The Australian Association for Maritime History (AAMH) is a leading scholarly society promoting the study, teaching, and public understanding of maritime history in Australia and the wider Indo-Pacific. Since its founding in 1978, it has championed historical research and community outreach with both national and global perspectives.
Established in Perth, Western Australia, in 1978, AAMH was born out of growing academic interest in the maritime foundations of Australian society — from Indigenous navigation and colonial encounters to modern port cities and naval strategy. Its founders sought to connect historians, educators, and museum professionals under a common tide of historical inquiry.
AAMH advances maritime history by:
• Publishing the peer-reviewed Great Circle journal since 1979
• Organizing conferences, lectures, and public events
• Collaborating with museums, libraries, and historical societies across Australia
• Supporting new research and student participation in maritime studies
• Highlighting Australia’s maritime connections with Asia, the Pacific, and beyond
It acts as both a scholarly forum and a cultural voice.
Australia’s story is inseparable from the sea – from Indigenous seafaring cultures to immigrant ships and global trade. AAMH ensures these layered histories are not lost, but explored with care, shared through research, and made accessible to diverse audiences.
Its regional and international focus highlights Australia’s vital place in maritime world history.
AAMH’s journal Great Circle was named after the navigation term describing the shortest path between two points on the globe — reflecting its mission to connect people, places, and histories.
1. What maritime themes do you think define Australia’s national identity?
2. Why is it valuable to explore local port histories in the context of global maritime change?
