History
Established in 1854, the History program at the University of Melbourne is one of the most distinguished and longest running in Australia.
History has been taught at the University since it opened in 1854. Under Sir Ernest Scott, Professor of History from 1913 to 1936, the History Department pioneered teaching and research in Australian history.
Successor Professor Max Crawford made the Melbourne department the most influential in the country. Melbourne historians helped pioneer the teaching and research of Australian history in particular and staff members, such as Manning Clark, Hugh Stretton, Geoffrey Blainey, Margaret Kiddle, Lloyd Robson and Geoffrey Serle, left a lasting impact on our understanding of the Australian past.
The program has also historically had great strengths in European, Asian, Middle Eastern, Soviet and American history, and in new approaches to the past, such as gender history, memory studies and the history of emotions. We place a particular emphasis on teaching undergraduates through the use of primary sources.
Explore our research
Our research examines the histories and transformations of society, religion, politics and culture in Australia, Asia, North America, North Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
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Soviet War Experiences, 1937-1950
This project charts the varieties of wartime experiences on Soviet-held territories between 1937 and 1950. Refusing to extract one, allegedly 'typical' experience, this project focuses on the range, variety, and complexity of wartime experiences of ordinary (and some extraordinary) people.
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Confronting Historical Injustice in Indonesia: Memory and Transnational Human Rights Activism
Using an innovative framework of the concept of ‘regions of memory’, this project examines how human rights activists located within and outside Indonesia use memory for the purposes of achieving human rights outcomes.
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Mass Politics in the Nineteenth Century
The nineteenth century was marked by great changes in the formal boundaries of the polity, forms of political activity and the meanings of ‘democracy’. This research considers some of the changes in Australia, the United States and Great Britain.
Study with us
Explore our range of courses:
- Bachelor of Arts History major (see curriculum)
- Bachelor or Arts (Degree with Honours)
- Master of Arts (Thesis Only)
- Master of Arts (Advanced Seminar and Shorter Thesis)
- Doctor of Philosophy – Arts
See student resources:
Explore our stories
Delve into our student profiles, research articles, academic interviews, podcasts, news, events and more.
Meet our History staff
Our academics are leading teachers, researchers and industry professionals.
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Associate Professor Catherine Kovesi
Associate Professor in Late Medieval and Early Modern History. History Discipline Chair.
Phone: +61383448160
Email: c.kovesi@unimelb.edu.au -
Professor Andrew May
Professor in Australian History.
Phone: +61383447562
Email: a.may@unimelb.edu.au -
Professor Mark Edele
Hansen Chair in History of the Soviet Union and Successor States. Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts.
Phone: +61383440523
Email: mark.edele@unimelb.edu.au -
Professor Kate McGregor
Professor in Southeast Asian History. Associate Dean International. Deputy Associate Dean International, Faculty of Arts.
Phone: +61383443379
Email: k.mcgregor@unimelb.edu.au -
Professor David Goodman
Professor in US History. Deputy Head of School, SHAPS. Director, Digital Studio, Faculty of Arts.
Phone: +61383447859
Email: d.goodman@unimelb.edu.au -
Professor Sean Scalmer
Professor of Australian History.
Phone: +61383445957
Email: sscalmer@unimelb.edu.au -
Professor Zoe Laidlaw
Professor of the History of Britain’s Empire. Research and Higher Degree Coordinator.
Phone: +61383448486
Email: zoe.laidlaw@unimelb.edu.au -
Professor Joy Damousi
Professor in Australian History.
Phone: +61383448999
Email: j.damousi@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr Julie Fedor
Senior Lecturer in Modern European History. Engagement Coordinator, SHAPS.
Email: julie.fedor@unimelb.edu.au
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Associate Professor Jenny Spinks
Hansen Associate Professor in Early Modern History. Education and Students Coordinator.
Phone: +61383443816
Email: jspinks@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr Angel Alcalde Fernandez
Senior Lecturer in twentieth-century European History. Research Coordinator, History Discipline and SHAPS. Deputy Director, Master of International Relations, SHAPS.
Email: angel.alcalde@unimelb.edu.au
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Dr Julia Hurst
Lecturer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History Deputy Director, Australian Centre, Faculty of Arts.
Phone: +61390359990
Email: julia.hurst@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr Matthew Champion
Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History. Engagement Coordinator.
Phone: +61383444774
Email: mscha@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr Andonis Piperoglou
Hellenic Senior Lecturer in Global Diasporas.
Phone: +61383446420
Email: andonis.piperoglou@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr Julia Bowes
Lecturer in Gender History. Honours/Graduate Diploma Advanced Coordinator.
Phone: +61383443379
Email: julia.bowes@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr Sarah Walsh
Hansen Lecturer in World History.
Email: sarah.walsh@unimelb.edu.au
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Dr Oleg Beyda
Hansen Lecturer in Russian History.
Email: oleg.beyda@unimelb.edu.au
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Dr Charlotte Millar
Teaching Specialist in Early Modern History.
Phone: +61383445952
Email: charlotte.millar@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr Bronwyn Beech Jones
Subject Coordinator in South East Asian History.
Phone: +61383441520
Email: bronwyn.beechjones@unimelb.edu.au -
Dr James Keating
Teaching Associate, Periodic.
Email: james.keating@unimelb.edu.au
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Dr Nat Cutter
Teaching Associate, Periodic.
Email: nat.cutter@unimelb.edu.au
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Dr Natasha Wilson
Teaching Associate, Periodic.
Email: nwils@unimelb.edu.au
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Dr Patrick McGrath
Teaching Associate, Periodic.
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Dr Kathryn Ticehurst
Teaching Associate, Periodic.
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Dr Shannon Gilmore-Kuziow
Teaching Associate, Periodic.
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Ines Jahudka
Graduate Teaching Research Fellow.
Email: ines.jahudka@unimelb.edu.au
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Georgia Comte
Graduate Teaching Research Fellow.
Email: georgia.comte@unimelb.edu.au
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Arthur Knight
Graduate Teaching Research Fellow.
Email: arthur.knight@unimelb.edu.au
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Aleksandra Riabichenko
Graduate Teaching Research Fellow.
Email: a.riabichenko@unimelb.edu.au