History Council WA AGM and Annual Lecture 2026

Join the History Council of Western Australia for an evening of reflection, conversation and historical insight at the State Library of Western Australia.

The evening begins with a special viewing of Kinjarling Djinnang Ngalak | Country Sees Us, accompanied by a short introduction from Dr Kate Gregory.

The HCWA Annual General Meeting will follow, before HCWA's Annual Lecture presented by Malcolm Traill: Albany 2026: What Have We Learned (So Far!)?

Program

5:00pm – 5:45pm: Kinjarling Djinnang Ngalak | Country Sees Us viewing with Dr Kate Gregory, Head of Research and Interpretation, SLWA.

5:30pm: Registration opens in Great Southern Room

6:00pm: Annual General Meeting and Election of Office Bearers

6:30pm: Break

6:45pm: Annual Lecture — Malcolm Traill, Albany 2026: What Have We Learned (So Far!)?

7:35pm: Closing remarks

8:00pm: Library closes

Books and copies of Studies in WA History will be available for purchase.

The State Library invites you to join us for a viewing of Kinjarling Djinnang Ngalak | Country Sees Us, with a short introduction from Dr. Kate Gregory, Head of Research and Interpretation.

 This powerful new exhibition comes at a significant moment in WA’s history, the 200 year commemoration of Kinjarling / Albany’s colonisation. Drawing on the State Library’s collection, it puts a spotlight on Kinjarling’s natural landscape, encouraging reflection and dialogue. Designed to encourage stillness, reflection and deep listening, a series of newly commissioned oral histories from Menang Elders form the centrepiece of the exhibition.

Produced in Collaboration with the Community Arts Network. Proudly supported by NANI.

As the first European permanent settlement in Western Australia (1826), Albany is uniquely placed to commemorate WA’s first bicentenary. However, along with this achievement comes a responsibility to mark this milestone appropriately with the whole community - First Nations and settlers - in mind.

Planning began in earnest in 2021 with the stated aim of ‘Menang First’. With full collaboration involving the Menang-Noongar community, a year-long program of events was planned and funded by the community and other agencies to reflect this aim.

With half the year gone, is it a success? How can this be judged? And can Albany set the tone for the 2029 events that will mark the bicentenary of the colony (then state) of Western Australia?

All these points will be canvassed in this presentation which will bring the audience up to date on the success or otherwise of Albany 2026.

Malcolm Traill is a prominent Albany public historian who has combined writing, recording, teaching and presenting Albany history in an informal yet instructive way over the past three decades.

He brings a dual perspective to this topic as a historian, and also as Chair of the City of Albany 2026 Reference Group and Ambassador for the Albany 2026 program.

He has recently released a book - South – and has co-edited the latest issue of Studies in WA History entitled A Gift of Truth-Telling: notes on the bicentenary of Albany.  He is also a PhD candidate at UWA tackling the umbrella topic of Settler Histories of Albany.

Photo Credit: Jenny Feast Photography