UK turns out for First Eight Lecture: Andrew Fisher - Australia's 5th PM

Friday 8 November 2019

'So much more than a Prime Minister': Andrew Fisher (1862-1928)

2019 First Eight Project Prime Minister Lecture, by Dr David Headon

The Australian Studies Institute (AuSI) was delighted to present the First Eight Project lecture series in London and Edinburgh, with Dr David Headon, AuSI Foundation Fellow speaking about the remarkable life and times of Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. Fisher was Australia's fifth Prime Minister and the leader of Australia's first majority Labor government.

On Tuesday 22 October the lecture was presented by Dr David Headon at Australia House, London, with an introduction by The Hon George Brandis QC, Australia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Damian Walsh, Chairman of the Britain-Australia Society, welcomed guests and Ben Hinshelwood, Executive Director at the Commonwealth Bank delivered the vote of thanks. This was particularly fitting as Fisher was responsible for laying the foundation stone for the Commonwealth Bank Headquarters in Sydney. The event was AuSI’s first lecture in partnership with the Britain-Australia Society, and with a sold-out event and engaged crowd, the lecture was deemed a great success.

On Thursday 24 October Dr Headon presented the lecture at the University of Edinburgh, with an introduction by Professor Ewen Cameron, Sir William Fraser Professor of Scottish History and Palaeography, and Head of School of History, Classics and Archaeology. On this occasion there was a lively audience discussion and question and answer session, with a particular focus on Fisher’s Scottish heritage and early life in Scotland.

These events were proudly presented as part of the First Eight Project - a collaborative project between the Australian Parliamentary Library, Australian Studies Institute (ANU), National Archives of Australia, National Museum of Australia, and Victorian Parliamentary Library, exploring the private, public and political lives of Australia's first eight Prime Ministers.

Listen to the lecture in full: 'So much more than a Prime Minister': Andrew Fisher (1862-1928)

View event photos here