Australian History Courses
Discover Australian history from the First Nations peoples to the modern nation we know today. Learn about early explorers, settlers, and bushrangers; the impact of gold, wool, and minerals; and the role of ANZACs in shaping identity. Explore the turning points of Australia’s history through the lives of prime ministers, inventors, and artists.
Available Classes
The Wallace Line - Where Australia Collides with Asia
<p>It was Alfred Russel Wallace who realised the Lombok Strait in Indonesia represents the biogeographic boundary between the fauna of Asia and Australia and subsequently named the Wallace Line. On
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The Wallace Line - Where Australia Collides with Asia
<p>It was Alfred Russel Wallace who realised the Lombok Strait in Indonesia represents the biogeographic boundary between the fauna of Asia and Australia and subsequently named the Wallace Line. On
...
Available Classes
Bass and Flinders, those Bold and Lusty Young Sailors
<p>Matthew Flinders and George Bass may be known mostly for circumnavigating this country– and for naming the island they circumnavigated Australia! – but they were also adventurous enough to get in
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Available Classes
Keith Suter Memorial Lecture 2026: Inventions, Ideas and Influencers
<p>WEA Sydney warmly invites our members and the wider community to attend the inaugural <strong>Keith Suter Memorial Lecture</strong>, to be held on Wednesday, 25 March 2026. Join us from <strong>5:
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Available Classes
Welcome to Country
<p>Welcome to Country is a ceremony that’s been performed by First Nations people for thousands of years. In recent decades both Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country have become an
...Welcome to Country
<p>Welcome to Country is a ceremony that’s been performed by First Nations people for thousands of years. In recent decades both Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country have become an
...Available Classes
What Lies Beneath: A Deeper Dig into the Archives
<p><strong>In Association with the Royal Australian Historical Society.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Speaker:</strong> Christine Yeats</p>
<p>This course will offer practical guidance on how to unlock the
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What Lies Beneath: A Deeper Dig into the Archives
<p><strong>In Association with the Royal Australian Historical Society.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Speaker:</strong> Christine Yeats</p>
<p>This course will offer practical guidance on how to unlock the
...
Available Classes
Sydney's Trams: A Colourful History and a Promising Future
<p>Sydney once had one of the world’s largest tram networks, before its sudden closure in the mid-20th century. This course examines the rise and fall of the tram system, the reasons behind its
...Available Classes
The Story of Sydney - The Bridge
<p>The Sydney Harbour Bridge is both an engineering achievement and a powerful national symbol. This course explores the bridge’s conception, construction and social impact, examining the vision,
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Available Classes
Henry Lawson and Banjo Patterson: The Great Bulletin Debate
<p>Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson were rivals not only in literature but in their visions of Australian society. This lively session revisits their famous 1890s debate, often framed as city versus
...Available Classes
Eleven "Plagues" of Sydney: Epidemics and their Impact
<p>Since 1788, Sydney has faced repeated waves of epidemic disease that shaped the city’s development and social life. This course explores eleven major outbreaks, examining how fear, politics,
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Available Classes
Unpacking The Higgins/Lehrmann "Omnishambles"
<p>The Higgins–Lehrmann case exposed deep tensions between law, politics and media in Australia. This course revisits the events and fallout, examining how legal processes, public commentary and
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