Join the Robert Menzies Institute for an evening exploring how influential Scottish thinkers Adam Smith and Robert Burns contributed to the burgeoning of Australia’s liberal democracy, as a part of Melbourne Tartan Festival.

Australia’s Scottish heritage is often celebrated for its immense cultural legacy, but less attention has been paid to the way Scottish thought has fundamentally shaped our nation.

When the First Fleet arrived on our shores in 1788, Scotland was in the middle of an intellectual flourishing known as the Scottish Enlightenment – the fruits of which were transported to the antipodes.

As the proud Scots-Australian Robert Menzies once said: “The Scots throughout modern history have shown that wherever they go in the world they make a contribution to the country to which they have gone and to the good order and government of that country.”

The evening will feature two speakers: Professor Chris Berg, who will speak on Adam Smith and Dr David Kemp AC, who will speak on Robert Burns.

Professor Chris Berg, Berg is the author of ‘Adam Smith and Jeremy Bentham in the Australian Colonies’ an academic journal article published in the History of Economic Review in 2017.

Dr David Kemp AC, Kemp is a leading authority on Australian liberalism whose book The Land of Dreams discusses the influence of the Scottish Enlightenment in shaping Australia.

Date: Wednesday 23 July 2025
Time: 5;30pm-7pm
Venue: Robert Menzies Museum, East Wing, Old Quad, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010
Tickets: FREE for members / $30 for non-members. Book HERE

The event includes a fun FREE whisky tasting with Angus Gillies, former executive producer of Whiskeria Magazine.