribution to this process in the later 20th century, and the wider shift in migration processes it illuminates, has been significantly understated in migration research. This project undertakes a timely exploration of British-Australians' experience, and their wider mobility, as many migrants adopt a more continuous pattern of movement. Understanding the complex threads of different migrant cultures' adaptation and 'belonging' will be valuable for policy-makers and for public and academic debate.Read moreRead less
Revisiting Australia's war: international perspectives on heritage, memory and ANZAC pilgrimages to the cemeteries, sites and battlefields of World War Two (WW2). War has assumed an iconographic status in Australia and New Zealand; for many the spirit of Anzac defines the values of both nations. A study of WW2 pilgrimage will explore ways the Anzac legend has been revisited, reinvented and revitalised by successive generations. This project will retrieve the memory of war from those who suffered ....Revisiting Australia's war: international perspectives on heritage, memory and ANZAC pilgrimages to the cemeteries, sites and battlefields of World War Two (WW2). War has assumed an iconographic status in Australia and New Zealand; for many the spirit of Anzac defines the values of both nations. A study of WW2 pilgrimage will explore ways the Anzac legend has been revisited, reinvented and revitalised by successive generations. This project will retrieve the memory of war from those who suffered it, empower communities of mourners on both sides of the Tasman and help to explain why the Anzac mythology captivates such a diverse cross-section of society. It will explore a neglected dimension of Australasia's relationship with the world and the Asia/Pacific region in particular.Read moreRead less
Air war and collateral damage: The fate of Antwerp, Belgium, 1943-45. Operations in the Gulf and Balkans have caused collateral damage to receive much scrutiny from the Australian press and public opinion. The project aims at contributing to a better informed public discourse on the phenomenon by putting the issue of decision making and human repercussions in historical perspective. What gives the project still more relevance is that Australia's forces were involved over Antwerp sixty years ago ....Air war and collateral damage: The fate of Antwerp, Belgium, 1943-45. Operations in the Gulf and Balkans have caused collateral damage to receive much scrutiny from the Australian press and public opinion. The project aims at contributing to a better informed public discourse on the phenomenon by putting the issue of decision making and human repercussions in historical perspective. What gives the project still more relevance is that Australia's forces were involved over Antwerp sixty years ago as they are in the Gulf today. The project may thus contribute also to heightened Australian awareness of the need to balance security objectives abroad with minimizing civilian casualties so as to protect political capital.Read moreRead less
Indigenous peoples, the British Empire, and self-government for the Australian colonies. This study enhances our understanding of the foundations and representative functions of Australian democratic institutions, especially as they concern Indigenous-settler-missionary-imperial relationships. In drawing out the connections between two major questions for Australian history and modern society - democracy and Indigenous dispossession - the project will contribute deeper historical knowledge to cu ....Indigenous peoples, the British Empire, and self-government for the Australian colonies. This study enhances our understanding of the foundations and representative functions of Australian democratic institutions, especially as they concern Indigenous-settler-missionary-imperial relationships. In drawing out the connections between two major questions for Australian history and modern society - democracy and Indigenous dispossession - the project will contribute deeper historical knowledge to current public debate about Indigenous policy past and present. It will also illuminate the importance of understanding Australian history in broad transcolonial and transnational contexts and enhance the contribution of Australian historians to imperial, missionary, and comparative settler-society histories.Read moreRead less
Irish Convicts and Early Australian Society: A Reassessment in Two hemispheres. Based on new archival research in Ireland and Australia and the development of a data bank comprising information on more than one thousand male and female Irish convicts who arrived on eight transports between 1800 and 1806, this project examines the process of transportation within the context of a much wider Irish diaspora in the Age of Revolutions. It seeks to bring Irish convicts into the mainstream of colonial ....Irish Convicts and Early Australian Society: A Reassessment in Two hemispheres. Based on new archival research in Ireland and Australia and the development of a data bank comprising information on more than one thousand male and female Irish convicts who arrived on eight transports between 1800 and 1806, this project examines the process of transportation within the context of a much wider Irish diaspora in the Age of Revolutions. It seeks to bring Irish convicts into the mainstream of colonial studies by examining the traditional view of their ?otherness? and by focusing as much on their lives before transportation as after. A book, articles and conference papers will result.Read moreRead less
The British Colonization of New South Wales: The Documentary Record, 1779-1792. My aim is to gather and publish all extant records relating to the British decision in 1786 to colonize New South Wales, and to the despatch of the First Fleet in 1787. As well, I intend to include a selection of documents showing the colony's progress in its first five years, and the Government response to reports of that progress (or the lack of it). Given that so many records remain but are still mostly unpublishe ....The British Colonization of New South Wales: The Documentary Record, 1779-1792. My aim is to gather and publish all extant records relating to the British decision in 1786 to colonize New South Wales, and to the despatch of the First Fleet in 1787. As well, I intend to include a selection of documents showing the colony's progress in its first five years, and the Government response to reports of that progress (or the lack of it). Given that so many records remain but are still mostly unpublished, and that they are central to an accurate understanding of the development of modern Australia, this is a unique opportunity to document the origins of the nation for all posterity. I expect publication in book form, but anticipate also CD-Rom or Web publication (hopefully in conjunction with either the NLA or the SLNSW - or with both).Read moreRead less
Immigration Restriction and the Racial State, c. 1880 to the present. Legislating the specific criteria by which people are refused entry into sovereign territory has posed critical problems for policy and law from the late nineteenth century to the present day. By analysing the long history of medico-legal border control in the Asia-Pacific region, the project will uncover previously forgotten legal and policy links and will analyse a history of mutual influence between Australia and neighbouri ....Immigration Restriction and the Racial State, c. 1880 to the present. Legislating the specific criteria by which people are refused entry into sovereign territory has posed critical problems for policy and law from the late nineteenth century to the present day. By analysing the long history of medico-legal border control in the Asia-Pacific region, the project will uncover previously forgotten legal and policy links and will analyse a history of mutual influence between Australia and neighbouring nations. This will productively assist a policy environment (both national and international) primed for ever more intense border control. Read moreRead less
Scientific voyages in the Antipodes. Thomas Huxley, John McGillivray and the Darwinian Revolution. This project examines the scientific British survey expeditions to Australasia during the nineteenth century. The research focuses on the importance of Australasia in the formation of Darwinism, one of the key scientific and social theories of modern western culture. Environmental change and scientific and cultural heritage in our region will be traced back to these early scientific voyagers.