John Medley was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne from 1938 to 1951. But Medley was also a member of the Eugenics Society of Victoria, a group which called for the sterilisation and institutionalisation of minority groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, prostitutes and members of the LGBTQI+ community. So why does the university have a building named after him?

Unearth the role the University played throughout the dark history of the eugenics movement and the truth behind who John Medley was. 

INTERVIEWEES

Dr Ross Jones

Professor Dennis Foley

MUSIC CREDITS

Cold and Hard by Cold Case

Dolly and Pad by Piano Mover

Hickory Interlude by Onesuch Village

Leaving Baffin Island by Baffin Island

Stepback by Dasjardins

John Medley was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne from 1938 to 1951. But Medley was also a member of the Eugenics Society of Victoria, a group which called for the sterilisation and institutionalisation of minority groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, prostitutes and members of the LGBTQI+ community. So why does the university have a building named after him?
Unearth the role the University played throughout the dark history of the eugenics movement and the truth behind who John Medley was. 
INTERVIEWEES
Dr Ross Jones
Professor Dennis Foley
MUSIC CREDITS
Cold and Hard by Cold Case
Dolly and Pad by Piano Mover
Hickory Interlude by Onesuch Village
Leaving Baffin Island by Baffin Island
Stepback by Dasjardins

The saying ‘truth is hidden in plain sight’ paints an appropriate picture of the University of Melbourne - hidden within the walls of its notorious buildings, and the people that gave them their names, are colonial legacies of injustice and tales of multiculturalism. 

Join students from the Centre for Advancing Journalism on a journey to discover the stories behind our iconic buildings in 8 illuminating episodes where we uncover what our University was really built on, both literally and figuratively.

Uncurated Season 3 coming October 2024.

The saying ‘truth is hidden in plain sight’ paints an appropriate picture of the University of Melbourne - hidden within the walls of its notorious buildings, and the people that gave them their names, are colonial legacies of injustice and tales of multiculturalism. 
Join students from the Centre for Advancing Journalism on a journey to discover the stories behind our iconic buildings in 8 illuminating episodes where we uncover what our University was really built on, both literally and figuratively.
Uncurated Season 3 coming October 2024.

Uncurated

An oil painting lost in a storeroom for decades, a dusty student card, a misplaced animal skull; these are some of the objects in the University of Melbourne's twelve museums. Each was forgotten in a different way. Join students from the Centre for Advancing Journalism on a journey of unforgetting as they ask why some objects - or people - are lost from history. And what that says about Australia. 

An oil painting lost in a storeroom for decades, a dusty student card, a misplaced animal skull; these are some of the objects in the University of Melbourne's twelve museums. Each was forgotten in a different way. Join students from the Centre for Advancing Journalism on a journey of unforgetting as they ask why some objects - or people - are lost from history. And what that says about Australia.

Eugenics

Did you know that the University of Melbourne was involved in the testing of atomic bombs in South Australia?  

University academics were enlisted to ensure the safety nuclear blasts at Maralinga and Emu Field. But how good of a job did they really do? 

Interviewees:
Karina Lester - Senior Aboriginal Language Worker at The University of Adelaide
Dr James Waghorne - Senior Research Fellow and University Historian at The University of Melbourne
Elizabeth Tynan - co-ordinator of the professional development program at the James Cook University Graduate Research School and researcher of the history of British atomic weapons testing in Australia 

Note:  This episode has been updated to reflect further details of Leslie Martin's role in atomic testing. 

Music

Gold Hands – Holly Sweeney

Piano Study – Joel Keith

 

SFX:

Kangaroovindaloo – Camping with the Warlpiri day atmos

Kangaroovindaloo – Spinifex wind 1 no eq

Kangaroovindaloo – Ethel creek dawn chorus

Noahbangs – Earthquake

Melbourneatmospheres – Australian birds in rural nature reserve yarra ranges Victoria

Clip from Operation Totem – Imperial War Museum (still trying to nail this down)

Edufigueres – Australia outback birds

Mrcalum – heat duct

Nox sound – footsteps mountain boots wet sand sequence mono

Kyster – cows in a barn 2011 12 7

 

Special mention to the following sources:

Yami: The Autobiography of Yami Lester

Tim Sherrat

The McClelland Royal Commission

Did you know that the University of Melbourne was involved in the testing of atomic bombs in South Australia?&nbsp;&nbsp;
University academics were enlisted to ensure the safety nuclear blasts at Maralinga and Emu Field. But how good of a job did they really do?&nbsp;
Interviewees:
<ul>
<li>Karina Lester - Senior Aboriginal Language Worker at The University of Adelaide</li>
<li>Dr James Waghorne - Senior Research Fellow and University Historian at The University of Melbourne</li>
<li>Elizabeth Tynan - co-ordinator of the professional development program at the James Cook University Graduate Research School and researcher of the history of British atomic weapons testing in Australia&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Note:&nbsp; This episode has been updated to reflect further details of Leslie Martin's role in atomic testing.&nbsp;
Music
Gold Hands &ndash; Holly Sweeney
Piano Study &ndash; Joel Keith
&nbsp;
SFX:
Kangaroovindaloo &ndash; Camping with the Warlpiri day atmos
Kangaroovindaloo &ndash; Spinifex wind 1 no eq
Kangaroovindaloo &ndash; Ethel creek dawn chorus
Noahbangs &ndash; Earthquake
Melbourneatmospheres &ndash; Australian birds in rural nature reserve yarra ranges Victoria
Clip from Operation Totem &ndash; Imperial War Museum (still trying to nail this down)
Edufigueres &ndash; Australia outback birds
Mrcalum &ndash; heat duct
Nox sound &ndash; footsteps mountain boots wet sand sequence mono
Kyster &ndash; cows in a barn 2011 12 7
&nbsp;
Special mention to the following sources:
Yami: The Autobiography of Yami Lester
Tim Sherrat
The&nbsp;McClelland Royal Commission

Atomic Testing

For many international students, International House is more than just a place to stay—it’s a welcoming oasis in an unfamiliar city. But did you know that the community at International House holds a rich history dating back to 1957?

Dive into the history of International House and one of its most cherished traditions: the Great Trike Race. A race that symbolises the spirit of unity at the International House.

INTERVIEWEES

Frank Larkins

Caitlin Stone

Frank Schrever

MUSIC CREDITS

Flight by Alex Garla

Monster by Rock Vishal Shah

Forest by Kabas KAS

Grainger Things by Daniel Cropley 

Focus by Ambient Vibes

Our world by Coverr

Inspiring Cinematic by StudioKolomna

Magic Inspiration by Artlss22

For many international students, International House is more than just a place to stay—it’s a welcoming oasis in an unfamiliar city. But did you know that the community at International House holds a rich history dating back to 1957?
Dive into the history of International House and one of its most cherished traditions: the Great Trike Race. A race that symbolises the spirit of unity at the International House.
INTERVIEWEES
Frank Larkins
Caitlin Stone
Frank Schrever
MUSIC CREDITS
Flight by Alex Garla
Monster by Rock Vishal Shah
Forest by Kabas KAS
Grainger Things by Daniel Cropley 
Focus by Ambient Vibes
Our world by Coverr
Inspiring Cinematic by StudioKolomna
Magic Inspiration by Artlss22

Community

The Baillieu Library is the largest library here at the University of Melbourne. Walking through the library, the shelves are filled with books on everything from philosophy and history, to science and computing, all from a Western Eurocentric perspective. But the library also holds one of the largest collections of Rare East Asian books and materials in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Throughout this episode, Jiaxuan Zhu explores how knowledge has been built here at the University of Melbourne and reflects on the importance of diversity and looking past just Eurocentric knowledge foundations. 

INTERVIEWEES:

Dr Shiqiu Liu

This podcast is on the exhibition “Learning Beyond Borders: Thomas Chong’s Study and Practice of Medicine”, presented by the Archives and Special Collections of the university.

MUSIC CREDITS 

Epidemic Sound: Sowing the Summer Barley by Francis Wells
Epidemic Sound: Shrines by David Celeste

The Baillieu Library is the largest library here at the University of Melbourne. Walking through the library, the shelves are filled with books on everything from philosophy and history, to science and computing, all from a Western Eurocentric perspective. But the library also holds one of the largest collections of Rare East Asian books and materials in the Southern Hemisphere. 
Throughout this episode, Jiaxuan Zhu explores how knowledge has been built here at the University of Melbourne and reflects on the importance of diversity and looking past just Eurocentric knowledge foundations. 
INTERVIEWEES:
Dr Shiqiu Liu
This podcast is on the exhibition “Learning Beyond Borders: Thomas Chong’s Study and Practice of Medicine”, presented by the Archives and Special Collections of the university.
MUSIC CREDITS 
Epidemic Sound: Sowing the Summer Barley by Francis Wells Epidemic Sound: Shrines by David Celeste

Eugenics

In 1 playlist(s)

Uncurated

Follow podcast

Recent clips