HCSA Historian Awards
Historian Awards
The HCSA Historian Awards were launched in 2012, and seek to recognise the outstanding achievements of an individual or group who have made a major contribution in the field of history in South Australia. These achievements can encompass, but are not limited to, history teaching, historical research and scholarship, teaching, raising community awareness of our history and heritage (for example through presentations, exhibitions, traditional and digital publications), and strengthening the profile of history.
The awards may be awarded in the following categories:
Historian of the Year
Emerging Historian
Life Long Historian
Digital Technologies Award
Contribution to Regional or Community History (Individual or Group)
Oral History Excellence (see below)
The Oral History Excellence Award
Since 2021-2022, in conjunction with Oral History Australia SA/NT, the Oral History Excellence Award has been included as part of the HCSA Historian Awards. This award recognises the best oral history presentation, in any format, that uses first person interviews with individuals encompassing unique life experiences and memories. The nominee can be either an individual or a group.
2025 Historian Awards
Historian of the Year: Dr. Heidi Ing
In recent years, Dr Ing has launched History at the Historian, a successful networking series that brings experts and enthusiasts together in the iconic city pub. She’s the co-creator of The House of History, a major seminar stream for this year’s History Festival. She has also supported academic research across Adelaide’s three major universities, as well as a landmark survey into South Australia’s history research landscape. She’s active in almost a dozen history organisations spanning genealogy, archives, pioneering history, medical heritage and community training.
Emerging Historian: Kelly Bonato
For transforming historic South Australian photographs through digital colourisation and building a thriving online history community via her platform A Colourful History.
Life Long Historian: Emeritus Professor Margaret Allen
A pioneering historian who has dedicated 60 years (and counting) to the advancement and celebration of women’s rights and education in South Australia.
Digital Technologies Award: Martindale Stories Website Team
For their innovative ‘slow digitisation’ project using immersive 3D models and community-led storytelling, including strong partnerships with Ngadjuri Elders.
Check out their website here.
Contribution to Regional or Community History: Kimba & Gawler Ranges Historical Society
For over 40 years of dedicated volunteer service preserving regional heritage through museum collections, school partnerships and local history projects.
Oral History Excellence: Madeleine Regan
For her long-standing commitment to documenting migrant histories through oral testimony, particularly her acclaimed project on Veneto market gardeners in Adelaide.
Check out her website, Veneto Market Gardeners 1927.
Wakefield Press Essay Prize: Dr André Brett
For his essay “So Unusual, So Horrible, and So Rapid in the Fatal Result”: The Death of James Garden Ramsay and Summertime Railway Travel in Colonial Australia.
This compelling essay uses the story of a tragic accident to illuminate the broader experiences and environmental challenges of summertime railway travel in colonial South Australia, offering unique insights into evolving safety standards, climate responses and the realities of travel during the late nineteenth century.
2024 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Dr Julie Collins
South Australian Lifelong Historian Award: jointly awarded to Meredith Satchell and Martin Walker
Emerging South Australian Historian Award: Samuel Doering
South Australian Digital Technologies History Award: Dan Schmidt
Contribution to South Australian Regional or Community History Award: Tailem Bend Historians Association
Oral History Excellence Award: Dr Christeen Schoepf
Read about the winners and their work here.
2023 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Stephen Oppes
South Australian Lifelong Historian Award: jointly awarded to Prof Peter Monteath and Dr Philip Jones
Emerging South Australian Historian Award: Lainie Anderson
South Australian Digital Technologies History Award: Wayne Groom and Dr Carolyn Bilsborow
Contribution to South Australian Regional or Community History Award: Alan Jones
Oral History Excellence Award: Ricky Koopman and Danni Reade
Read about the winners and their work here.
2022 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Adam Dutkiewicz
South Australian Lifelong Historian Award: Paul Mazourek
Contribution to South Australian Regional or Community History Award: The Gumeracha & District History Centre
Oral History Excellence Award: Helen Meyer
Read about the winners and their work here.
2021 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Will Sergeant
South Australian Lifelong Historian Award: Don Loffler, Motor Industry and Holden (GMH)
Emerging South Australian Historian Award: Dr Anne Black
South Australian Digital Technologies History Award: Dr Kristy Kokegei
Contribution to South Australian Regional or Community History Award: Jeffrey Noble
Read about the winners and their work here.
2020 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Paddy O’Toole
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: Barbara J. Lodge
Emerging South Australian Historian Award: Rachel Bleeze
South Australian Regional Historian Award: Eric Fuss of Burra
Read about the winners and their work here.
2019 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Robert Kearney OAM
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: jointly awarded to Dr Pauling Payne and Uncle Lewis Yerloburka O’Brien OA
Emerging South Australian Historian Award: Stuart Symons
South Australian Regional Historian Award: Helen Hennessey
2018 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Romain Fathi
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: Vivienne Szekeres
Emerging South Australian Historian Award: Jointly awarded to Steven Anderson, and the AdeLOL team, Dan Schmidt and Tom Stewart
South Australian Regional Historian Award: Judy Murdoch
2017 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Philip Payton
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: jointly awarded to Lois Zweck and Bernard Whimpress
Emerging South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Allen Tiller
South Australian Regional History Award: Gill Starks
2016 Awards
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: jointly awarded to Brian Samuels and Emeritus Professor Wilfrid Prest
Emerging South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Ms Cendall Slattery
South Australian Regional History Award: Mr Greg Slattery
2015 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Mr Peter Donovan
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: jointly awarded to Mr Tom Gara and Mr Graham Jaunay
Emerging South Australian Historian of the Year: Ms Carly Osborn
South Australian Regional History Award: Mr John Mannion
2014 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Ms June Edwards
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: Dr Brian Dickey
Emerging South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Ms Christeen Schoepf
South Australian Regional History Award: Ms Paula Bartsch
2013 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Ms Patricia Sumerling
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: Mr Ron Gibbs
Emerging South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Ms Elspeth Grant
2012 Awards
South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Professor Eric Richards
South Australian Lifelong History Achievement Award: Dr Susan Marsden
Young South Australian Historian of the Year Award: Ms Skye Krichauff
