Stephen Gapps in conversation with Naomi Parry Duncan. Uprising: War in the Colony of New South Wales, 1838–1844
In his latest book Uprising: War in the Colony of NSW 1838-1844 Stephen Gapps outlines an intense period of resistance warfare largely directed at the influx of squatters and their tens of thousands of cattle and sheep. These wars occurred across a vast terrain – from Port Phillip to Moreton Bay. They were seen by contemporaries as a ‘great uprising’ or rebellion.
This huge arc of conflict stretched along the eastern edge of the Murray-Darling river system. In this talk Stephen will explore the tactical and strategic importance of waterways in defending River Country.

Stephen Gapps is an historian working to bring broader public recognition and commemoration of Australia’s Frontier Wars. In 2018 Stephen published The Sydney Wars – Conflict in the early colony 1788-1817, inaugural winner of the Les Carlyon Award for the writing of military history. In 2021 he published Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance - The Bathurst War, 1822–1824. Stephen's third book with NewSouth press is Uprising: War in the Colony of NSW 1838-1844 and was published in April 2025. He is currently an editor and contributor to a forthcoming book of the acclaimed documentary series The Australian Wars.

Book through Humanitix or pay at the door. Eftpos and cash are accepted.

Hall Entry: $10 Waged; $5.00 Unwaged,
Afternoon tea from 3.30pm ($3 coffee/tea, $3 cake)

Accessibility

General information

Travel instructions