New Videos in the IFPH Explorers Intern Series

We are delighted to introduce The Founding Pubs of Balmain, the newest digital series developed as part of the IFPH Explorers Internship Program, an initiative that continues to showcase the creativity, scholarly rigor, and public engagement of our student interns.

At IFPH Explorers, we view internships not simply as opportunities for professional development, but as spaces where students actively contribute to public history by producing original research and creating innovative ways of engaging audiences with the past. The Founding Pubs of Balmain is an excellent example of this commitment.

The series takes viewers on a journey through the historic suburb of Balmain, Sydney, exploring how six of its oldest pubs helped shape the neighborhood’s identity, culture, and sense of community. More than places to enjoy a drink, these pubs served as meeting places where workers, families, migrants, activists, and local residents gathered to exchange ideas, build relationships, and participate in the everyday life of one of Australia’s oldest working-class communities. Through these familiar landmarks, the series demonstrates how ordinary places can reveal extraordinary stories about labor, migration, urban development, and collective memory.

By combining historical research, on-site interpretation, and engaging digital storytelling, The Founding Pubs of Balmain encourages audiences to see heritage in new ways. Rather than focusing exclusively on major historical events or monuments, the series reminds us that public history is also found in neighborhood streets, local businesses, and community gathering places where generations of people have created lasting social and cultural connections. In doing so, it demonstrates how local history provides valuable insights into broader historical processes while making the past accessible to diverse audiences.

The series was created by William Pagent, an undergraduate student of Archaeology at Macquarie University and an IFPH Explorers intern. William has a strong interest in Australian history, heritage, and archaeology, particularly in how historical places can be interpreted through public engagement. His internship project reflects a thoughtful combination of archival research, historical interpretation, and digital communication, illustrating how emerging public historians are using multimedia to connect academic research with wider communities. His work exemplifies the goals of the IFPH Explorers Internship Program by transforming local heritage into engaging, accessible public history content.

Watch the episodes here

Jimena Perry

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