Dr Damien Williams
Research Fellow, National Centre for Australian Studies
BA (Melb), PhD (Melb)
View contact details in Monash Staff Directory
Biography
Damien Williams is an historian with strong interests in the religious, social and political history of Australia and the British world. He joined Monash University in 2010 and moved to the National Centre for Australian Studies in 2011. His work at the Centre focuses on the intersection between history and heritage in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
Damien has taught British and Australian history at the University of Melbourne, where he graduated with a PhD in the School of Historical Studies in 2010. His thesis, entitled "The Sacramental Bloke: A History of the National Council of Priests of Australia, 1969-2009," is the first major study of a voluntary organisation of Roman Catholic clergy in Australia. In 2010, a condensed version of this history was published by John Garratt (available at http://tinyurl.com/4xrcf3h). A longer version is in preparation for Monash University Publishing.
Besides his work at Monash, Damien has been assisting Associate Professor Melanie Oppenheimer at the University of New England on the centenary history of the Australian Red Cross. A book arising from that research is due for publication in 2013.
Research interests
- Religion and religious cultures in Australia and the empire
- History and heritage; regional and local histories
- Food production and food cultures
- Australian history in general
Publications
Books
Sign of Unity, Instrument of Peace: A Short History of the National Council of Priests of Australia (Mulgrave, Vic.: John Garratt, 2010). ISBN 9781920682224
Book length monograph arising from PhD (forthcoming publication from Monash University Publishing)
Refereed articles
Williams, D., Reeves, K. (2011) "Made in China: Chinese-Australian heritage places, objects and stories". Historic Environment, vol. 23, no. 2 (A ranked journal in the current ERA). Forthcoming September 2011.
Williams, D. (2011) "Perspectives on Chinese-Australian heritage: an interview with Mark Wang". Historic Environment, vol. 23, no. 2. Forthcoming September 2011.
Williams, D. "Unity and Exclusion in the Roman Catholic Priesthood: explaining the creation of the National Council of Priests of Australia" Journal of Religious History (accepted for publication 10 April 2011)
Reviews
These have been published in History Australia, overland, Melbourne Historical Journal and elsewhere.
Professional memberships and affiliations
Australian Historical Association
Australia International Tourism Research Unit (affiliate)
