Upcoming Events
Keynote: 100 Years of Op Shops: Past, Present and Future
Robyn Annear is a celebrated historian and author renowned for her insightful exploration of Melbourne and Victoria’s rich history. With eight compelling books to her name, including award-winning titles like Bearbrass: Imagining Early Melbourne and Nothing But Gold: The diggers of 1852, Robyn has captivated audiences with her vivid storytelling and meticulous research.
Beyond writing, she has curated exhibitions at prestigious venues such as State Library Victoria and the City Gallery at Melbourne Town Hall, showcasing her expertise in bringing history to life. An occasional contributor to the Monthly and a familiar face on television programs like “Victoria Wood’s BBC series” and “Tony Robinson Explores Australia”, Robyn continues to inspire audiences with her passion for uncovering the fascinating stories of the past. In 2018, she launched the podcast “Nothing on TV”, offering listeners a captivating audio journey into Australia’s historical landscapes. With her engaging narratives and deep insights, Robyn Annear remains a leading voice in Australian history, connecting audiences with the rich tapestry of the past.
Bookings are essential.
Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions is the story of a founding document in Australian democracy and the trailblazers who made it.
Join us for a drink to celebrate the Melbourne launch of Clare Wright's book at the Wild Geese Hotel, upstairs on level 1 in the Celtic Club Members Bar.
Featuring special guests and a performance by Yirrmal.
RVSP essential.
This launch is supported by Maurice Blackburn Melbourne.
Join us to hear Clare Wright in conversation about her latest book, Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions.
This is the story of a founding document in Australian democracy and the people who made it. It paints a vibrant picture of the profound and ancient culture of Australia's first peoples, in all its continuing vigour.
Clare Wright's groundbreaking Democracy Trilogy began with The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka (workers' rights) and continued with You Daughters of Freedom (women's rights). After a decade of research and community consultation, it concludes, fittingly, with a fascinating and compulsively readable account of a momentous but little-known episode in our shared political history.
Tickets are $10 per person, redeemable on purchases of Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions on the night of the event.
Clare Wright, author of Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions, chats with historian Anna Clark.
Anna's new book is a personal account of her love of ‘the catch’ and an exploration of how fishing became a national pastime. Anna delves into favourite fishing spots, the passing down of fishing know-how, Indigenous fishing practices, and why we love ‘throwing a line’.
Respected historians Clare Wright and Mark Dapin describe the excitement and challenges of diving into historical records to expose truths that often make people feel uncomfortable about the past, as explored in Clare’s new book Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions and Mark’s Lest: Australian War Myths. With Hilary Harper.
Join us for the QLD launch of The Degenerates by Raeden Richardson. Raeden will be joined in conversation by Carody Culver. We will also be featuring readings from local authors.
Raeden Richardson grew up in Melbourne and graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His work has been supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, La Napoule Foundation and Yaddo. His writing has appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, Griffith Review, Kill Your Darlings and New Australian Fiction.
Bookings are essential.
Join us for the launch of The Degenerates by Raeden Richardson. Raeden will be joined in conversation by Carody Culver. We will also be featuring readings from local authors.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Following the interwoven lives of four characters across India, Australia and the United States, the novel takes root in Melbourne and brings its streets, shopping centres and laneways to life with astounding originality—the city may never be the same again.
In propulsive prose, The Degenerates summons the power of storytelling, disrupts conventional narratives and pays tribute to those lives often lost in the margins.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Raeden Richardson grew up in Melbourne and graduated from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His work has been supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, La Napoule Foundation and Yaddo. His writing has appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald, Griffith Review, Kill Your Darlings and New Australian Fiction.
Join us for an event featuring acclaimed author Clare Wright OAM, Patron of the PMI Victorian History Library. She will discuss her latest book, which delves into the pivotal year of 1963. During this time, leaders of the Yolngu clans, in collaboration with their white allies, embarked on an unprecedented political journey that led to the presentation of four Bark Petitions to the Federal Parliament.
Naku Dharuk The Bark Petitions offers a compelling narrative of a foundational document in Australian democracy and the individuals behind it. Clare Wright's meticulous research and vivid storytelling bring to life the rich and enduring culture of Australia’s first peoples, highlighting their ongoing resilience and influence.
Bookings are essential.
Antipodes Bookshop & Gallery invites you to An Evening with Melanie Cheng.
The Burrow tells an unforgettable story about grief and hope. With her characteristic compassion and eye for detail, Melanie Cheng reveals the lives of others—even of a small rabbit.
Established Author Forum: Balancing Writing With Life With Melanie Cheng
Featuring Melanie Cheng, author of The Burrow, on Balancing Writing with Life, examining competing demands on writers’ time and mental energy. Afterwards, join fellow authors to chat in a social setting.
Part creative development, part networking, part writing group, the Established Author Forum features in-depth lectures at a high level from prominent writers on the topics they know best, as well as an opportunity to ask questions about their work and your own. After each lecture, writers share wins, frustrations, opportunities and industry developments within a social setting.
