Gary Presland facts for kids

Gary Presland is an Australian archaeologist and writer. He studies the past, especially the history of Aboriginal people and nature in Melbourne. He has written many books about these topics.

Gary studied history at La Trobe University from 1973 to 1976. Later, he studied archaeology at the University of London from 1977 to 1979. From 1983 to 1988, he worked at the Victoria Archaeological Survey. This is where he started focusing on the history of Melbourne.

Gary was a Thomas Ramsay Science and Humanities Fellow at Museum Victoria in 2001.

Understanding Melbourne's Past

One of Gary's important projects was working with the journals of George Augustus Robinson. Robinson was a protector of Aboriginal people in the Port Phillip District from 1839 to 1849. Gary carefully copied and edited these important journals.

In 2005, Gary earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Melbourne. His research helped us understand what Melbourne's natural environment was like before Europeans arrived.

Involvement with Societies

Gary Presland has been very active in the Archaeological and Anthropological Society of Victoria since 1972. He was the president of this society in 1984 and 1985. He also edited their journal, The Artefact.

Gary is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. Since 2003, he has helped edit The Victorian Naturalist. This is a journal from the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. His recent research has focused on the early history of Melbourne. He is currently the president of the Box Hill Historical Society.

Works

Gary Presland has written many books about Australian history and archaeology. Here are some of his works:

• The first residents of Melbourne's western region, published by Melbourne's Living Museum of the West/City of Footscray, 1987. This book explores the first people who lived in Melbourne's western areas.
• (with Helen Harris) Cops and Robbers: a guide to researching police and criminal records in 19th century Victoria, 1991. This guide helps people research old police and crime records.
• For God’s sake, send the Trackers : a history of Queensland trackers and Victoria Police, 1998. This book tells the story of Aboriginal trackers who worked with the police.
• Scratching the Surface: A brief history of the Victoria Archaeological Survey 1972-1995, 2000. This book gives a short history of the Victoria Archaeological Survey.
• Aboriginal Melbourne - The Lost Land of the Kulin, 2001. This book explores the history of the Kulin people, who are the traditional owners of Melbourne.
• The Place for a Village: how nature has shaped the city of Melbourne, 2009. This book explains how Melbourne's natural environment influenced the city's development. It won the 2009 Victorian Community History Awards for Best Book.
• First People: the Eastern Kulin of Melbourne, Port Phillip and Central Victoria, 2010. This book focuses on the Eastern Kulin people in the Melbourne and Port Phillip areas.
• Understanding our natural environment: the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 1880-2015, 2016. This book tells the story of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. It was recognized at the 2016 Victorian Community History Awards.