7/6/02
The State Government has announced support for the largest history project to be undertaken in this State, with funding of $140,000 towards an Historical Encyclopaedia of Western Australia.
Local Government and Regional Development Minister Tom Stephens today launched the Historical Encyclopaedia of Western Australia Project at the University of WA.
Mr Stephens said the WA Regional Initiatives Scheme grant would contribute $90,000 towards the management, research, writing, and editing of the Historical Encyclopaedia.
In addition, the Constitutional Centre would be contributing $50,000 to the project.
"I am very happy to be supporting such an ambitious project, which will create a valuable resource demonstrating the rich and varied history of this State," the Minister said.
"It will provide a much-needed, centralised source of information that will foster, promote and encourage interest in our unique history.
"It will bring together a large number of historians and other professional and community contributors from all over the State to cover all major aspects of our social, economic, mining, political, developmental and regional history. There will be close consultation with local government authorities and regional development commissions.
"The encyclopaedia will be published in both print and electronic form. The print version will be made available to libraries and schools throughout the State and the electronic version will be available in even the most remote region through the Internet.
"I see it having unlimited potential within the spheres of education and tourism, particularly cultural heritage tourism."
The project is the initiative of the Centre for Western Australian History at The University of WA and has been supported by a consortium of public and private sponsors. Historians, educational and cultural organisations, community groups and industry have all expressed their enthusiasm for the project.
An editorial advisory board comprising WA's foremost historians has been established. Editor-in-chief will be Dr Jenny Gregory, the editor of On the Homefront, a collection of contributions about life in WA during World War II. The General Editor will be Dr Jan Gothard.
Mr Stephens said the Historical Encyclopaedia would provide a focus for the State's 175th anniversary celebrations in 2004, instilling pride in Western Australians about our rich and diverse heritage.
Minister's office: 9213 6500
