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Objects of the Federation
The objects of the Federation as set out in its constitution are:
to promote the views of Constituents and give a national focus to matters of general concern to Constituents especially with regard to major issues of cultural heritage.
to encourage the study of Australian history, the preservation and publication of historical material and, for those objects to encourage public access to historical material;
to promote communication and mutual assistance within the historical society movement;
to assist the work of Constituents;
to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas on historical matters throughout Australia,

Constituents/Membership
The Constituents or members of the Federation are:
the Royal Australian Historical Society, incorporated in NSW,
the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, incorporated in Victoria,
the Royal Historical Society of Queensland, incorporated in Queensland,
the Royal Western Australian Historical Society, incorporated in Western Australia,
the History Trust of South Australia.
the Tasmanian Historical Research Association, incorporated in Tasmania,
the Canberra and District Historical Society, incorporated in the ACT, and
the Northern Territory Historical Society, incorporated in the Northern Territory.
There is also provision in the constitution for granting associate membership of the Federation to other historical societies that subscribe to the Constitution and Regulations of the Federation.

The Federation and the community historical society movement
The community historical society movement in Australia embraces all those community-based organisations that seek to further the study and understanding of Australian history in their local environment. Not all these societies are affiliated in any way with the members of the federation. Indeed, in South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory, there is no society that offers affiliation for other societies in the region. However, the Federation links with the SA, NT and TAS local groups through the Historical Society of the NT, the Tasmanian Historical Research Association and SA History Trust and individually where relevant. Even in the other states, not all historical societies are affiliated with the major organisations that constitute the Federation.
Historical societies are usually constituted as voluntary, incorporated non-profit making bodies in the public sphere. As such they are reliant on funding and support from government bodies, particularly local councils who see them as repositories of the collective memory of a town or district, and increasingly, as providers of displays and other facilities that may serve as foci of tourist interest. About a quarter of them are totally dependent upon grants while admissions, fundraising activities and other donations also form significant sources of funding. Significantly, sale of publications (many of which they produce themselves) contribute to the income of about twenty percent of societies.
A survey of historical societies conducted by the Federation in 2000 indicated that about 10 percent of historical societies are based in or near the great metropolitan concentrations of population. The remainder is fairly evenly distributed across their respective states. The bulk of historical organisations, therefore, are in regional areas and they provide a significant proportion of the cultural effort in those areas. They also link to Councils and Art Societies there.
Historical societies are generally relatively small. Most of them number between twenty-five and forty members. Our estimate of the total number of societies (affiliated and not affiliated) in Australia is approximately one thousand. On this basis, the estimated size of the local historical society movement in contact with the Federation is between 25,000 and 40,000 individuals, although the total population involved in community history activities could be as high as 100,000
Eighty percent of societies operate out of separate premises often with an attached museum or collection of some kind. From the perspective of meeting satisfactory collection management standards, these premises vary in standard from quite adequate to very inadequate. Some 45 percent were considered less than satisfactory. Those societies that do not have premises of their own meet regularly in other venues - libraries, meeting rooms, council halls or private homes.
The Federation sees its role to support all historical societies, not only those associated through affiliation.
Strategic Direction
The Federation, in line with its objectives aims to undertake activities that:
improve the standard of historical research by historical societies; and
support the viability of historical societies and the movement as a whole.
In line with this general outlook the Federation undertakes its activities in the following major areas:
Promoting the historical society movement
Projects, membership services and programs
Revenue generation
Infrastructure systems and management
Recent Activities
In line with this strategic direction the some of the major activities of the Federation over the last three years include:
Promoting the historical society movement
The Federation takes a strategic interest in national and state affairs in so far as they affect the work of the community history movement. It has done this by:
Active membership of the National Cultural Heritage Forum set up to advise the Minister for Environment and Heritage on heritage matters,
Being a founding member of the Regional Cultural Alliance to promote cultural activities for remote rural and regional Australians,
Participating in discussions concerning the establishment of the National Collections Advisory Forum,
Making representations to Commonwealth and State Ministers, Universities and other bodies on a wide range of issues of concern to the community history movement. This included, for example, submissions on the application of the various Archives Acts, the continuation of education for conservators, retention of the Noel Butlin Archives and operations of the major State Libraries.
Projects, membership services and programs
Commissioning, publication and distribution of the following books:
Rechner, Judy Gale, FAHS Heritage Handbook: A Guide for historical Societies (2002). This book sets out the relevant heritage legislation, criteria, and processes for each legislative jurisdiction in Australia. It gives information on sources of information, assistance and even grants for heritage work in Australia.
Wilson,Bronwyn, Looking to the Future: the Collection of Cultural material by Historical Societies (2002).
Tyler, William, Survey 2000: A report of the survey of member societies of the Federation of Australian Historical Societies, (2000). This survey was undertaken to help shape the future
The Federation has developed guides for historical societies to help them meet their responsibilities in relation to directors responsibilities and privacy legislation.
Work in Progress: two authors from Melbourne University have been commissioned to prepare a publication to provide guidance for historical societies on the publication of historical research. It is expected to have a draft by end of November.
These documents are available for refernce on this website or by contacting the Federation
We produce a newsletter for the information of member societies.
Revenue Generation
The Federation has sought funding through
Membership fees,
Sale of books, and
Grants from the Federal Government under the Grants to Voluntary Environmental and Heritage Organisations (GVEHO) scheme.
The federation has also made submissions to the government in its review of the GVEHO scheme.  It is also preparing a submission for the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into the maintenance of Australia's built heritage.
Infrastructure systems and management
The federation consists of an executive committee representing all constituent bodies. As well as its annual General Meeting, it meets several times a year by teleconference.
Office bearers are:
President: Dr Helen Henderson
Hon. Secretary: Mrs Lennie McCall
Hon. Treasurer: Dr Lyn Reid
Senior Vice-President: Prof. Ian Jack
Vice-President: Dr. Bev Phelts
Immediate Past President: Dr Ruth Kerr OAM
It employs the services of Mr John Davies on a part time basis as its Administrative Officer.