The use and abuse of Australian history
"The past can inspire, console and condemn, sometimes all at once, but how do Australians use, and sometimes misuse, the past? What are the private and public purposes it serves, and what dangers attend its abuse?" "Graeme Davison has observed these debates at close quarters, as a historian and a commentator on national celebrations, heritage, museums and other forms of public history. The Use and Abuse of Australian History presents a wide-ranging and perceptive exploration of the many ways in which the past enters everyday life in Australia, and a powerful plea for the imaginative study of history."--BOOK JACKET
History
vii, 326 pages ; 22 cm
9781864487206, 1864487208
44895086
Preface1 Introduction: Australian history on the eve of the millennium2 The last hero? History and hero-worship3 Monumental history: Do statues (still) speak?4 The Great Voyage: National celebrations in three new lands5 Ancestors: The broken lineage of family history6 Heritage: From patrimony to pastiche7 Antiques, shrines and documents: What makes a building historic?8 Sacred sites: The battle for historic churches9 Living history: Touring the Australian past10 'A neglected history': Has school history lost the plot?11 Community: The uses of local history.12 Turbulent times: The historical vision of modern management13 'A vote, a rifle, a farm': Unnatural rights and invented histories14 Conclusion: Is history useful?NotesIndex