Making the History of the Australian Colonial Frontier Visible: How the Newcastle Digital Map of Frontier Massacres is changing the way we understand the past.

Professor Lyndall Ryan, Centre for the 21^st Century Humanities, University of Newcastle, Australia.

Digital mapping is an important tool for making Australian history accessible to everybody. As a new way of doing history, digital mapping opens up new approaches and new understandings of the past. The Newcastle Digital Map of Frontier Massacres is an exciting example.  Dots on a map not only identify sites of frontier massacre but also provide a visual of the site and the evidence for all to see. This kind of mapping however, requires an appropriate definition of frontier massacre and the application of rigorous criteria for inclusion on the map.  How is the evidence assessed?

In her talk today, Professor Ryan will discuss the origins of the project and how it is still a work in progress.  By drawing on frontier massacre site in North Queensland, she will show how the map works, by disucssing the definition of frontier massacre and the criteria and protocols required for a site to be included on the map.

Professor Ryan will conclude her talk by outlining the impact of the map to date and plans for the future.

Program

5.30 pm                Light refreshments - The Cairns Institute 
6.00 pm                Welcome to Country and Introduction for Professor Ryan
6.15 pm                Professor Ryan Lecture
7.00 pm                Q&A

Parking Information
If you park for this event after 5pm, parking restrictions do not apply at our recommended parking locations.  In Cairns Car Park P1 at The Cairns Institute is recommended.

• View the Cairns Parking Map for more information.

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