Geoffrey Bolton facts for kids

Geoffrey Curgenven Bolton AO, FASSA, FAHA (5 November 1931 – 3 September 2015) was an important Australian historian, teacher, and writer. He was known for making history interesting and easy to understand for many people. He wrote many books about Australia's past and taught at several universities.

Geoffrey Bolton's Life and Work

Geoffrey Bolton was born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1931. He went to Wesley College, Perth as a student. Later, he studied at the University of Western Australia and University of Oxford in England.

Bolton became a well-known historian. He wrote 13 books about Australian history. His last book was Land of Vision and Mirage: Western Australia since 1826. He also wrote Daphne Street, which looked at national history through the story of a local street.

He often shared his knowledge on radio in Western Australia. He helped many people learn about the history of Western Australia and its social and political growth.

Setting Up the Australian Studies Centre

Part of Bolton's career involved setting up the Australian Studies Centre. This centre is now called the Menzies Centre. It is located at the University of London in the United Kingdom.

Work with Museums

Bolton was also the Chairperson of the Archaeology Advisory Committee for the Western Australian Maritime Museum. This shows his interest in preserving history.

University Leadership

He was a Fellow of several important historical and academic groups. These included the Royal Historical Society in London and the Australian Academy of the Humanities. From 2002 to 2006, he served as the Chancellor of Murdoch University. This is a very important leadership role at a university.

In 2008, Bolton published a short history of Western Australia. It covered the social, cultural, political, and economic growth of this isolated area since 1826.

Geoffrey Bolton passed away in Perth in 2015, at the age of 83. He was married to Carol Grattan and had two sons and five grandchildren.

Awards and Recognition

Geoffrey Bolton received many important awards for his work.

Officer of the Order of Australia

In 1984, he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia. This award recognized his excellent service to Australia, especially in education.

Centenary of Federation Prize

In 2001, Bolton won the Centenary of Federation prize. He received it at the New South Wales Premier's History Awards. This was for his book Edmund Barton: The One Man for the Job. This book was a biography of Australia's first Prime Minister. The prize celebrated major works that helped people understand Australia's political, social, and cultural issues during the Federation period.

The Geoffrey Bolton Lecture Series

Since 2004, the State Records Office of Western Australia has hosted The Geoffrey Bolton Lecture series. This series honors his work with the State Archive. It also recognizes his long use and promotion of historical records. The lectures encourage new ideas and discussions about history, culture, and society. They connect historical research to current issues.

Western Australian of the Year

In 2006, Bolton was named Western Australia's Australian of the Year. This award recognized his major contributions to Australian history and the community.

Memorials Honoring Geoffrey Bolton

Several places and things are named after Geoffrey Bolton to remember his contributions.

Geoffrey Bolton Avenue

In 2014, a new street was named Geoffrey Bolton Avenue. This street is part of the Elizabeth Quay waterfront development in Perth. It was named to honor Bolton's efforts to save, record, and teach the history of Western Australia.

The Geoffrey Bolton Library

On February 21, 2017, Murdoch University renamed its library. It is now called The Geoffrey Bolton Library. This was done to recognize Bolton's long connection with the university.

Geoffrey Bolton's Academic Career

Geoffrey Bolton had a long and successful career in universities.

• He studied at the University of Western Australia and University of Oxford.
• He was a Research Fellow at the Australian National University in 1957.
• He became a Senior Lecturer at Monash University in 1962.
• In 1966, he became a Professor of Modern History at the University of Western Australia.
• He was the first Professor of History at Murdoch University in 1973.
• He served as Pro Vice-Chancellor of Murdoch University from 1973 to 1975.
• He was Dean of the School of Social Inquiry at Murdoch University from 1976 to 1978.
• He was a Visiting Commonwealth Fellow at St John's College, Cambridge in 1978 and 1979.
• From 1982 to 1985, he was a Professor and head of the Australian Studies Centre at the University of London.
• In 1989, he became a Professor of Australian History at the University of Queensland.
• He also taught history at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia.
• He retired from teaching at universities in 1996.
• From July 2002 to November 2006, he was the Chancellor of Murdoch University.