Stephen 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 Intensive English Centre that provides language teaching to over 150 students who have recently arrived in Australia. 

Stephen’s dad was a history teacher, inspiring Stephen’s interest in the stories behind the names of the places around him: Bungaribee Road, Nurragingy Reserve. He joined his local history society and learned about Aboriginal histories he hadn’t been taught in school.

We are Blacktown is a UTS Impact Studios production.
Producers: Britta Jorgensen, Jane Curtis, Celine Teo-Blockey 
Executive Producer: Olivia Rosenman
Sound design: Melissa May
Research: Jackie May
Podcast artwork: Alexandra Morris
Theme music: Beaming by FRIDAY