It is one hundred years since a soldier settlement scheme was established in Australia, part of a suite of repatriation policies for ex-servicemen and women returning from World War I.

Almost 40,000 soldiers and a few nurses took up the opportunity to chance their luck and to carve out a living with a block of land on the margins of our cities to the vast interiors of our continent.

The scheme has largely been considered a failure and it is easy to see why. Bureaucratic bungling, government bickering, too small blocks, poor seasons, environmental degradation and crippling debts saw thousands of soldier settlers admit defeat and walk off their blocks.

Yet, as Professor Oppenheimer will suggest, there is another story of soldier settlement.

In this lecture, Professor Oppenheimer will pursue the stories of the many thousands of soldier settlers who, with their families, managed to survive on their blocks through the testing 1920s and depression of the 1930s. Some descendants of soldier settlers still farm their land today.

Taking us through the factors for ‘success’ she will argue that by examining this contrasting narrative we gain a better understanding of the complexities and travails of the soldier settlement experience.

About Professor Melanie Oppenheimer

Professor Melanie Oppenheimer is a twentieth-century Australian historian with a special interest in voluntary action, gender and war. She was appointed Professor of History at Flinders
University in July 2013.

She also currently holds an appointment as Dean of the School of History and International Relations.

Professor Oppenheimer is the author of six sole-authored books; four edited books as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters. Her latest monograph, The Last Battle: Soldier settlement in Australia 1916-1939 (Cambridge University Press) is co-authored with Monash University’s Professor of History and Australian Studies, Bruce Scates, and will be launched on 11 November in Canberra.

The research for this book was carried out with the assistance of an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and State Records NSW.

Professor Oppenheimer is a member of the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts, and is currently working on three ARC projects, including one examining the history of the Australian Assistance Plan of the 1970s.

Her high impact research is internationally recognised and call for her research by government, not-for-profit organisations, in commissioned papers, and by politicians and sector representatives testifies to the innovation and impact of Professor Oppenheimer’s research.

She is passionate about her work and seeks to contribute to the academic, social and political dialogue of the impact of Australian History on contemporary life. This includes media work, serving on a range of government, professional and community committees, such as her work as an Australian Red Cross Ambassador.

When: Wednesday 16 November, 5.30-6.45pm
Where: Flinders University, 182 Victoria Square, Lecture Theatre 1 (Level 1)

Register online here.