Unique IDAG-0198DescriptionOn 11 November, 1985 Council resolved to establish a Sesquicentenary History Project, to convene a meeting to discuss such a project in detail, draw up a brief and timetable and subsequently to report to Council with recommendations.
Dr Shirley Fitzgerald was subsequently appointed Sesquicentenary Historian, by Resolution of Council, on 10 November, 1986. She commenced duties on a consultancy basis on 2 February, 1987 on a three year contract, which was later renewed. Her initial brief was to 'write a history of the Council and the City of Sydney from 1842 to the present day'. Her temporary research assistant, Chris Keating, commenced duties on 7 April, 1987. Others involved in the project were Dr Hilary Golder and Paul Ashton.
Following the completion of the sequicentenary history project in 1993, the position of City Historian was created early in 1994. Dr Fitzgerald was retained on a consultancy until her appointment as fulltime City Historian in August 1997. On 19 February, 2001 Lisa Murray was appointed Research Historian to assist Dr Fitzgerald.
During the sesquicentenary project, the City Historian was requested to provide historical advice and information to Council management, and the Lord Mayor, in relation to current business matters such as streets naming and legal disputes. This grew to the extent it became a major distraction from the original aims of the project.
Creation of a full-time City Historian position was in part an acknowledgement that an in-house capacity to provide such advice and information was a valuable business support service for the Council. The City Historian is also responsible for: researching and writing books and other publications about the the history of the City, as commissioned by the Council; and giving public talks, media presentations and similar to promote the Council's involvement with the history of the City.
From 2007 the City Historian also headed the Dictionary of Sydney project.
CreationCommencement of duty by Dr Shirley Fitzgerald, 2 February 1987.
Start date2nd February 1987End date2nd February 1987Relationship legacy dataRELATED TO: Sydney City Council OR-0001 (02/02/1987)
RELATED TO: Council administration FN-0026 (02/02/1987) Source System ID198
