Every project at Colourful Histories is designed to make the past meaningful for you. Led by Dr Deborah Lee-Talbot, a professionally trained historian and member of Professional Historians Australia (Vic & Tas), each brief receives rigour and imagination from start to finish.

I transform your archival sources and collections into new stories that audiences connect with. My expertise spans local history projects, training workshops, academic research initiatives and policy development for Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums and Records (GLAMR) organisations.

Sharing historical sources takes both a vivid historical imagination and rigorous research. That is why my methods are grounded in collaborative client relationships. Together, we craft compelling narratives that illuminate the past and inform the present.

Whether you are a cultural institution seeking evidence-based policy solutions, a community group exploring local heritage, or an organisation requiring historical expertise, I can help. You will receive professional, engaging and meticulously researched outcomes tailored to your needs.

I work with clients across Australia — from Victoria and Tasmania to the Pacific — as a historian, heritage consultant and methodological adviser.

Ready to bring your historical project to life? Let's collaborate.

Image source: Walter S. Binks (1940). Lantern Slide - Handwriting Styles. Museums Victoria.