Here is the latest Australian history news of happenings and coming events from groups, societies, and historical places throughout Australia. Some of the following news articles have been submitted to us, while others have been found from websites, newspapers and other articles …

It’s time to turn the calendar over as May has now arrived, and with it comes the new issue of the Australian Family Tree Connections magazine. In this new issue you will discover the real history behind our mother’s or grandmother’s aprons, and I bet you’ll be surprised.

In January I did a post asking people to sign a petition to help save Parramatta’s Historic Female Factory. Now we finally have some good news for you. The Parramatta Advertiser has reported ‘a victory for supporters of the historic Female Factory’.

South Australia’s History Week has grown from being a week long celebration to now encompass a full month. That month being May 1-31. And that’s not the only change, HistorySA have also renamed the event to About Time: South Australia’s History Festival.

The Australian census will be taken on Tuesday 9 August 2011. Australians will again have the choice to have their personal information stored for 99 years. To have your information saved you must say YES to question 60.

Do you have photos, diaries, letters, stories or oral histories relating to our major convict heritage sites in Tasmania that you would like to share? If you do, you are invited to attend events at the Tasmanian World Heritage-listed Convict Sites to celebrate Australian Heritage Week.

The “Anzac Day Blog Challenge” has been issued. This time, it is a joint challenge with our Digger mates from across the Ditch. Do you have an Australian or New Zealander in your family tree who was killed in military operations? We’d like to hear about not only their sacrifice, but the way their loss shaped their family history.

Somehow the year has managed to sneak along to March already (although no-one knows how!!) Anyway a new month also brings us the a new issue of the Australian Family Tree Connections magazine, so that’s means some good reading over a cup of tea or coffee.

The National Archives of Australia (NAA) Adelaide Reading Room is officially on the move!! As of 9 March 2011, the NAA in Angas Street, Adelaide will be closed to all who have not pre-ordered records. And it will reopen on …

Whether you are a beginner or experienced researcher, or a budding novelist, Unlock the Past’s Researching and Writing History Seminar will provide you with practical information and guidance to use in your current or future projects – or perhaps inspire you to write for the very first time.

The National Library of Australia’s Community Heritage Grants (CHG) provides grants of up to $15,000 toganisations such as libraries, archives, museums, genealogical and historical societies, and multicultural groups. Applications for the 2011 Grants are now open, and close 5.00pm Friday 6 May.

Created by leading family history experts, Ancestry.com.au, has just launched My Place in History. This is a free web-based educational program designed for teachers to assist them in teaching their students about family history. The program brings family history right into the classroom of Australian primary schools by placing the child’s family history at the centre of the learning experience.

During 2010 our sister company, Unlock the Past embarked on bringing a number of history and genealogy events to people throughout Australia and New Zealand. Let me tell you what is coming in 2011 and 2012 …