Welcome! I am a historian of the eighteenth-century world, particularly the British Empire and the many indigenous societies it encountered. I also have interests in visual history, anthropological history, experimental uses of biography, and issues surrounding higher education and the humanities. On this site you’ll find links to my historical writing, reflections on my historical reading, and discussions of various historical engagements (oh, and an unlikely page on swimming).
Recent Posts
Why does Truth come third?
The excellent online mag Inside Story has asked my colleagues in the First Nations and Colonial Histories Centre at ACU to write a monthly column. This was my first contribution – a reflection on what the ‘Voice, Treaty, Truth’ sequencing means for tellers of history. When the Australian Historical Association met for its annual conference … Continue reading Why does Truth come third?
Thinking about Magellan and Cook
After some hiatus, I am back with some public writing… This time inspired by my new and fabulous colleague at ACU Kristie Flannery, who has taught me so much already about Filipino history. Here we are comparing the Philippines approach to European incursion in 2021 with that of Australia and New Zealand through 2019-20. “This … Continue reading Thinking about Magellan and Cook
More Reflections
When writing up my Spit chapter in 2016 I took the plunge to reconnect with my old coach, Scott Wilson, for the first time in 20 years … It has been wonderful to stay in touch ever since. During COVID he had the brilliant idea to create a site for many different kinds of swimming … Continue reading More Reflections
Talking on Late Night Live
Amidst worsening news in the world, it was nice to talk history for 20 minutes at least. Click here for my interview with Phillip Adams on his ABC Radio Late Night Live Show. #eighteenthcentury #indigenousexperiences #empire
