Look History in the Eye, Melbourne

What can almost 1,000 inquest records tell us about dark history we should know more about?  In the latest episode of Look History in the Eye podcast, Public Record Office Victoria speaks with Dr Jo Wainer AM, one of Australia's most influential feminist campaigners, about the fight to end Victoria's backyard abortion industry. She survived death threats and court challenges but wouldn’t rest until women stopped dying. Dr Wainer reflects on the campaign she and her husband Bertram led from 1968.  Their efforts helped pave the way for safe abortion clinics to open in 1973 and challenged outdated laws that put women's lives at risk. 

This powerful conversation explores the role of archives and inquest records in preserving women's history and the people behind social change. 

Warning. This episode mentions death as a result of abortion and may be upsetting for some listeners.

Listen now on Spotify or via the link in our bio. 

#Archives #History #PublicRecordOfficeVictoria #Podcast #WomensHistory #AustralianHistory #SocialChange #LookHistoryInTheEye #JoWainerAM 

Produced by Public Record Office Victoria. Presented by Kate Follington. 

Sound mixing by Jack Palmer Studios 

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

Behind Melbourne’s fading advertisements lie stories that were never meant to survive. In this talk, author and historian Sean Reynolds uncovers the hidden lives of women revealed through his Melbourne Ghost Signs research - stories found not only on walls, but in rate books, police files, directories, inquests, and the deep holdings of PROV. Recorded live at the Victorian Archives Centre in February 2026.

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

What secrets do Melbourne's ghost signs hold? Join us as Sean Reynolds, the Instagram-famous 'ghost sign guy' shares tales of roving North Melbourne  unveiling the vibrant history embedded in every brush stroke. We pause at enchanting spots like the Maison Marnay Brandy sign, and learn about Sidney Albert Cheney, the automotive pioneer who helped bring Chevrolet and Morris to Australian roads. This is a recording from Rare Book Week 2024.

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

Unravel the enigma of the 'Sandy Point Man'. Discover how advanced forensic techniques combined with historical detective work put a name to a skeleton discovered off the coast of Victoria in 2017. With Victorian forensic experts Dr. Dadna Hartman and Dr. Runa Daniel leading the charge, hear how they applied complex methods like bomb pulse dating and forensic genetic genealogy to give the body a name and reveal what happened the day he disappeared.

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

Join us as we journey into the profound stories of Australian women who ventured to the United States during the 1920s and 1930s, leaving their mark on the art world, sport, politics, and society. With historian Dr. Yves Rees as our guide, we uncover research into pioneering artist Mary Cecil Allen, Judge May Lahey, surfer and teacher Isabel Letham and social economist Persia Campbell, whose remarkable achievements built bridges across the Pacific before the second world war tied the knot. A lecture by Dr Rees following the publication of their book Travelling To Tomorrow.  

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

The Brookside Reformatory for Girls was in Cape Clear, ten miles from Scarsdale Victoria. Award-winning education journalist Erica Cervini delves into its cruel and unusual treatment of girls, their multiple escapes, and what we can learn from its ultimate failure. The Brookside girls is episode 14 of Look history in the eye. Erica recently wrote an article for Public Record Office Victoria's Provenance Journal 

Presented by Tara Oldfield and Public Record Office Victoria.

The featured song, A bird in a gilded cage, is performed by Tara Oldfield (vocals) and Sarah Harris (piano). Additional voice acting is done by Natasha Cantwell, Asa Letourneau and Sebastian Gurciullo.

Please note that this episode contains details of child abuse in institutional care and may be upsetting for some listeners.

Visit the episode page to see original records related to the Brookside girls, and for a link to Erica's Provenance article: https://prov.vic.gov.au/podcast-episode-14-brookside-girls

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

Prepare to journey back in time to the captivating, yet controversial world of phrenology, with our guest Dr. Alexandra Roginski. This episode takes you from the hustle and bustle of public readings and fortune-tellers in Melbourne's Eastern Arcade to the somber tale of the Gunn-Alley Murder. We shed light on the rise and fall of phrenology, and delve into the intriguing parallels between phrenology and modern facial analysis technology and artificial intelligence.

With Australian technology researchers Chris O'Neil and Edward Santow we explore some of the ethical concerns surrounding this technology, including its potential for discrimination and false assumptions.

SPEAKERS

Podcast Presenter Kate Follington, Dr Alexandra Roginski, Christopher O'Neil,  Professor Edward Santow. 

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

Hold on to your hats as we unearth the audacious story of Fanny Finch, an English emigrant who journeyed to Australia in the 1830s. Finch, a woman of colour, dodged open mine shafts and drunken men to succeed as a businesswoman and a trailblazer for women's rights in her efforts to survive as a single mother.  We also bring to light how her life inspired an award-winning stage play, which clinched the Victorian Community History Award for innovative historical interpretation in 2021.

Our special guests, historian Kasey Sinclair from La Trobe University and Fanny Finch's descendants, Bill and Alice Garner, offer their unique perspectives in tracing the life of this tenacious woman.

Note: In this episode the host describes Finding Fanny Finch as a 2022 Victorian Community History Award-winning project. Finding Fanny Finch actually won in 2021 and performed at the 2022 award ceremony. See photos of their 2022 performance here. 

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

This gripping family memoir shares Jonathan Butler's investigation into the unsolved murder of his serviceman relative, Warwick Meale. It shines fresh light on Australia’s queer military history. Author, Jonathan Butler shares insight into his book The Boy in the Dress. 

Today’s episode is a recording of our Melbourne Writers Festival event from 2022 with author Jonathan Butler in conversation with Dr Yves Rees. Dr Rees is an historian at La Trobe University and co-host of the Archive Fever podcast. 

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast

The Australian gold rush years saw a boom in immigration and prosperity, but it wasn’t always a harmonious time. Racist attitudes towards Chinese people in Victoria led to discriminatory legislation. Standing up against this oppression, thousands of Chinese people presented petitions to government. These petitions are some of Victoria’s earliest examples of activism and they provide a rare opportunity to capture Chinese perspectives and their experiences in the young colony. This is a recording of a guest lecture by Anna Kyi for History Month 2022. 

This podcast is produced by Public Record Office Victoria, the archive of the state government of Victoria. To view the podcast homepage and all episodes, and to view records related to this episode go to https://prov.vic.gov.au/look-history-eye-podcast