Skip to main content

Site navigation

  • University of Technology Sydney home
  • Home

    Home
  • For students

  • For industry

  • Research

Explore

  • Courses
  • Events
  • News
  • Stories
  • People

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Study at UTS

    • arrow_right_alt Find a course
    • arrow_right_alt Course areas
    • arrow_right_alt Undergraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Postgraduate students
    • arrow_right_alt Research Masters and PhD
    • arrow_right_alt Online study and short courses
  • Student information

    • arrow_right_alt Current students
    • arrow_right_alt New UTS students
    • arrow_right_alt Graduates (Alumni)
    • arrow_right_alt High school students
    • arrow_right_alt Indigenous students
    • arrow_right_alt International students
  • Admissions

    • arrow_right_alt How to apply
    • arrow_right_alt Entry pathways
    • arrow_right_alt Eligibility
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for students

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Apply for a coursearrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt
  • Scholarshipsarrow_right_alt
  • Featured industries

    • arrow_right_alt Agriculture and food
    • arrow_right_alt Defence and space
    • arrow_right_alt Energy and transport
    • arrow_right_alt Government and policy
    • arrow_right_alt Health and medical
    • arrow_right_alt Corporate training
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Tech Central
    • arrow_right_alt Case studies
    • arrow_right_alt Research
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for industry

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Partner with usarrow_right_alt
  • Explore

    • arrow_right_alt Explore our research
    • arrow_right_alt Research centres and institutes
    • arrow_right_alt Graduate research
    • arrow_right_alt Research partnerships
arrow_right_altVisit our hub for research

For you

  • Libraryarrow_right_alt
  • Staffarrow_right_alt
  • Alumniarrow_right_alt
  • Current studentsarrow_right_alt

POPULAR LINKS

  • Find a UTS expertarrow_right_alt
  • Research centres and institutesarrow_right_alt
  • University of Technology Sydney home
Explore the University of Technology Sydney
Category Filters:
University of Technology Sydney home University of Technology Sydney home
  1. home
  2. arrow_forward_ios ... Research at UTS
  3. arrow_forward_ios ... Research centres and ins...
  4. arrow_forward_ios ... Australian Centre for Pu...
  5. arrow_forward_ios About the Centre
  6. arrow_forward_ios What is public history?

What is public history?

explore
  • Australian Centre for Public History
    • About the Centre
      • arrow_forward Mission and objectives
      • arrow_forward Our people
      • arrow_forward What is public history?
    • Research collaborations
      • arrow_forward Research nodes
      • arrow_forward Current projects
      • arrow_forward The Darlinghurst Public History Initiative
      • arrow_forward Research Assistant database
    • arrow_forward Place-based Projects
    • arrow_forward Student Work
    • Resources
      • arrow_forward ACPH Blog
      • arrow_forward GLAMcity
      • arrow_forward Histories of Australian Democracy Working Paper
      • arrow_forward History Lab podcast
      • arrow_forward For history teachers
      • arrow_forward Public History Review
      • arrow_forward Publications
    • Events and seminars
      • arrow_forward GLAMSLAM
      • arrow_forward History Central seminars
      • arrow_forward Public History in Darlinghurst event series
      • arrow_forward The Public History Hour

History is everywhere. It is in the history books written by academics in universities and it is in the events and exhibitions of art galleries, libraries, heritage consultancies and historical associations. But history is also part of the way, as individuals and as groups, we make sense of who we are and where we come from. It is in the games our kids play and the ways we tell stories.

Aerial photo of students walking across a tiled outdoor flooring area

As an academic discipline, Public History is interested in understanding how histories are made and interpreted in the broader community. It has been defined as 'the practice of history by academically trained historians working for public agencies or as freelancers outside the universities'. Public historians examine phenomena such as the changing commemoration of Anzac Day in Australia, the current debates about historical monuments, or the ways that certain family histories are remembered and forgotten. The academic fields of Memory Studies, Historical Consciousness and Historiography have an important part to play in understanding this dimension of public history.

But Public History is also a practice. It is a way of doing history for (and with) public audiences. This kind of public history is sometimes informed by the history done inside universities, but its aim is to engage with the broader community, through preserving our culture, providing services, and facilitating access to information. This can be done in a variety of ways, from exhibitions and heritage plans to walking tours and podcasts. Public historians may work in heritage conservation, commissioned history, museums, the media, education, radio, film, interactive multimedia and other areas as well as in universities. They are people who have asked: 'What is history for?' And they are concerned with addressing the relationship between audience, practice and social context. Methodologies of Oral History, Museum and Curatorial Studies, Digital Humanities, Archival and Heritage Studies (many taught in public history courses in universities) are all central to their work.

At the Australian Centre for Public History, we’re interested in understanding both kinds of public history, as well as how they intersect. We do this by studying the ways public history is produced and consumed, and by facilitating stronger links between academic historical researchers and public and vernacular forms of history-making and consumption, especially the via the GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector. To see some of those activities in practice, check out our Current Projects or come along to our events.

Have more questions about public history? Watch our History Bytes series.

Study history at UTS

Interested in studying public history at UTS?

Students can undertake public history studies at UTS as part of their Bachelor of Communications degree or as part of a postgraduate research degree (at masters and doctoral levels).  Find out more by getting in touch. Contact public.history@uts.edu.au.

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and the Boorooberongal People of the Dharug Nation upon whose ancestral lands our campuses now stand. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands. 

University of Technology Sydney

City Campus

15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007

Get in touch with UTS

Follow us

  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Facebook

A member of

  • Australian Technology Network
Use arrow keys to navigate within each column of links. Press Tab to move between columns.

Study

  • Find a course
  • Undergraduate
  • Postgraduate
  • How to apply
  • Scholarships and prizes
  • International students
  • Campus maps
  • Accommodation

Engage

  • Find an expert
  • Industry
  • News
  • Events
  • Experience UTS
  • Research
  • Stories
  • Alumni

About

  • Who we are
  • Faculties
  • Learning and teaching
  • Sustainability
  • Initiatives
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Campus and locations
  • Awards and rankings
  • UTS governance

Staff and students

  • Current students
  • Help and support
  • Library
  • Policies
  • StaffConnect
  • Working at UTS
  • UTS Handbook
  • Contact us
  • Copyright © 2025
  • ABN: 77 257 686 961
  • CRICOS provider number: 00099F
  • TEQSA provider number: PRV12060
  • TEQSA category: Australian University
  • Privacy
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility