SLWA on ABC Radio

Battye Historian, Dr. Kate Gregory, Senior Archivist at the State Records Office, Damien Hassan and State Library staff discuss fascinating stories from WA’s past. on previous episodes of History Repeated on  ABC Radio Perth. 

You can also listen to the back catalogue of ABC interviews on our Soundcloud page, plus podcasts, lectures and public talk recordings. 

006758d May Holman 1920s
Australia’s first female Labor parliamentarian
SLWA on ABC Radio
WA history
Join Dr Kate as she explores the extraordinary life of May Holman, Australia’s first female Labor parliamentarian, a member of the WA Legislative Assembly from 1925 -1939.
Caption attached to the photograph The old Beaufort Street Bridge removed to make way for the present structure about 20 years ago
1, 2, and 3
Photographs and films
SLWA on ABC Radio
WA history
Heritage Librarian Peter Edwards discusses on ABC Radio Perth the history of the iconic Barrack-Beaufort Street bridge from its first iteration built in 1880 through to its third iteration built between 1906 – 1908.
The eleven 90 minute cassettes that comprise Althea Dorris Barbers oral history recording
Oral History
SLWA on ABC Radio
This week, Dr Kate highlights the State Library's incredible (and extensive) oral history collection, and focuses on the role that oral history can play in telling the stories of everyday West Australians.
vintage hand drawn panoramic map of Perth from 1892
SLWA on ABC Radio
Discussing one of the key elements of the Creating Perth exhibition - an 1892 cyclorama of Perth.
Margaret A Feilman is awarded an honorary Doctor of Architecture
Town Planner
SLWA on ABC Radio
Dr Kate discusses the legacy of Margaret Feilman’s work as a town planner, architect and heritage conservationist.
DSCF1765Julie Raffaele Battye Fellow
SLWA on ABC Radio
WA history
Dr Kate and Julie Raffaele, discuss her research into the Smelters' Camp (aka Robb Jetty Camp) - a transient person's campsite that existed for over half a century (1898 to 1960) among the dunes of Cockburn Sound and was originally an Aboriginal gathering place.
Map of Australia prepared during the secession to show Western Australias disabilities under the Commonwealth
The Secession Movement
SLWA on ABC Radio
This week Damien Hassan, Senior Archivist at the State Records Office, talks about the Secession Movement and how in 1933, we almost split from the rest of Australia to become our own independent dominion.
Emily Clifton diaries Extract from Diary 1 February 1908 - 9 July 1908
SLWA on ABC Radio
Dr Kate discusses the Emily Clifton diaries, a collection of 48 personal diaries covering the period 1906 – 1979.
Westralias Wonderful Wildflowers page 17
Pressed wildflowers
SLWA on ABC Radio
Dr Kate as she discusses the ‘wildflower work’ of Lilian Wooster Greaves (1869-1956) who produced and exhibited pressed wildflowers from 1915.
Stevie at the Red House brothel Hay Street Kalgoorlie 1990
Joan a sex worker in the 1940s
SLWA on ABC Radio
WA history
ABC Perth radio interview with Jules Kim, the CEO of the Scarlett Alliance, about Joan who was a sex worker and ran brothels in Perth in the 1940s and 50s.
Portrait of Mary Ann Friend c 1832 National Library of Australia
SLWA on ABC Radio
Mary Ann Friend’s journal is an account of the settlement of the Swan River 1829-1831. Of great cultural significance to Western Australia, the journal is one of the many treasures of State Library.
Granite Boronia Boronia cymosa Endl hand coloured
Wildflower photography
Photographs and films
SLWA on ABC Radio
This week,  just in time for wildflower season Dr Kate immerses us in the beautiful photography of Hilda Wright.