Federation of Australian Historical Societies
Encyclopedia
The Federation of Australian Historical Societies (FAHS) is the peak body for historical societies throughout Australia
. It has eight constituent members, one in each of the Australian states and internal self-governing territories. It lobbies governments on behalf of the sector and has formed alliances with other related bodies. It promotes uniform national standards through guides and other publications and fosters historical research, writing and education through fellowships and awards.
It is governed between general meetings by a committee which consists of two delegates from each of its constituent members which are the peak bodies representing historical societies in their respective state or internal self-governing territory. The committee holds four meetings a year, three times by teleconference, and once in a represented state or territory on a rotating basis.
The FAHS maintains a part-time office in Canberra.
, a number of state-based historical societies began to be formed: 1901 in New South Wales, the Australian Historical Society; in 1909, the Historical Society of Victoria; in 1913, the Historical Society of Queensland; 1926, the Western Australian Historical Society; in 1926, the South Australian Historical Society (dissolved 1930-31) and, in 1935, the Pioneers Association of South Australia, 1935.
The state societies were "initiated, and in their early years dominated, by male elites, often professional men, interspersed with gifted amateur historians, writers, the occasional professor of history, and the descendants of early settlers. ... The history they recorded was a congratulatory record of progress; undesirable or unrecognised elements such as convicts, Aborigines, working people, and women were left out." As a mark of their status, they sought the patronage of their respective Sate Governor and most gained a royal charter and added "Royal" to their name: New South Wales in 1918; Victoria in 1952; Queensland in 1959; and Western Australia in 1963.
They began collections whose significance grew over time, they organised regular meetings at which research papers were read and they published journals. "In their promotion of Australian history the societies were generally well ahead of the university and school curricula."
' 1804 map, gaining widespread media coverage in Australia and England. The map, currently in storage at the Hydrographic Office
, Taunton. Don Garden as FAHS President was quoted:"It seems the birth certificate of Australia because it was the first time there was a map of Australia drawn up, the first time that title was used. It is a significant part of our history".
, Museums Australia
, the Australian Council of National Trusts
, the Australian Libraries and Information Association, to form The Regional Cultural Alliance in order to "help regional artists gain greater access to skills development and training as well as present a united front when lobbying government ... to better co-ordinate existing programs for cultural development in the regions and recognise the economic opportunities art and culture create for regional centres."
In 2011, FAHS formed the Australian Heritage Partnership with the Australian Council of National Trusts and Australia ICOMOS.
who served from 1977 until 1986.
Fellows have included Emeritus Professor Alan Shaw (1998), Professor Michael Roe
(2000) and Emeritus Professor Weston Bate
(2001).
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It has eight constituent members, one in each of the Australian states and internal self-governing territories. It lobbies governments on behalf of the sector and has formed alliances with other related bodies. It promotes uniform national standards through guides and other publications and fosters historical research, writing and education through fellowships and awards.
Acivities
The FAHS has published a number of guides to assist historical societies (see Publications). The FAHS also distributes a regular e-bulletin and a bi-annual newsletter, both by email. They contain information on heritage or historical matters at a national or state level, with occasional international news.Fellowships and awards
The FAHS appoints Fellows in recognition of their significant contribution to the understanding, preservation and promotion of Australian history on a national level, though the local history movement. The FAHS awards Certificates of Merit to members of its constituent societies in recognition of a significant contribution in two or more state or territory.Members
The constituent members of FAHS are:- the Royal Australian Historical SocietyRoyal Australian Historical SocietyThe Royal Australian Historical Society is a voluntary organisation founded in Sydney, Australia in 1901 to encourage Australians to understand more about their history...
- the Royal Historical Society of VictoriaRoyal Historical Society of VictoriaThe Royal Historical Society of Victoria is a community organisation promoting the history of the state of Victoria, Australia. It functions to promote and research the history of that state after settlement, and as an umbrella organisation for more than 300 affiliated societies.It is operated by...
Inc - the Royal Historical Society of QueenslandRoyal Historical Society of QueenslandThe Royal Historical Society of Queensland is a historical society founded in Brisbane, Australia in 1913. It promotes the study of Australian history especially that of Queensland and adjacent Pacific islands. It maintains an important collection and catalogue of historical research materials and...
Inc - the Royal Western Australian Historical SocietyRoyal Western Australian Historical SocietyRoyal Western Australian Historical Society has for many decades been the main association for Western Australians to collectively work for adequate understanding and protection of the cultural heritage of Perth and Western Australia...
Inc - the Tasmanian Historical Research AssociationTasmanian Historical Research AssociationTasmanian Historical Research AssociationHobart based Tasmanian historical group and publisher in existence since 1951. The Launceston Royal Society became the Launceston Historical Society in 1988....
Inc - the Canberra and District Historical Society Inc
- the Historical Society of the Northern TerritoryHistorical Society of the Northern TerritoryThe Historical Society of the Northern Territory is a historical society founded in Darwin, Australia in 1964. It promotes the study of the history of the Northern Territory of Australia. It maintains an important collection and catalogue of historical research materials and organises exhibitions...
Inc and - the History Trust of South Australia.
Corporate Governance
In its current form, the Federation was incorporated on 6 June 1992 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991 (Australian Capital Territory) with a constitution adopted in Hobart on 22 September 1991. This succeeded an earlier incorporation which formed in 1977.It is governed between general meetings by a committee which consists of two delegates from each of its constituent members which are the peak bodies representing historical societies in their respective state or internal self-governing territory. The committee holds four meetings a year, three times by teleconference, and once in a represented state or territory on a rotating basis.
The FAHS maintains a part-time office in Canberra.
History
In 1977, the Federation of Australian Historical Societies was formed as a peak council for on-going state-based societies whose origins were in the early years of the 20th century.State historical societies
With the close of the colonial period at FederationFederation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
, a number of state-based historical societies began to be formed: 1901 in New South Wales, the Australian Historical Society; in 1909, the Historical Society of Victoria; in 1913, the Historical Society of Queensland; 1926, the Western Australian Historical Society; in 1926, the South Australian Historical Society (dissolved 1930-31) and, in 1935, the Pioneers Association of South Australia, 1935.
The state societies were "initiated, and in their early years dominated, by male elites, often professional men, interspersed with gifted amateur historians, writers, the occasional professor of history, and the descendants of early settlers. ... The history they recorded was a congratulatory record of progress; undesirable or unrecognised elements such as convicts, Aborigines, working people, and women were left out." As a mark of their status, they sought the patronage of their respective Sate Governor and most gained a royal charter and added "Royal" to their name: New South Wales in 1918; Victoria in 1952; Queensland in 1959; and Western Australia in 1963.
They began collections whose significance grew over time, they organised regular meetings at which research papers were read and they published journals. "In their promotion of Australian history the societies were generally well ahead of the university and school curricula."
The Flinders map controversy
In 2011, FAHS supported the launch of a campaign for the repatriation of Matthew FlindersMatthew Flinders
Captain Matthew Flinders RN was one of the most successful navigators and cartographers of his age. In a career that spanned just over twenty years, he sailed with Captain William Bligh, circumnavigated Australia and encouraged the use of that name for the continent, which had previously been...
' 1804 map, gaining widespread media coverage in Australia and England. The map, currently in storage at the Hydrographic Office
Hydrographic office
A hydrographic office is an organization which is devoted to acquiring and publishing hydrographic information.Historically, the main tasks of hydrographic offices were the conduction of hydrographic surveys and the publication of nautical charts...
, Taunton. Don Garden as FAHS President was quoted:"It seems the birth certificate of Australia because it was the first time there was a map of Australia drawn up, the first time that title was used. It is a significant part of our history".
Alliances and associations
In 2003, it joined with four other peak industry bodies, Regional Arts AustraliaRegional Arts Australia
Regional Arts Australia is the national peak body for regional arts organisations throughout Australia. Formed in 1966 as the Arts Council of Australia, it is a federation of the peak non-metropolitan community arts organisations in each of the Australian states and territories. It advocates better...
, Museums Australia
Museums Australia
Museums Australia is the central professional organisation and peak council for museums and public art galleries in Australia. It advocates for the sector, provides a range of professional services to its members at a national, State and interest group level, including professional development and...
, the Australian Council of National Trusts
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
, the Australian Libraries and Information Association, to form The Regional Cultural Alliance in order to "help regional artists gain greater access to skills development and training as well as present a united front when lobbying government ... to better co-ordinate existing programs for cultural development in the regions and recognise the economic opportunities art and culture create for regional centres."
In 2011, FAHS formed the Australian Heritage Partnership with the Australian Council of National Trusts and Australia ICOMOS.
Notable associated persons
The first president was Rae Else-MitchellRae Else-Mitchell
Rae Else-Mitchell CMG QC LLB Dlitt FRAHS FIPAA FRAIPA FAIUS HonFAIV HonFPIA HonFIMM was an Australian jurist, royal commissioner, historian and legal scholar...
who served from 1977 until 1986.
Fellows have included Emeritus Professor Alan Shaw (1998), Professor Michael Roe
Michael Roe (historian)
Owen Michael Roe is an Australian historian and academic, focusing on Australian history.Educated at Caulfield Grammar School , Roe attended the University of Melbourne and began studying a combined BA/LL.B. degree...
(2000) and Emeritus Professor Weston Bate
Weston Bate
Professor Weston Arthur Bate OAM is an Australian historian specialising in the history of Ballarat, Victoria.Bate served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. He studied at the University of Melbourne under Manning Clark, Max Crawford, Kathleen Fitzpatrick and John O'Brien...
(2001).
Publications
- Looking to the future: the collection of cultural material by historical societies, by Bronwyn Wilson. FAHS: 2000
- FAHS Heritage Handbook: a guide for historical societies, by Judy Gale Rechner. FAHS: 2002
- Publishing history: a guide for historical societies, by Helen Doyle and Katya Johansen. FAHS: 2006
- Heritage tourism in Australia: a guide for historical societies, by Dr. Dianne Snowden. FAHS: 2008