David Walker (historian)
Encyclopedia
David Robert Walker is an Australian academic historian who has been the professor of Australian Studies
at Deakin University
since 1991. He is a leading authority in the study of Australian perceptions of Asia.
with a first class honours degree in Arts
in 1967. Post-graduate studies were undertaken at the Australian National University
(ANU) where he was awarded a Doctorate
in 1972. His thesis, which explored Vance Palmer, Louis Esson and other twentieth century Australian authors' hopes for the development of an Australian culture, was subsequently published as Dream and Disillusion: A Search for Australian Cultural Identity.
and the University of New South Wales
until his appointment as the Professor of Australian Studies at Deakin University. He has a number of visiting appointments including a Distinguished Visiting Chair of Australian Studies at the University of Copenhagen
, the Monash Chair of Australian Studies at Georgetown University
and a Visiting Professorship in Australian Studies at the Australian Studies Centre
, Renmin University, Beijing
.
in 1999. This landmark work explores the anxiety that Australians felt towards the people of Asia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. While Australian images of Australia were overwhelmingly negative during this period, Walker makes the point that some Australians including Prime Minister Alfred Deakin
saw much to admire in Asian cultures. Al Grassby
, a former Minister for Immigration
who dismantled the White Australia Policy
, described the book as “evocative and compelling prose …which shows how bigotry and myth making shaped the question of race which dominated the public and private discourse.” Anxious Nation has been reprinted in an India edition and translated into Chinese.
as “an evocative portrait of 20th century Australia …the attitudes, idiosyncrasies and prejudices of the era.”
in 2001 and the Australian Academy of the Humanities
in 2005. He was awarded the Ernest Scott prize following the publication of Anxious Nation.
Australian studies
-Subfields:*Australian Aboriginals *Australian languages*History of Australia*Australian literature*Politics of Australia*Economy of Australia*Culture of Australia-Institutions:...
at Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
since 1991. He is a leading authority in the study of Australian perceptions of Asia.
Early life and Education
Walker was born in Adelaide in 1945 and received his early education in rural South Australian schools where his father was a teacher. The family settled in Adelaide in 1958 and Walker graduated from the University of AdelaideUniversity of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
with a first class honours degree in Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1967. Post-graduate studies were undertaken at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(ANU) where he was awarded a Doctorate
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1972. His thesis, which explored Vance Palmer, Louis Esson and other twentieth century Australian authors' hopes for the development of an Australian culture, was subsequently published as Dream and Disillusion: A Search for Australian Cultural Identity.
Academic career
Walker spent the next two years as a post graduate research fellow at ANU, where he was the editor of Labour History. He then held a number of academic positions at the University of AucklandUniversity of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
and the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
until his appointment as the Professor of Australian Studies at Deakin University. He has a number of visiting appointments including a Distinguished Visiting Chair of Australian Studies at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
, the Monash Chair of Australian Studies at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
and a Visiting Professorship in Australian Studies at the Australian Studies Centre
Australian Studies Centre
Australian Studies Centre is a teaching and research institution of Renmin University of China. The Centre was officially established on 19 November 1999. The aim of the Centre is to help more people know more about Australia....
, Renmin University, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Major Works
Walker’s work has concentrated on the history of Australia’s engagement with Asia and, in particular, the ways in which Australians imagined Asian people and their culture. He has received more than 30 major research grants and published more than 120 book chapters, peer reviewed journal articles and peer reviewed lectures in this field.Anxious Nation
The results of much of this research were published as Anxious Nation: Australia and the Rise of Asia 1850-1939Anxious Nation
Anxious Nation: Australia and the Rise of Asia 1850-1939, written by David Walker, has been described as a "landmark" analysis of the history of Australian perceptions of Asian people and their cultures....
in 1999. This landmark work explores the anxiety that Australians felt towards the people of Asia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. While Australian images of Australia were overwhelmingly negative during this period, Walker makes the point that some Australians including Prime Minister Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
saw much to admire in Asian cultures. Al Grassby
Al Grassby
Albert Jaime Grassby, AM , Australian politician, was Minister for Immigration in the Whitlam Labor government. He initiated sweeping reforms in immigration, human rights, and is often known as the father of Australian "multiculturalism".-Early life and state politics:Born Albert Grassby in...
, a former Minister for Immigration
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration and Citizenship....
who dismantled the White Australia Policy
White Australia policy
The White Australia policy comprises various historical policies that intentionally restricted "non-white" immigration to Australia. From origins at Federation in 1901, the polices were progressively dismantled between 1949-1973....
, described the book as “evocative and compelling prose …which shows how bigotry and myth making shaped the question of race which dominated the public and private discourse.” Anxious Nation has been reprinted in an India edition and translated into Chinese.
Not Dark Yet
In late 2004, David Walker, suffered a sudden and severe loss of sight that rendered him legally blind and limited his ability to continue archival research. He subsequently changed his research methods and drew on his family history as a tool to investigate the development of Australia’s national character and culture. The results were published as Not Dark Yet: A personal history which has been described by Phillip AdamsPhillip Adams
Phillip Andrew Hedley Adams, AO is an Australian broadcaster, film producer, writer, social commentator, satirist and left-wing pundit. He currently hosts a radio program, Late Night Live, four nights a week on the ABC, and he also writes a weekly column for the News Limited-owned newspaper, The...
as “an evocative portrait of 20th century Australia …the attitudes, idiosyncrasies and prejudices of the era.”
Awards and Fellowships
Walker was elected a fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in AustraliaAcademy of the Social Sciences in Australia
The Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia is an autonomous, non-governmental organisation, devoted to the advancement of knowledge and research in the social sciences. It was established in 1971...
in 2001 and the Australian Academy of the Humanities
Australian Academy of the Humanities
The Australian Academy of the Humanities was established by Royal Charter in 1969 to advance scholarship and public interest in the humanities in Australia...
in 2005. He was awarded the Ernest Scott prize following the publication of Anxious Nation.