Professor Peter Stanley

Peter Stanley

FAHA

Honorary Professor, UNSW Canberra

Historian, Writer, Commentator, Consultant.

Peter Stanley is a prolific author and award-winning historian who has published over forty books. He is an Honorary Professor at the University of New South Wales, Canberra. In 2011, his book Bad Characters: Sex, Crime, Mutiny, Murder and the Australian Imperial Force was jointly awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History.

40+
Books Published
33
Years Public Historian
2011
PM's History Prize

Biography & Background

Born in Liverpool, UK in 1956, Peter Stanley migrated to Australia with his family in 1966, growing up in Whyalla, South Australia. In 1975, he moved to Canberra to attend the Australian National University and has been based in Canberra ever since.

Peter spent 33 years as a public historian. He joined the Australian War Memorial in 1980, heading its Historical Research Section from 1987 and serving as its Principal Historian from 1998 to 2007. From 2007 to 2013, he was the inaugural head of the Centre for Historical Research at the National Museum of Australia.

In 2013, Peter was appointed Research Professor in the Australian Centre for the Study of Armed Conflict and Society at the University of New South Wales, Canberra (ADFA). Following his retirement from full-time academic service, he continues his active contribution to Australian history as an Honorary Professor at UNSW Canberra and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Published Books

Explore Peter's major publications spanning WWI, WWII, medical history, imperial mutinies, battlefield guides, and historical fiction—including buy links and details.

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Media & Mentions

Discover documentary appearances, television interviews, podcast features, commentary, public lectures, and museum exhibition curation.

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Major Awards & Recognition