The Shape of Australian History: Mark McKenna & Jamie Dunk

Is it possible to write a singular story about Australia?

In his Shortest History of Australia (Black Inc., 2025), eminent historian Mark McKenna distils hundreds of years of post-encounter and many thousands of years of First Nations history into a concise but wide-ranging, thoughtful, generous history. As we learn not only from First Nations storytellers but all those who have been marginalised by conventional histories, we need new ways of understanding who we are and where we have come from. In this McKenna includes Country itself as historical actor – a leading player in our story rather than its backdrop. This is a bold, creative, and short book that presents Australia in striking new light. ‘Original, eloquent and moving,’ writes Tom Griffiths on the book’s jacket, ‘this book takes us on ‘a revelatory journey’.

This conversation will be held in-person at St James’ King Street and streamed live. Please join us for refreshments in the crypt after the event.