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Early last century, Alice Duncan-Kemp grew up on a remote Queensland cattle station. Later she would write down her childhood memories of learning from Aboriginal women and men at home on their own Country. In her books, she evoked a rich parallel universe of storytelling and lore, which she felt privileged to witness. She also spoke of an informal local treaty that curbed the violence of the frontier.
What are we to make of 'Alice's dreaming' today? Master historian and writer Tom Griffiths takes us into – and beyond – this revelatory encounter. Through it we glimpse the turmoil of a complex and tragic frontier, and a remarkable story of survival and cultural resilience. In recent years, the Mithaka people Alice lived among and wrote about have reclaimed their Country, drawing in part on her writing to support their claims.
Alice's dreaming shows how moving, intimate – and unexpected – history can be.
Join us for what will be an extraordinary conversation with Tom Griffiths about Alice Duncan-Kemp's story. Tom will be in conversation with literary legend, Cate Kennedy.
About the Author :
Tom Griffiths is the W K Hancock Professor of History at the Australian National University and his books include Slicing the Silence: Voyaging to Antarctica and The Art of Time Travel: Historians and Their Craft . His books and essays have won prizes in literature, history, science, politics and journalism, including the Prime Minister’s Prize for Australian History, the Alfred Deakin Prize for an Essay Advancing Public Debate, and the Douglas Stewart and Nettie Palmer Prizes for Non-Fiction.
Alice's dreaming is his most recent book.
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TUESday August 11th, 2026
6 00PM FOR A 6 30PM START AND 8 00 PM FINISH
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