History

Established in 1854, the History program at the University of Melbourne is one of the most distinguished and longest running in Australia.

group of university students in Italy on the roof of Basilica of San Marco
Students from Venice and Cultures of Consumption intensive atop the roof of the Basilica of San Marco.

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.

Learn more about the history of the program

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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.

Profile picture of Catherine Kovesi

Associate Professor Catherine Kovesi

Associate Professor in Late Medieval and Early Modern History. History Discipline Chair.
c.kovesi@unimelb.edu.au +61383448160
Profile picture of Mark Edele

Professor Mark Edele

Hansen Chair in History of the Soviet Union and Successor States. Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts.
mark.edele@unimelb.edu.au +61383440523
Profile picture of Kate McGregor

Professor Kate McGregor

Deputy Associate Dean International (Indonesia), Professor in Southeast Asian History
k.mcgregor@unimelb.edu.au +61383443379
Profile picture of David Goodman

Professor David Goodman

Professor in US History. Deputy Head of School, SHAPS. Director, Digital Studio, Faculty of Arts.
d.goodman@unimelb.edu.au +61383447859
Profile picture of Zoe Laidlaw

Professor Zoe Laidlaw

Professor of the History of Britain’s Empire. Research and Higher Degree Coordinator.
zoe.laidlaw@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Joy Damousi

Professor Joy Damousi

Professor in Australian History.
j.damousi@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Julie Fedor

Dr Julie Fedor

Senior Lecturer in Modern European History. Engagement Coordinator, SHAPS.
julie.fedor@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Jenny Spinks

Associate Professor Jenny Spinks

Hansen Associate Professor in Early Modern History. Education and Students Coordinator.
jspinks@unimelb.edu.au +61383443816
Profile picture of Angel Alcalde Fernandez

Dr Angel Alcalde Fernandez

Senior Lecturer in twentieth-century European History. Research Coordinator, History Discipline and SHAPS. Deputy Director, Master of International Relations, SHAPS.
angel.alcalde@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Julia Hurst

Dr Julia Hurst

Lecturer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History Deputy Director, Australian Centre, Faculty of Arts.
julia.hurst@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Matthew Champion

Dr Matthew Champion

Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History. Engagement Coordinator.
mscha@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Andonis Piperoglou

Dr Andonis Piperoglou

Hellenic Senior Lecturer in Global Diasporas.
andonis.piperoglou@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Julia Bowes

Dr Julia Bowes

Lecturer in Gender History. Honours/Graduate Diploma Advanced Coordinator.
julia.bowes@unimelb.edu.au +61383443379
Profile picture of Sarah Walsh

Dr Sarah Walsh

Hansen Lecturer in World History.
sarah.walsh@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Oleg Beyda

Dr Oleg Beyda

Hansen Lecturer in Russian History.
oleg.beyda@unimelb.edu.au +61338344400
Profile picture of Charlotte Millar

Dr Charlotte Millar

Teaching Specialist in Early Modern History.
charlotte.millar@unimelb.edu.au +61383445952
Profile picture of Bronwyn Beech Jones

Dr Bronwyn Beech Jones

Subject Coordinator in South East Asian History.
bronwyn.beechjones@unimelb.edu.au +61383441520
Profile picture of James Keating

Dr James Keating

Teaching Associate, Periodic.
james.keating@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Nat Cutter

Dr Nat Cutter

Teaching Associate, Periodic.
nat.cutter@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Natasha Wilson

Dr Natasha Wilson

Teaching Associate, Periodic.
nwils@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Dr Patrick McGrath

Dr Patrick McGrath

Teaching Associate, Periodic.
patrick.mcgrath@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Kathryn Ticehurst

Dr Kathryn Ticehurst

Teaching Associate, Periodic.
kathryn.ticehurst@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Shannon Gilmore-Kuziow

Dr Shannon Gilmore-Kuziow

Teaching Associate, Periodic.
shannon.gilmore@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Georgia Comte

Georgia Comte

Graduate Teaching Research Fellow.
georgia.comte@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Arthur Knight

Arthur Knight

Graduate Teaching Research Fellow.
arthur.knight@unimelb.edu.au
Profile picture of Aleksandra Riabichenko

Aleksandra Riabichenko

Graduate Teaching Research Fellow.
a.riabichenko@unimelb.edu.au

History honorary staff