We are delighted that esteemed historian Barbara Minchinton will deliver our September lecture based on the research for her latest book.

Madame Brussels was Melbourne’s most vilified brothel-keeper of the nineteenth century, but little has been known about Caroline Hodgson, the woman who played the role. There were no Visitors’ Books to reveal her networks, and few letters written in her own hand. Family material that came to light in 2018 provided some clues, and a German genealogist found others, but for her biography the details of her life in Melbourne were largely sourced from newspapers and government records. The story that emerged was the story of Melbourne’s sex industry from 1871 to its criminalisation in 1908.

Barbara Minchinton is a historian and independent researcher who has worked extensively with the collections of the Public Record Office Victoria as a volunteer. Her first book The Women of Little Lon: Sex Workers in Nineteenth-Century Melbourne won the Victorian Community History Publication Award for 2022. Barbara’s latest book, published in July 2024 by La Trobe University Press, is Madame Brussels: The Life and Times of Melbourne’s Most Notorious Woman.

Barbara’s books will be available for purchase on the night and Barbara is happy to sign copies.

Housekeeping

This event will be hybrid so presented in person in our rooms and also via ZOOM. Those purchasing Zoom tickets will be sent the log-in details 24hrs before the event.

An automatically generated confirmation of booking email is sent on booking – please check your Trash or Spam folders if this email does not turn up in your In Box.

As with most of our events, refreshments will be served from 5:30pm – 6pm when the lecture starts (the Zoom session also starts at 6pm). There will be Q&A at the end of the lecture.

Don Watson will be in conversation with Mark Kenny on his quarterly essay High Noon. Trump, Harris and America on the brink, in which Don offers a report from America that catches the madness and the politics of an election like no other.

This is a deeply historically informed, characteristically mordant account of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and a divided country. Watson considers how things reached this pass, and what might lie ahead.

An essential essay about a crucial moment of choice.

Don Watson was Prime Minister Paul Keating’s speechwriter and adviser 1992- 1996. He is the author of many award-winning and critically acclaimed books, including Caledonia Australis, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart, American Journeys, The Bush and The Passion of Private White.  He has twice won The Age Book of the Year, in addition to the National Biography Award, the Courier-Mail Book of the Year, the Alfred Deakin Essay Prize, the Australian Literary Studies Association Book of the Year, a Walkley Award, the New South Wales Premier’s Award, the Queensland Literary Award, and the Independent Booksellers Book of the Year (twice). 

Professor Mark Kenny is Director at the ANU Australian Studies Institute, where he hosts the popular podcast series 'Democracy Sausage with Mark Kenny'. Mark is the Canberra Times political analyst and a regular on the ABC's Insiders program, Sky News Agenda, and radio programs across the country.

Hear Joelle Gergis in conversation with Rod Campbell, Research Director Australia Institute to discuss her book Humanity's Moment and Quarterly Essay Highway to Hell.

Entry includes one signed copy of the book, wine and cheese.

Join us for a conversation with Don Watson about his Quarterly Essay High Noon.

Don Watson's High Noon offers a report from America that catches the madness and the politics of an election like no other.

This is a deeply historically informed, characteristically mordant account of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and a divided country. Watson considers how things reached this pass, and what might lie ahead.

An essential essay about a crucial moment of choice.

Don Watson is the author of many acclaimed books, including Caledonia Australis, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart, American Journeys and The Bush.

We are all watching the pending election in the US with great interest. Join us for a lively discussion as Don Watson offers a report from America that catches the madness and the politics of an election like no other.

In his latest Quarterly Essay High Noon, Watson offers a deeply historically informed, characteristically mordant account of a divided country. Watson considers how things reached this pass, and what might lie ahead.

Sean Kelly will join Watson in conversation.

Tickets for Quarterly Essay subscribers will be $10.00

Is the United States disintegrating?

High Noon is a historically informed, mordant account of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and a country approaching democratic high noon. From Los Angeles to New York, from Detroit to Kalamazoo, Watson observes America in all its diversity and conflict, reality and unreality.

Above all, he sees the threat posed by Trump and his movement, with its blend of menace and glee, Great Replacement theory and electoral malpractice. Do Harris and the Democrats have what it takes? Can America mend its divisions? Do enough of its voters even want to?

An essential essay about a crucial moment of choice.

Don Watson is the author of many acclaimed books, including Caledonia Australis, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart, American Journeys, The Bush, Watsonia and The Story of Australia.

Organised in partnership with Constant Reader Bookshop.

Don Watson offers a report from America that catches the madness and the politics of an election like no other.

This is a deeply historically informed, characteristically mordant account of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and a divided country. Watson considers how things reached this pass, and what might lie ahead.
An essential essay about a crucial moment of choice.

Don Watson is the author of many acclaimed books, including Caledonia Australis, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart, American Journeys and The Bush.

Don Watson offers a report from America that catches the madness and the politics of an election like no other.

This is a deeply historically informed, characteristically mordant account of Donald Trump, Kamala Harris and a divided country. Watson considers how things reached this pass, and what might lie ahead.

An essential essay about a crucial moment of choice.

Don Watson is the author of many acclaimed books, including Caledonia Australis, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart, American Journeys and The Bush.

Bookoccino will host an evening to discuss and dissect what the US Election means. Why is America so polarized? What explains Trump’s popularity? Is the country ready for a woman president? The electoral college? And what does it all mean for Australia?

The panel:
- Nick Bryant, author of The Forever War: America’s Unending Conflict With Itself
- Michael Green, head of the United States Studies Centre at Sydney University who once worked in the White House
- Don Watson, author of forthcoming Quarterly Essay High Noon 'that catches the madness and the politics of an election like no other’
- Julia Baird, journalist, author of Bright Shining, former anchor of 'The Drum'

The moderator:
- Raymond Bonner, former New York Times correspondent and co-owner of Bookoccino

A full 90 minutes, with plenty of time for questions. Submit your questions when you buy your tickets.

Drinks from 5.30pm, main event at 6:00pm.