Publications
The Lure of the Lash: Spectacular Violence and White Ethnonationalism at an Australian Convict Site
This study examines the transformation of Port Arthur Penal Settlement, a site of brutal convict labor in Tasmania, into a tourist destination that spectacularizes its violent history. Unlike U.S. plantations that suppress their pasts, Australian penal sites embrace brutality as spectacle, reflecting a unique form of white ethnonationalism where tourists identify with convicts rather than their oppressors. The research explores how this duality—revelry in violence and meticulous historical unearthing—coexists within the site's reinvention, highlighting the complexities of heritage narratives in Australia.
A bottom-up method for remixing narratives for virtual heritage experiences
A bottom-up approach for creating engaging virtual heritage experiences has been demonstrated, offering a method to remix narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. This study analyzed user-generated content, tourism materials, and historical data from 11 UNESCO World Heritage Australian Convict Sites using multimodal discourse analysis. The resulting interactive web documentary (iDoc) prototype revealed narrative themes aligned with prospective cultural heritage tourists' interests, providing a creative alternative to top-down narratives that often lack public engagement. This methodology ensures virtual experiences reflect broader societal perspectives while preserving historical integrity.
Legacies of Sectarianism and the Convict Past in Australia
Australia's unique embrace of its convict past, contrasting with the shame felt in other Western democracies, stems from a sectarian undercurrent that shaped its secular political culture. This study reveals how sympathy for convicts, often overlooked in national narratives, reflects broader tensions between the Catholic clergy and the Anglican Evangelical establishment during the 18th and 19th centuries. By analyzing historical records and cultural attitudes, it highlights the role of sectarianism in redefining moral order and public perception, offering new insights into Australia's societal evolution.
Australian Convict Sites and the Heritage of Adaptation: The Case of Newcastle's Coal River Heritage Precinct
A significant insight from this study is that the historical significance of Australia's convict heritage can be found not only in surviving material remains but also in what has been destroyed, highlighting a process of adaptation and transformation over time. The research focuses on Newcastle’s Coal River Heritage Precinct, which was excluded from the Australian Government’s successful nomination of eleven ‘convict sites’ for World Heritage listing due to severe erosion of its material remains. By analyzing this case study, the authors argue that more progressive approaches are needed to fully capture the legacies of Australia's convict past, as traditional heritage criteria may overlook such adaptive processes. The study employs a comparative and reflective approach, drawing lessons from the excluded site to suggest broader implications for how convict history is preserved and interpreted.
A Preliminary Report on Archaeological Investigations at Two Western Australian Regional Convict Depots
Archaeological excavations at two Western Australian regional convict depots, York and Toodyay, revealed significant insights into the structural diversity and construction techniques of 19th-century convict-era buildings. The study uncovered four structures in York, including a previously unknown privy, and seven in Toodyay, such as barracks, a hospital, and the Superintendent’s quarters. These findings highlight the variability in construction styles, attributed to limited supervision and fluctuating skill levels among the convict workforce. Despite the challenges in confidently attributing deposits to the convict era—with less than 30% of contexts and only about 10% of deposits definitively linked—the research provides a rare glimpse into the material culture and lifeways of convict depots, offering new perspectives on the regional characteristics of Australia’s convict system.
Australian Prison Tourism: A Question of Narrative Integrity
Prison tourism in Australia, rooted in the nation's history as a penal colony, presents unique challenges to narrative integrity at former prison sites. The study reveals that prevailing social attitudes and stakeholder influences skew historical narratives, undermining the sites' authenticity and social significance. This analysis highlights the need for balanced storytelling to preserve the historical and cultural integrity of these UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
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