The Irish National Foresters: Balancing Irish Nationalism, Social Welfare and Australian Identity

Eureka Centre are excited to welcome historian Dr Anne Beggs-Sunter for the first time to Talking History to share the story of the Irish National Foresters (INF) in Australia from the 1880s to the 1960s.

The INF was founded in Dublin in 1877 as a benefit society for Irishmen of any religion. The guiding principles of the order were Unity, Nationality, and Benevolence. The INF expanded rapidly and by the early 1900s had several international branches serving the Irish diaspora.

By the 1880s, there were a number of INF branches in Australia. The INF played a key role in promoting Irish-Australian heritage, including through its Peter Lalor Branch, established in Ballarat in 1903. The branch took a leading role in commemorating and celebrating the Eureka Stockade at public anniversaries, with its name reflecting a growing involvement in promoting Australian nationalism.

Dr. Anne Beggs-Sunter is a Ballarat-based historian in the Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University Australia. Her academic interests are in Australian social, cultural and political history. Her special interests relate to Ballarat and its heritage conservation, its involvement in the fine arts, and the significance of the Eureka Stockade. She has written many books, exhibition catalogues and articles for different audiences ranging from specialised academic journals to newspapers.