The History Council of Western Australia is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the study, preservation and use of history in Western Australia.
Founded in 2003, the History Council of Western Australia aims to promote an "active engagement with history" across broader society. The Council has actively engaged in historical advocacy campaigns since its formation, such as their engagement with the debate surrounding the 20112012 Elizabeth Quay development.
The Council is run by an elected committee comprising historians and academics, while other parties and individuals can become members through a paid subscription.
The Council works to promote historical engagement through the organisation and promotion of related events to the public. It produces several regular publications, including an annual report and a seasonal newsletter for members.
History
The History Council of Western Australia was formed on 19 March 2003, following several years of planning. The Council received assistance during its establishment from the Western Australian History Foundation, which provided financial support and funded a trip for the History Council of New South Wales' former president, Dr Shirley Fitzgerald, to provide guidance during the establishment of the WA Council.
The Council has collaborated with other historical societies and organisations in Western Australia, such as the Royal Western Australian Historical Society, and the National Trust of Australia. The National Trust assisted the Council in allowing their archives to be stored within Samson House in Fremantle. The State Library of Western Australia has also expressed interest in adding the Council's archives to their collection, though this has yet to occur.
The Council has been identified as a relevant organisation by the Australian Government and it is officially represented on two committees - the National Archive of Australia Consultative Forum and the State Records Advisory Committee. The Council has been unable to secure representation within a statutory body like the Heritage Council of Western Australia.
In 2019 it was announced at the Australian Historical Association's annual meeting that the History Council of Western Australia, along with the History Councils of South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales, had adopted the "Value of History" statement to guide their strategic focuses. Adapted from a campaign created by US based historical societies in 2012, it places emphasis on the value of history in relation to:
Shaping identities
Engaging citizens
Economic development
Critical thinking skills
Benefiting communities
Encouraging leadership
Creating legacies
Advocacy
The History Council of WA is an historical advocacy organisation; as stated within its charter, it is "dedicated to promoting the study, preservation and use of history in Western Australia". The main activities of the Council centre around historical advocacy undertaken for the stated purpose of benefiting the Western Australian community.
Advocacy issues
The Council's advocacy efforts are focused on the key issues: The promotion of access to family records The preservation of arts and culture Heritage preservation The promotion of quality historical education The incorporation of historians onto all committees so that policy makers factor historical impact into decision making
Campaigns
Premier's History Award
In 2004 the Council was successful in lobbying for a history prize to be included as an award in the Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. This resulted in the addition of the Western Australian History category, which included in the award a $7,500 cash prize, increased to $10,000 in 2008, sponsored by the Department of Culture and the Arts. The History prize was awarded to works of Western Australian historical literature that were found to have made a "major contribution to the understanding of Western Australia's past". This category was included in the WA Premier's Book Awards from 2004 to 2016, though the Council has since campaigned unsuccessfully for the history awards to be included again.