This Afternoon Light Live features our host Georgina Downer with Alex McDermott, curator of our new exhibition on Robert Menzies: The Man Who Made Modern Australia.

The discussion will explore what he learnt of Menzies, why he dedicated a room to his early life and influences, and how he oriented his public achievements around his microphone, desk and movie camera. Join this discussion so that visiting the exhibition becomes meaningful as well as experiential.

Alex McDermott is the Curator at the Robert Menzies Institute. An author, historian and Executive Producer, his passion is writing histories which tell the pivotal stories that help us understand how we came to be who we are today.

We invite you to join us online OR attend in person (if you are in Melbourne) at the Robert Menzies Institute by registering via Eventbrite.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026
Time: 3pm-4pm (AEST)
Venue: Live Online over Zoom/ Robert Menzies Institute, Old Quad, East Wing, University of Melbourne, Parkville (for live audience).
Tickets: FREE registration to join online available HERE/ To attend in person, register HERE (limited seating)

This is a non-catered event.

Alex and Georgina will talk for the first 30 min, and the next 30 min will be audience Q&A.

ABOUT ALEX MCDERMOTT

Alex was Historical Curator for the “Democracy DNA” exhibition [2022] at the Museum of Australian Democracy, authored Australian History For Dummies[2022] and various commissioned histories which explore the crucial role played by civic associations in Australia’s democratic history, such as Of no personal influence: how people of common enterprise unexpectedly shaped Australia[2015] to mark the 175th anniversary of Australian Unity.

Across more than two decades as a public historian he has contributed his expertise to Screen Australia, State Library of Victoria, La Trobe University, the Institute of Public Affairs, Channel 7, SBS, ABC, Sky News Documentaries and many other organisations. Alex studied under John Hirst and authored one of the forewords for the recent compilation John Hirst: Selected Writings, published by Black Inc.