Reading Women's Lives in Tasmania

About the research project

The Hamilton Literary Society, founded in 1889 by Lady Teresa Hamilton, is the oldest continuously operating women's literary society in Australia. Based in Tasmania, the Society has provided generations of women with a space for intellectual exchange, literary engagement, and cultural participation. Its long history offers a unique lens through which to explore the evolution of women's participation in Tasmanian society and a broader literary landscape. Over the century, Society membership has included ordinary and prominent women, and included the writers Gwen Harwood and Hilda Bridges who read alongside women whose names have been forgotten to all but their descendants.

This PhD project invites the candidate to undertake original research using the Society's records, housed in the Tasmanian Archives. These materials include meeting minutes, members' papers, and other documents that span more than a century of literary and social activity. Possible research directions include:

• Literary History: Investigate how the Society's reading lists, discussions, and member contributions reflect changing literary tastes and literary culture in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
• Women's Intellectual Networks: Map the relationships and influences among members and their connections to broader Tasmanian or Australian literary movements.
• Archival and Memory Studies: Explore how the Society has preserved and narrated its own history, and what this reveals about women's cultural memory and social life.
• Regional Identity and Place: Examine how the Society has contributed to the literary and cultural identity of Hobart and its region.

This project has the potential include a comparative study across the Anglophone world.

This project is ideal for candidates in English or History with an interest in archival research, women's writing and social lives, and Tasmanian history. It offers opportunities for original scholarship, community engagement, and collaborative work with the Society through a 60-day internship with the Society. Depending on the experience and interests of the candidate, and in negotiation with research partners, the project could involve a library-based or digital/online curatorial activity to enhance public engagement with the Society and its history.

Primary supervisor

Meet Associate Professor Naomi Milthorpe

Funding

Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:

• a living allowance stipend funded by University of Tasmania of $34,315 per annum for 3.5 years
• a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
• a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

A tuition fee offset may be offered to eligible international applicants following competitive assessment 

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Other funding opportunities and fees

For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees for undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

• Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus

Selection criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:

• First-class Honours or Master's degree in English Literature, History, or a related discipline.
• Experience working with historical archives, manuscripts, or primary source materials.
• Ability to interpret and contextualize historical documents within broader literary and cultural frameworks.
• Strong capacity for original analysis and synthesis of complex historical and literary data.
• Ability to develop and pursue a coherent research question over an extended period.
• Excellent academic writing skills, with evidence of previous research outputs (e.g., Honours or Masters thesis, publications, conference presentations).
• Strong organizational skills and self-motivation.

Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:

• Demonstrated knowledge of literary history and/or Tasmanian history.
• Ability to communicate research findings to both scholarly and public audiences.
• Proven ability to manage a long-term research project independently.

Application process

1. Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
2. Contact Associate Professor Naomi Milthorpe to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
3. In your application:
   • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
   • Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
4. Apply prior to 1 October 2026.

Full details of the application process can be found under the ' How to apply ' section of the Research Degrees website.

Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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