Adele Wessell

Adele Wessell is an Associate Professor in History at Southern Cross University, affiliated with the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts. She is based at the Lismore campus and holds a PhD and BA(Hons) in History from the University of New South Wales. Her academic work bridges history, environmental studies, and community engagement.

Her research focuses on Environmental History, particularly in the Northern Rivers region of Australia. Key themes include the history of agriculture, land use, food systems as communication, nonhuman animals, and tastescapes. She also investigates regional and community archives and their role in understanding climate change impacts and cultural memory.

Adele is actively engaged in community-based research and teaching, emphasizing community-engaged learning. She supervises higher degree research students in Australian History and related projects. Though no specific publications are listed, her scholarly output centers on environmental and regional history, with interdisciplinary connections to geography and sustainability.

Notable recognition includes:

• Merewether Fellow, State Library of NSW (2024)

She teaches courses in Australian History and leads community engagement initiatives. Her work integrates archival research, oral history, and participatory methodologies to support regional knowledge preservation and environmental awareness.