Royal Western Australian Historical Society

The Royal Western Australian Historical Society is a not-for-profit historical organization established in 1926 to encourage the study and protection of Western Australia's past. Based in Nedlands, it has served for many decades as a statewide forum for historians, writers, researchers, local history groups, and members of the public interested in the cultural heritage of Perth and Western Australia. The society's work spans historical research, publication, collecting, archival preservation, public education, and support for local historical organizations. Its collections include objects and archival material relating to Western Australian history, while its activities help connect local and specialist historical work with a broader state-level audience. The organization developed before both the Western Australian branch of the National Trust and the History Council of Western Australia, giving it an early and sustained role in the state's heritage sector. A central publication of the society is Early Days, its official annual journal. The journal presents research and writing on a wide range of Western Australian historical subjects and is one of the society's most enduring institutional legacies. It has been published under the title Early days: Journal of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society and is identified by ISSN 0312-6145. The society has also produced indexes and supplements covering earlier volumes, helping researchers navigate its long publication record. The organization operates as part of a wider historical network. It is a constituent member of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies and has developed links with more than 70 affiliated historical societies throughout Western Australia. These affiliates represent local communities and regions across the state. Since 2010, the society has recognized the work of one affiliate each year through a Merit Award. The award program highlights practical contributions to preserving and communicating local history, including the work of the Carnamah Historical Society and the Esperance Bay Historical Society. The society has also organized and supported public-facing heritage programming. Its 70th anniversary was marked by a statewide program of walks, talks, tours, exhibitions, displays, and other events presented with affiliated societies between January and May 1997. Such activities reflect the organization's role not only as a scholarly association but also as a bridge between historical research and community participation. Many prominent Western Australian historians, writers, public figures, and civic leaders have been associated with the society. Wallace Elias Bickley Solomon served as its first secretary and honorary solicitor in 1926. Other notable members or officeholders named in accounts of the society include former Western Australian premier and governor Sir James Mitchell, politician and historian Paul Hasluck, historian and author Rica Erickson, and historian Geoffrey Bolton. The organization remains focused on Western Australian history, heritage awareness, historical societies, publications, and the preservation of material relating to the state.

The Royal Western Australian Historical Society was founded in 1926 as an organization dedicated to improving knowledge of Western Australia's history and encouraging the protection of the state's cultural heritage. Its creation established a formal statewide setting in which historians, writers, researchers, and interested members of the public could exchange knowledge and support historical preservation. Wallace Elias Bickley Solomon was the society's first secretary and honorary solicitor. Over time, the organization became an important institutional presence in Western Australian historical work. It preceded the establishment of the Western Australian branch of the National Trust and the History Council of Western Australia by several decades, and it consequently occupied an early position in the development of organized heritage activity in the state. The society received a Royal Charter in 1963, after which the word Royal was added to its name. This change marked the formal recognition of an organization that had already been active for more than three decades. The society has since continued under the Royal Western Australian Historical Society name. Its activities have included collecting and preserving objects and archival records relating to Western Australian history, publishing historical research, and organizing educational and public programs. The society is based in Nedlands and holds material of significance to the study of Perth and Western Australia. Its institutional work combines the preservation of primary and documentary material with efforts to make historical knowledge accessible to the wider community. Early Days, the society's official journal, is published annually and has become one of its most durable contributions. The journal covers varied aspects of Western Australian history and provides a continuing outlet for historical scholarship and documentation. The society has published indexes and supplements to earlier journal volumes, including coverage of material issued between 1927 and 1988, supporting the use of the journal as a research resource. The organization also developed a broad network of affiliated historical societies. More than 70 local societies across Western Australia have been connected with the network, extending the society's reach beyond Perth and supporting the documentation of regional and community histories. Since 2010, an annual Merit Award has recognized an affiliate's contribution. The inaugural award went to the Carnamah Historical Society, and the Esperance Bay Historical Society received the award in 2011 for its contribution to preserving local history. The Toodyay Historical Society and Augusta Historical Society are among other affiliates associated with the network. Public outreach has been another part of the society's history. For its 70th anniversary, it presented a statewide program with affiliated societies from 10 January to 31 May 1997. The program included historical walks, talks, tours, exhibitions, displays, and special events. This anniversary activity demonstrated the society's ability to coordinate heritage interpretation across Western Australia. The society has attracted participation from notable Western Australian public figures and historians. Sir James Mitchell, a former premier and governor of Western Australia, served as president. Paul Hasluck, Rica Erickson, and Geoffrey Bolton were among the historians, writers, or public figures associated with the organization. Through its collections, journal, affiliate network, and public programs, the society has remained a significant institution for the study and preservation of Western Australian history.

• 2010

  Affiliate Merit Award introduced

  [1]Royal Western Australian Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society began an annual Merit Award recognizing contributions by affiliated historical societies.

• 1997

  70th anniversary statewide program

  [1]Royal Western Australian Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The society and its affiliated organizations presented a statewide series of historical walks, talks, tours, exhibitions, displays, and special events from January through May.

• 1963

  Royal Charter granted

  [1]Royal Western Australian Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  A Royal Charter authorized the addition of the word Royal to the society's name.

• 1926

  Society founded

  [1]Royal Western Australian Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was established to promote understanding of Western Australian history and the protection of the state's cultural heritage.

A statewide heritage and historical organization connecting research, archives, publishing, public education, and community-based historical societies across Western Australia.

• Historical journal · 1927

  Early Days

  Early Days is the Royal Western Australian Historical Society's official annual journal. It publishes research and articles on a broad range of Western Australian historical subjects and provides a continuing record of scholarship associated with the society. The publication is also supported by indexes and supplements covering earlier volumes, making its long run useful to researchers investigating people, places, events, and communities in Western Australia.

• Heritage collection

  Historical collections and archives

  The society maintains objects and archival materials relating to the history of Perth and Western Australia. These holdings support research, preservation, and public understanding of the state's cultural heritage. The available reference material does not provide a complete collection catalogue, so the precise scope and size of the holdings are not specified here.

• 199770th anniversary statewide program

  Western Australia

  A statewide anniversary program presented with affiliated historical societies and featuring historical walks, talks, tours, exhibitions, displays, and other special events.

  Outcome. The program extended the society's anniversary activities across Western Australia and showcased the work of its affiliate network.

  Source

• 2010

  Creation of the affiliate Merit AwardStrategy

  Background

  The society had developed a network of more than 70 affiliated historical societies across Western Australia.

  Action taken

  It introduced an annual award recognizing the work of an affiliated society.

  Aftermath

  The program recognized the Carnamah Historical Society in its inaugural year and the Esperance Bay Historical Society in 2011.

  Source

• 1963

  Adoption of the Royal designationOther

  Background

  The society had operated under its original name since its founding in 1926.

  Action taken

  Following the granting of a Royal Charter, the organization added Royal to its name.

  Aftermath

  The organization became known as the Royal Western Australian Historical Society and continued its historical and heritage activities under that name.

  Source

1. 1Royal Western Australian Historical Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Royal Western Australian Historical Society official websitehistwest.org.au