Brad Underhill

• Research fellow, Deakin University

Brad Underhill is a Research Fellow at Deakin University where he teaches, lectures and is a research assistant on a number of projects. He has recently published "Debating the Nation: Speeches from the House of Assembly, 1972-1975" with colleagues Helen Gardner and Keimelo Gima. This book distils the arguments and ambitions of the founders of the nation of Papua New Guinea. His book, "Preparing a Nation; The 'New Deal' in the villages, 1945-1964" was recently published by ANU Press. Bill Gammage describes Preparing a Nation as "the standard reference for its subject, which covers a pivotal aspect of Australia's colonial administration". His doctoral thesis jointly received the Hank Nelson Memorial award for best PhD, internationally, on any aspect of Papua New Guinea's history. His research has most recently appeared in the Australian Journal of Politics and History, Journal of Pacific History, the Victorian Historical Journal and a 2024 special issue of Australian Historical Studies on 'Wan Solwara: Australia and Papua New Guinea'. In 2017 he was awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Prize for academic excellence at Deakin. In 2016 he was awarded the Bowater Trust medal, for best all-round undergraduate student.

• 2022–present Research fellow, Deakin University

• 2021 Deakin University, PhD
• 2017 Deakin University, Bachelor of Arts (Hons)
• 2016 Deakin University, Bachelor of Commerce

• 2025 Debating the Nation: Speeches from the House of Assembly 1972-1975, WanSolwara
• 2024 'The Moat of Oblivion': Australia and the Forgetting of Papua New Guinea, Australian Historical Studies
• 2024 Wan Solwara: New Histories of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Australian Historical Studies
• 2024 The Seventh State and the Barnes Dance: Deciding the future for the Territory Papua and New Guinea, Australian Historical Studies
• 2024 Preparing a Nation, ANUPress
• 2023 Protected Industries Protected Men, Victorian Historical Journal
• 2022 The Post-War Australian Objective in Papua New Guinea: Liberal ambition or Colonial Control?, Australian Journal of Politics & History
• 2019 Co-operatives and Political Development in PNG: Colonial Failure or Unrecognized Success?, Journal of Pacific History

• 2025 "The Bully Beef Club and the Birth of the Nation" Role: CI Funding Source: AustraliaAwards
• 2024 “PNG 50th Anniversary Project – A Partnership to celebrate Papua New Guinea's independence from Australia" Role: Lead CI Funding Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia

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