4 March 2025
The Allan Labor Government is celebrating the work of Victorian community historians with the shortlist of the 2024 Victorian Community History Awards revealed today.
Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins today announced 39 history publications and projects have been shortlisted across 11 prize categories including the Victorian Premier’s History Award.
Each nominee has shared the history of Victoria, including maritime and war histories, women’s histories, local stories and Indigenous history.
Biographies and oral histories are among the shortlisted projects, including a book on the life of the father of Australia’s pop music industry Jack O’Hagan, and a 15-part podcast series sharing the stories of the Melbourne women activists who opposed the Vietnam War and National Service Act from 1965-1972.
The first ever book on Australian trans history, exploring the lives of trans and gender-diverse Australians – Transgender Australia: A History Since 1910 by Noah Riseman has also been shortlisted.
Sports historian Graham Pilkington was shortlisted for his article ‘Australian Rules football is unique among world professional sports in that it rewards a near miss’ – on the nineteenth-century evolution of the AFL behind – .
All shortlisted nominees are up for prizes ranging from $500 to $2,000 – with one to be named the winner of the $5,000 Victorian Premier’s History Award.
The Victorian Community History Awards are presented by the Public Record Office Victoria in partnership with the Royal Historical Society of Victoria and supported by the Allan Labor Government.
A full list of nominees is available at: prov.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Government Services Natalie Hutchins
“Victoria has a strong history and these dedicated storytellers have worked tirelessly to help all Victorians better understand our past – I congratulate them on their nomination.”
Quotes attributable to Public Record Office Victoria Director and Keeper of Public Records, Justine Heazlewood
“By sharing historical books, articles, oral histories, exhibitions and creative projects, these nominees help us all to better understand our past. I thank our nominees for their contribution to Victoria’s history.”
Quotes attributable to Royal Historical Society of Victoria President Richard Broome AM
“We look forward to celebrating these shortlisted nominees at the Victorian Community History Awards ceremony at the end of March and announcing our major prize winners.”
