The 2025 First Eight Lecture by Professor David Headon AM - Prime Minister Billy Hughes

The ANU Australian Studies Institute (AuSI) and the Britain-Australia Society invite you to the annual First Eight Lecture on Prime Minister William Morris 'Billy' Hughes.

Date: Wed, 5 November 2025, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location: The Council Room, 2nd Floor, King's Building, King's College London, WC2R 2LS

About the Lecture

‘Captain of His Own Soul’--Billy Hughes Re-Considered

Billy Hughes, the ‘Little Digger’, is impossible to sum up satisfactorily. Australia’s most controversial prime minister, he was immensely gifted, full of contradictions and a master manipulator. He made very few friends in a long life, he cheated at cards, he lied when it suited him, and his stance on the issue of conscription in 1916-17 divided the Australian community for two generations.

On the other side of the ledger, however, he was a vitally important figure in the establishment of the Australian Labor Party, a fearsome defender of progressive social welfare legislation, a brilliant orator, a talented creative writer and the longest-serving politician in the history of the Commonwealth parliament. This lecture will attempt to make sense of Hughes’ many faces, foibles and flaws, with a focus on both his public and private lives.

Don't miss this opportunity to delve into a fascinating chapter of Australian history while connecting with fellow Members and friends at King's College London.

About the Speaker

Prof David Headon AM is a cultural consultant and historian. Formerly Director of the Centre for Australian Cultural Studies, Cultural Adviser to the National Capital Authority, and History and Heritage Adviser for the Centenary of Canberra, he is now a Foundation Fellow at the ANU Australian Studies Institute, a Parliamentary Library Associate and the Canberra Raiders club historian. 

The First Eight Project is a collaborative project between the Australian Parliamentary Library, Australian Studies Institute (ANU), National Archives of Australia, National Museum of Australia, and Victorian Parliamentary Library.