Honest History

Honest History promotes balanced consideration of Australian history by offering contesting, evidence-based interpretations to students, teachers, universities, journalists and the public. We challenge the misuse of history to serve political or other agendas.

The ‘sacred’ War Memorial that destroyed itself and whose governing Council is now headed by a senior executive of Boeing, the world’s No. 3 arms manufacturer. Which adds up to physical AND reputational damage – disgraceful on both counts!

Heritage Guardians: a campaign against the $498m extensions to the Australian War Memorial: latest update 7 May

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Lest We Forget; a series for Anzac Month: #1 Five years since Yassmin Abdel-Magied; #2 Paul Daley on patriotism; #3 Five years since The Honest History Book;#4 Will today’s children have to go to war?; #5 Honest History’s Alternative Guide to the Australian War Memorial; #6 Brendan Nelson is the new Chair of the Council of the Australian War Memorial – while keeping his day job as Australia-Pacific President of Boeing, world’s third biggest defence manufacturer by value of sales; #7 Murdoch Press has more than a century of form on warmongering; #8 Has the Australia the Diggers fought for been taken over by spivs and oligarchs? #9 Anzac roundup – Anzac is and should be contested

Michael Piggott reviews the published diary of a Japanese internee in South Australia during World War II

If there is to be a Museum of Australian Policing, will it just tell triumphant stories? Mark Finnane writes

Vale Brendon Kelson 1935-2022, public servant and campaigner. Michael McKernan’s eulogy.

Recent books on Australian architecture, beyond COVID, communists, Evatt on the High Court, and the history of history

Ben Roberts-Smith (innocent until found guilty), Kerry Stokes, Paul Brereton, Brendan Nelson, Matt Anderson, the War Memorial

Looking back

Australia is more than Anzac – and always has been