Shows
The Sound of SolidarityUprising: War, resistance and settler colonialismDr Stephen Gapps has just published Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838–1844. Here he is in conversation with Solidarity member Paddy Gibson.
Read more about Aboriginal resistance.
Find out more about Solidarity.
Buy a copy of Uprising.
This talk was recorded at Solidarity's Keep Left conference on 20 April 2025.
2025-07-1145 min
The Last Post Radio Show"Armed squatters and stockmen and workers went out in massacre parties..."The TLP Radio Show speaks with historian and author, Stephen Gapps, about his new book, Uprising, and the need for our history to be studied by us all, as an educational tool and recognition of the truth. 2025-06-1623 min
The ABR Podcast‘Method and message: Rethinking Australian military history’ by Kate FullagarThis week on the ABR Podcast, Kate Fullagar reviews Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838-1844, by Stephen Gapps. Fullagar writes that Uprising is a ‘crucial contribution to our rethinking of Australian military history’. Kate Fullagar is Professor of History at Australian Catholic University, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities, and Vice President of the Australian Historical Association. Her most recent book is Bennelong & Phillip: A History Unravelled. Listen to Kate Fullagar with ‘Method and message: Rethinking Australian military history’, published in the June issue of ABR.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...2025-06-0510 min
Solidarity BreakfastVoices 4 Palestine II Birrugan Interview Stephen Gapps II This is Week II Claire and Hank from Save Public Collective IINews Headlines II HereHumanitarian vessel CONSCIENCE attacked by drones in international waters near Malta; Israel’s security cabinet approves Gaza annexation; Israel escalates violence in Gaza, killing over 63, many children.Israel's "Operation Iron Wall" forces mass displacement in the West Bank; 2,970 ceasefire violations in Lebanon, 148 killed.Sectarian violence in Suwayda continues; Israel's controversial "humanitarian aid" mission in Syria raises tensions.75 pro-Palestine protesters arrested at Columbia University; Trump threatens to withhold federal funding over criticism of Israel.Burkina Faso sees support for leader Ibrahim Traoré after thwarted coup and rising tide from the Global SouthVenezuela suffers $226B loss from US sanctions; Sud...2025-05-0900 min
History Talks - HCNSW PodcastsClose to Home: Colonial Violence and Family Histories || Newcastle Writers Festival 2025 x HCNSWSend us a textNow, more than ever before, we seem more willing to acknowledge difficult histories in our family trees. At the same time, historians are increasingly writing about colonial violence and challenging long-held myths. What impact is this having on how we see Australia’s past, as well as our own? John Maynard, Mark Dunn, Stephen Gapps, and Kate Grenville speak with Julie McIntyre about their experiences of encountering dark moments in their research and how they've dealt with them in their work.The History Council of N...2025-05-051h 02
Writers @ StantonStephen GappsDiscover the story of the frontier Wiradyuri Wars of Resistance for the first time with award-winning historian Stephen Gapps. Learn the breadth of these two wars conducted along a huge area of the Murray-Darling river system during the 1800’s.2025-05-0243 min
Cyber UncutCONTESTED GROUND: How to develop a culture of security in your businessIn this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson discuss how businesses can build a culture of security in the modern work environment, protecting critical business IP. They begin the podcast with a short book review of Stephen Gapps' Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, unpacking conflict in colonial Australia – and in particular, the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance. The conversation turns to information security and the regulation and legislation that guides the storing of personal data by businesses. The hosts then unpack how businesses can develop a culture of sec...2025-04-2126 min
Defence Connect Podcast NetworkCONTESTED GROUND: How to develop a culture of security in your businessIn this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson discuss how businesses can build a culture of security in the modern work environment, protecting critical business IP. They begin the podcast with a short book review of Stephen Gapps' Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, unpacking conflict in colonial Australia – and in particular, the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance. The conversation turns to information security and the regulation and legislation that guides the storing of personal data by businesses. The hosts then unpack how businesses can develop a culture of sec...2025-04-1826 min
Contested GroundHow to develop a culture of security in your businessIn this episode of the Contested Ground podcast, hosts Phil Tarrant and Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson discuss how businesses can build a culture of security in the modern work environment, protecting critical business IP. They begin the podcast with a short book review of Stephen Gapps' Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, unpacking conflict in colonial Australia – and in particular, the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance. The conversation turns to information security and the regulation and legislation that guides the storing of personal data by businesses. The hosts then unpack how businesses can develop a culture of sec...2025-04-1726 min
Late Night Live - Separate stories podcastHow First Nations resisted colonisation in the River CountryIn his new book Uprising, Stephen Gapps reveals the story of frontier resistance, along a huge area of the Murray-Darling river system - a concerted defence of River Country.2025-04-0226 minLate Night Live — Full program podcastFirst Nations resistance in the River Country, and is ignorance always bliss?Historian Stephen Gapps reveals the incredible story of frontier resistance warfare in a huge area of the Murray-Darling river system, across many First Nations’ lands, in a concerted defence of River Country. Plus, Professor of Humanities Mark Lilla on why humans are seduced by ignorance. 2025-04-0254 min
Good Reading PodcastStephen Gapps on Australia's unknown colonial history 'Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838–1844'The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance ended in 1824 with a series of massacres conducted by settlers in the Bathurst region. From the 1830s, colonists began occupying more and more Aboriginal land across western New South Wales and stocking it with sheep and cattle. By 1838, a dramatic fightback began across the entire frontier of the colony. What has been called the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance, from 1839 to 1841, was, in fact, part of a vast arc of conflict from present-day northern Victoria through to southeast Queensland. At the time, it was seen by many contemporaries as a concerted and coordinated ‘up...2025-03-3125 min
Good Reading PodcastStephen Gapps on his new book 'Uprising: War in the colony of New South Wales, 1838–1844The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance ended in 1824 with a series of massacres conducted by settlers in the Bathurst region. From the 1830s, colonists began occupying more and more Aboriginal land across western New South Wales and stocking it with sheep and cattle. By 1838, a dramatic fightback began across the entire frontier of the colony. What has been called the Second Wiradyuri War of Resistance, from 1839 to 1841, was, in fact, part of a vast arc of conflict from present-day northern Victoria through to southeast Queensland. At the time, it was seen by many contemporaries as a concerted and coordinated ‘uprising’.
In U...2025-03-3125 min
We are BlacktownStephen GappsStephen Gapps is an award-winning public historian whose work investigates the Frontier Wars and seeks their recognition as Australia’s first wars. He is the author of The Sydney Wars 1788-1817 and Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War – The Bathurst War, 1822-4. Stephen grew up on Kastelan Street, on one of the few hills in Blacktown. As a kid, he would play cricket in the cul-de-sac, splash around in Eastern Creek, and build cubbies in the bush. He was one of the first students at Evans High, a high school that opened in 1974. Evans High now hosts an Intens...2024-07-1806 min
City Road Podcast107. Contested CountryHow are Australia’s Indigenous and settler histories recognised and confronted in cultural heritage conservation and urban planning practice, alongside wider struggles for native title, land rights, and spatial justice? Join this conversation with a panel of experts across Indigenous history, archaeology, heritage conservation, urban planning and design.
SPEAKERS
Professor Bronwyn Carlson, Head of Department of Indigenous Studies, Macquarie University
Stephen Gapps, Senior Associate Historian, Artefact Heritage Services
Seth Dias, PHD Candidate at the USYD school of Architecture, Design and Planning
Innez Haua
Jess Herder, Senior Associate, Thirriwirri
CHAIRED BY
Professor Michael Mossman, Associate Dean Indigenous Strategy and Services, the Un...2023-12-061h 06
City Road Podcast93. The First Wiradyuri War of ResistanceDallas Rogers talks with Stephen Gapps about his new book, Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance — The Bathurst War, 1822–1824
‘In May 1824, what can only be described as a period of all-out, total gudyarra (‘war’ in the Wiradyuri language) had begun west of the Blue Mountains. Relations between Wiradyuri people and the colonists in the country around Bathurst had completely broken down, and the number of raids and killings occurring across isolated stock stations in the district had intensified.’ In Gudyarra, Stephen Gapps – award-winning author of The Sydney Wars – unearths what led to this furious and bloody war, beginning with the occupation of Wi...2023-09-1529 min
Inner West Icons: the other side of SydneyDogs - dingoes to puppaccinosInner west Sydney is one of the doggiest places in the Australia.Even our most famous resident, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, meets world leaders with First Dog Toto.This episode is about the stories and history of dogs in the inner west. Hear about...the original dog, dingoesdogs in the Frontier Wars of Sydneyhunting dogs of the early colonySydney's most valuable dog of the 19th century, the Kangaroo Doghow Australia's policy of poisoning dogs started herethe world's first dog-friendly cafeLeichhardt Dog Training Club, run by volunteersthe three dogs of Newtown, andwho is...2023-06-3034 min
History Talks - HCNSW PodcastsAnnual History Lecture 2022 featuring Bruce PascoeSend us a textIn this fascinating talk, Professor Bruce Pascoe interrogates the idea of Australian history pre-contact. Mary McLean from the Orange Aboriginal Land Council gives the Welcome to Country while Professor Stephen Gapps provides introductions. This event was recorded in Orange, Wiradjuri Country on the 28th October for the History Council of NSW's Annual History Lecture series. Support the show2022-11-141h 15
The BookshelfA Renaissance wedding, a Mediaeval war and the ghosts of Modernism: three new novelsKate and Cassie with three new novels: grappling with modernism and creativity in Sophie Cunningham's This Devastating Fever; a young woman caged by intrigue and expectations in Maggie O'Farrell's The Marriage Portrait; and working soldiers bleed across France in Dan Jones' Essex Dogs – with guests Stephen Gapps and Amy Walters2022-09-0900 minInner West Icons: the other side of SydneyWitches Houses of AnnandaleA group of spooky homes in Sydney’s inner west are an unmissable landmark. How did these gothic mansions get here?What school song are they in?Why might they be Australia’s ‘first real estate display homes’?How did they become the setting for a best-selling YA novel?HostBernie Hobbs is a long-time inner westie, and an award winning science writer and presenter on TV and radio.GuestsJane Fox: Assistant Principal at Annandale North Primary SchoolVanessa Berry: Writer and artist who works with history, memory and archives. One of her b...2022-05-2826 min
unAustralian Marxism: history and theoryEp 7: Invasion and resistance in early colonial SydneyThis talk provides an historical account of the invasion by British imperialism of Eora and Darug Country, what is now known as Sydney, Australia. Paddy discusses the dynamics driving the invasion and the war of resistance waged by Aboriginal people defending their homelands. Recorded at a Solidarity meeting in January 2015. Since this talk, historian Stephen Gapps has published a major book The Sydney Wars which contains lots of new research into these issues and is highly recommended.
2022-03-0132 min
The MissionStephen Gapps and Veronica GorrieAuthor and public Historian, Stephen Gapps talks about his new book ‘Gudyarra: The First Wiradyuri War of Resistance - The Bathurst War, 1822–1824’. The book traces the co-ordinated resistance warfare by the Wiradyuri under the leadership of Windradyne, and others such as Blucher and Jingler, that occurred in a vast area across the central west of New South Wales; and Gunai/Kurnai woman, and author Veronica Gorrie talks about her book ‘Black and Blue: A Memoir of Racism and Resilience’. The book tells the story of an Aboriginal woman who worked as a police officer and fought for justice both within and...2021-12-1438 min
Futility ClosetThe Cyprus Mutiny In 1829 a group of convicts commandeered a brig in Tasmania and set off across the Pacific, hoping to elude their pursuers and win their freedom. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the mutineers of the Cyprus and a striking new perspective on their adventure. We'll also consider a Flemish dog and puzzle over a multiplied Oscar. Intro: Mark Twain slipped an esophagus into a 1902 short story. Designer Alan Fletcher's West London studio is secured with an alphabet. Sources for our feature on...2020-08-1033 min
Frontier War StoriesFrontier War Stories – Stephen Gapps – Sydney Wars 1788 – 1827In Episode Seven of Frontier War Stories Boe yarns with Historian & Curator Stephen Gapps, President of the History Council of New South Wales and the author of The Sydney Wars: Conflict in the Early Colony, 1788-1817.The post Frontier War Stories – Stephen Gapps – Sydney Wars 1788 – 1827 first appeared on Awesome Black - First Nations Creatives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2020-06-0549 min
GLAMcityStephen Gapps on the Sydney WarsThis week's guest is Stephen Gapps, a Sydney based historian with an interest in public history and early colonial Sydney. We talk to Stephen about his book The Sydney Wars, and the conflicts between colonists and Sydney people in the city's early years.2019-11-2533 min
GLAMcityStephen Gapps on the Sydney WarsThis week's guest is Stephen Gapps, a Sydney based historian with an interest in public history and early colonial Sydney. We talk to Stephen about his book The Sydney Wars, and the conflicts between colonists and Sydney people in the city's early years.2019-11-2533 min
ArtsBligh: Hero or Villain with Sylvia RosenblumOn Arts Wednesday 7 August 2019, Sylvia's guest was Dr Stephen Gapps, curator at the Australian National Maritime Museum, talking about the latest exhibition Bligh: Hero or Villain. You probably know most about the man from either primary school history or Hollywood, where Bligh is always the villain, undone by the loveable rogue, Fletcher Christian. The exhibition challenges this view and asks the visitor to do the same.2019-08-0736 min
Words on WednesdayBligh: Hero or Villain with Sylvia RosenblumOn Arts Wednesday 7 August 2019, Sylvia's guest was Dr Stephen Gapps, curator at the Australian National Maritime Museum, talking about the latest exhibition Bligh: Hero or Villain. You probably know most about the man from either primary school history or Hollywood, where Bligh is always the villain, undone by the loveable rogue, Fletcher Christian. The exhibition challenges this view and asks the visitor to do the same.2019-08-0636 min
History Talks - HCNSW PodcastsDr Stephen Gapps - Newcastle Writers Festival 2019Send us a textThe impulse to memorialise people and events has led to the establishment of a range of monuments in urban landscapes. Increasingly, monuments have been verbally or physically attacked and, in some cases, removed. This masterclass focuses on the ongoing histories of monuments, testing the implications of preservation and removal, and how memorials can be revived, reinterpreted or replaced. The three speakers address Captain Cook, counter-memorials and the ‘statue wars’; the memorial to the band on the Titanic in Broken Hill; and the coal monument in Newcastle.Join the History Council of NSW...2019-05-2215 min
History Talks - HCNSW PodcastsA/Prof Nancy Cushing speaking at the Newcastle Writers Festival about Memory & MonumentsSend us a textThe impulse to memorialise people and events has led to the establishment of a range of monuments in urban landscapes. Increasingly, monuments have been verbally or physically attacked and, in some cases, removed. This masterclass will focus on the ongoing histories of monuments, testing the implications of preservation and removal, and how memorials can be revived, reinterpreted or replaced. The three speakers will address Captain Cook, counter-memorials and the ‘statue wars’; the memorial to the band on the Titanic in Broken Hill; and the coal monument in Newcastle.Join...2019-05-2214 min
History Talks - HCNSW PodcastsRichard Neville - HCNSW Panel at the Newcastle Writers Festival 2019Send us a textThe impulse to memorialise people and events has led to the establishment of a range of monuments in urban landscapes. Increasingly, monuments have been verbally or physically attacked and, in some cases, removed. This masterclass will focus on the ongoing histories of monuments, testing the implications of preservation and removal, and how memorials can be revived, reinterpreted or replaced. The three speakers will address Captain Cook, counter-memorials and the ‘statue wars’; the memorial to the band on the Titanic in Broken Hill; and the coal monument in Newcastle.Join...2019-05-2208 min
History Talks - HCNSW PodcastsEntire session - HCNSW - Newcastle Writers Festival 2019Send us a textThe impulse to memorialise people and events has led to the establishment of a range of monuments in urban landscapes. Increasingly, monuments have been verbally or physically attacked and, in some cases, removed. This masterclass will focus on the ongoing histories of monuments, testing the implications of preservation and removal, and how memorials can be revived, reinterpreted or replaced. The three speakers will address Captain Cook, counter-memorials and the ‘statue wars’; the memorial to the band on the Titanic in Broken Hill; and the coal monument in Newcastle.Join...2019-05-2144 min