Federation of Australian Historical Societies

The Federation of Australian Historical Societies (FAHS) is the national peak body representing historical societies across Australia. Rather than operating as a commercial consumer brand, it functions as an umbrella and advocacy organisation for the sector, connecting the principal historical bodies of each Australian state and self-governing territory. Its work includes representing historical societies in discussions with governments, encouraging consistent professional and organisational standards, supporting historical research and public education, and promoting the preservation and interpretation of cultural material. FAHS was established in 1977 as a national peak council for state-based historical organisations. Its emergence reflected the earlier development of state historical societies, many of which originated in the first decades after Australian Federation and built substantial collections, libraries, journals, meeting programs and research traditions. The federation provides a national structure through which these organisations can coordinate their interests while retaining their own identities and regional responsibilities. The federation's constituent membership comprises the Royal Australian Historical Society, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, the Royal Western Australian Historical Society, the Tasmanian Historical Research Association, the Canberra and District Historical Society, the Historical Society of the Northern Territory and the History Trust of South Australia. These members act as peak bodies for historical societies in their respective jurisdictions. FAHS is governed by a committee made up of two delegates from each constituent member. The committee meets four times annually, with most meetings conducted by teleconference and another held in a represented state or territory on a rotating basis. The organisation maintains a part-time office in Canberra. Its current legal form was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory on 6 June 1992 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991, following a constitution adopted in Hobart on 22 September 1991 and an earlier incorporation dating from 1977. The organisation's activities extend beyond advocacy. It publishes practical guidance for historical societies on subjects such as collecting cultural material, publishing, heritage tourism and organisational practice. It also supports historical research, writing and education through fellowships, awards and related programs. In addition, FAHS has participated in alliances with organisations representing museums, libraries, the National Trust movement and regional arts, seeking coordinated policy advocacy and improved access to skills, training and cultural-development programs. One of its most visible public interventions occurred in 2011, when it supported a campaign seeking the return to Australia of Matthew Flinders' 1804 map of the continent. The campaign argued that the map had exceptional symbolic significance because it was an early map to use the name Australia. FAHS has also worked through heritage partnerships, including an Australian Heritage Partnership formed with the Australian Council of National Trusts and Australia ICOMOS. FAHS represents a sector whose historical institutions have evolved substantially from the elite-led societies of the early twentieth century. Those older organisations often emphasised settler narratives and excluded or underrepresented First Nations people, convicts, women and working communities. In the contemporary environment, the federation's national role includes helping historical societies respond to broader expectations around collections, interpretation, access, heritage management and community participation.

The Federation of Australian Historical Societies was created in 1977 to provide a national peak structure for Australia's state-based historical-society movement. Its formation followed decades of development by historical organisations established in the period surrounding and following Australian Federation. Important predecessors included the Australian Historical Society in New South Wales, established in 1901; the Historical Society of Victoria in 1909; the Historical Society of Queensland in 1913; and the Western Australian Historical Society in 1926. South Australia also saw historical organisations emerge during the interwar period, including the South Australian Historical Society and the Pioneers Association of South Australia. These societies developed collections, organised lectures and research meetings, issued journals and encouraged public interest in the Australian past. Several received royal patronage and later adopted the word Royal in their names. Historically, however, the movement was often led by professional men, prominent amateurs, academics and descendants of early settlers. Its narratives commonly celebrated colonial progress and could omit or marginalise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, convicts, women and working communities. The national federation inherited this institutional history while providing a structure through which the sector could develop more coordinated practices and advocacy. FAHS was initially incorporated in 1977. Its present legal and constitutional form dates from the early 1990s: a constitution was adopted in Hobart on 22 September 1991, and the organisation was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory on 6 June 1992 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991. Governance is conducted between general meetings by a committee with two delegates from each constituent member. Four committee meetings are held each year, generally through three teleconferences and one rotating in-person meeting in a represented state or territory. The federation maintains a part-time Canberra office. The constituent members represent the principal historical-society bodies of Australia's states and self-governing territories. They are the Royal Australian Historical Society, the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, the Royal Western Australian Historical Society, the Tasmanian Historical Research Association, the Canberra and District Historical Society, the Historical Society of the Northern Territory and the History Trust of South Australia. The federation's role combines advocacy, coordination, professional development and public education. It lobbies governments on issues affecting historical societies and seeks more consistent national standards through handbooks, guides and other publications. Its publications have addressed the collection of cultural material, publishing practice and heritage tourism. FAHS also promotes historical research and education through fellowships and awards, helping local and state organisations strengthen their ability to preserve collections and communicate history to the public. The organisation has periodically worked with allied cultural and heritage bodies. In 2003 it joined four other peak organisations to establish the Regional Cultural Alliance, which sought a more coordinated approach to regional cultural development, training and government advocacy. In 2011 it helped establish the Australian Heritage Partnership with the Australian Council of National Trusts and Australia ICOMOS. These collaborations reflect FAHS's role as an intermediary between historical societies and the wider museums, libraries, arts and heritage sectors. FAHS received wider public attention in 2011 through its support for a campaign to repatriate Matthew Flinders' 1804 map from the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in Taunton. The federation argued that the map had unusual national significance because it was an early map of the continent using the name Australia. The campaign illustrated how FAHS can connect the interests of historical societies with broader debates about the ownership, interpretation and location of nationally important heritage objects. Associated fellows have included Alan Shaw, Michael Roe, Weston Bate and Lionel Gilbert. The federation's continuing purpose is to sustain a national voice for historical societies while supporting the practical work of collection care, research, publication, heritage interpretation and community education.

• 2011

  Australian Heritage Partnership established

  [1]Federation of Australian Historical Societiesen.wikipedia.org

  FAHS formed a heritage-sector partnership with the Australian Council of National Trusts and Australia ICOMOS.

• 2011

  Flinders map repatriation campaign supported

  [1]Federation of Australian Historical Societiesen.wikipedia.org

  The federation supported a campaign seeking the return of Matthew Flinders' 1804 map to Australia.

• 2003

  Regional Cultural Alliance formed

  [1]Federation of Australian Historical Societiesen.wikipedia.org

  FAHS joined allied cultural peak bodies in the Regional Cultural Alliance.

• 1992

  Current incorporation completed

  [1]Federation of Australian Historical Societiesen.wikipedia.org

  FAHS was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory on 6 June under the Associations Incorporation Act 1991.

• 1991

  Constitution adopted

  [1]Federation of Australian Historical Societiesen.wikipedia.org

  A constitution for the federation's current form was adopted in Hobart on 22 September.

• 1977

  Federation established

  [1]Federation of Australian Historical Societiesen.wikipedia.org

  The Federation of Australian Historical Societies was formed as a national peak council for state-based historical societies.

A national coordinating, advocacy and capacity-building body for Australia's historical-society sector.

• Professional handbook · 2002

  FAHS Heritage Handbook

  A practical guide for historical societies, published to support governance, heritage practice and the management of the sector's activities. It is part of FAHS's broader effort to encourage consistent standards among organisations with different local collections, resources and operating environments.

• Collections guidance · 2000

  Looking to the Future: The Collection of Cultural Material by Historical Societies

  A FAHS publication addressing the collection of cultural material by historical societies. It reflects the federation's role in helping local organisations make informed decisions about collecting, documenting and preserving historical resources.

• Publishing guide · 2006

  Publishing History: A Guide for Historical Societies

  A guide focused on publishing by historical societies, supporting organisations that produce local histories, journals and other research-based material for scholarly and community audiences.

• Heritage tourism guide · 2008

  Heritage Tourism in Australia: A Guide for Historical Societies

  A guide explaining how historical societies can engage with heritage tourism and present historical resources to visitors while contributing to local cultural and economic activity.

• 2011Matthew Flinders map repatriation campaign

  Australia · United Kingdom

  FAHS supported a campaign for the repatriation of Matthew Flinders' 1804 map, then held in storage by the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office in Taunton. The campaign emphasised the map's symbolic importance in Australian history.

  Outcome. The campaign received substantial Australian and British media attention; a final repatriation outcome is not established by the supplied material.

  Source

• 2011

  Join the Australian Heritage PartnershipStrategy

  Background

  FAHS sought closer coordination with major heritage organisations on issues affecting the preservation and interpretation of Australia's cultural heritage.

  Action taken

  It formed the Australian Heritage Partnership with the Australian Council of National Trusts and Australia ICOMOS.

  Aftermath

  The partnership created a broader platform for heritage-sector cooperation and advocacy.

  Source

• 2011

  Support the Flinders map repatriation campaignStrategy

  Background

  The federation regarded Matthew Flinders' 1804 map as an especially significant artefact in the history of the name and mapping of Australia.

  Action taken

  FAHS publicly supported a campaign seeking the map's return from the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office.

  Aftermath

  The campaign gained widespread media coverage in Australia and England; the supplied sources do not establish a final disposition.

  Source

1. 1Federation of Australian Historical Societiesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Federation of Australian Historical Societies official websitehistory.org.au