Jane Lydon

Jane Lydon is the Wesfarmers Chair in Australian History at the School of Humanities, Discipline of History at The University of Western Australia. Her research focuses on Australia’s colonial past and its legacies, particularly anti-slavery, humanitarianism, and human rights. She leads major projects like the ARC-funded 'Australian Legacies of British Slavery: Capital, Land and Labour' and collaborates on exhibitions such as Chains of Empire at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Her teaching includes courses on Australian colonial history, family history, and the intersections of slavery and settler colonialism. Lydon’s work has contributed to decolonizing heritage practices and academic frameworks. She is actively involved in editorial boards for journals like Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History and chairs the Australian Studies Research Network.

Lydon’s research interests span visual culture, Indigenous sovereignty, and the transnational dimensions of anti-slavery movements. Her book Anti-Slavery and Australia was shortlisted for the Paul E. Lovejoy Prize and has been widely acclaimed for its analysis of slavery’s legacies in Australia.

Awards and Recognition:

• 2025 Patricia Grimshaw Prize for Best Article
• 2022 School of Humanities Senior Research Award
• 2016 Distinguished Contribution to Photography and Anthropology

Grants and Projects:

• ARC Grant DP240101389 (2024–2026)
• Everyday Heritage (LP200301446)
• Collaborations on exhibitions and heritage projects

Her work bridges academia and public engagement, including initiatives like the People Australia project and the Everyday Heritage conference. Lydon’s contributions to Australian historiography emphasize critical reflections on colonialism and Indigenous sovereignty.