Bonus Episode 6: What can objects tell us about the past?
Axel Clark, Anna Clark, Clare Wright and Kiera Lindsey (right) recording this episode live at Adelaide Writers Festival Schools Day in February 2025.
How can historical objects tell us about the past? And since objects don’t talk, how can we learn about them?
This is a bonus episode for kids. You’ll hear Professor Anna Clark, Professor Clare Wright, host Axel Clark, public historian Dr Kiera Lindsey and primary school students who attended on the live event.
It was recorded live on Kaurna Country for the 2025 Schools Day of Adelaide Writers Week.
As you listen, you’ll learn…
What object did historian Kiera Lindsey bring with her, and why is it special to her?
How does a gold pan help us understand life during the gold rush?
What everyday objects from today might become historical artefacts in the future?
Why do museums collect objects and artefacts?
What can one object tell us about exploration in Australia during the 1860s?
What strange things did Burke and Wills bring on their expedition?
And what is so special about a pair of South Australian pink shorts?
You’ll hear students describing what objects are special to them, and playing guessing games with objects - including one that's in the Guinness Book of World Records!
Objects
The objects in this episode can be found at the National Museum of Australia:
And at the History Trust of South Australia:
Transcript
Voices
Anna Clark is a Professor of History at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Clare Wright is a Professor of History and Public Engagement at La Trobe University.
Kiera Lindsey is South Australia’s History Advocate and is a creative historian who works across the public and academic sectors.
How to cite this episode:
Clark, A., Curtis, J., Wright, C., & Jorgensen, B. (2024, June 11). ‘What can objects tell us about the past?’. Hey History! (Season 1). UTS Impact Studios. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11557916