Simon Farley
@sighmonger.bsky.social
Historian, among other things | Usual disclaimers | My pronouns are ze/zir or they/them
Pinned
Simon Farley
@sighmonger.bsky.social
· Jan 27
‘Their beneficial effect upon a people’: settlers, songbirds and civilisation in nineteenth-century Victoria
Through the figure of journalist and philanthropist Edward Wilson (1813–1878), this article explores the settler-colonial dimensions of the mid-nineteenth century acclimatisation movement in Austra...
www.tandfonline.com
Super stoked to say my new article for Settler Colonial Studies has been published online! If you want to know the deep reasons why Australia is full of mynas, blackbirds, sparrows, starlings, spotted doves and other Eurasian birds, then look no further. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Simon Farley
theconversation.com/can-a-bird-b... Lively piece about alien-anxiety here @austhistassoc.bsky.social #BirdsandPeople #organismsandus
Can a bird be an illegal immigrant? How the White Australia era influenced attitudes to the bulbul
South Australian authorities are again on the hunt for the elusive red-whiskered bulbul. Does the xenophobia of the past still influence our attitudes today?
theconversation.com
February 6, 2026 at 1:34 AM
theconversation.com/can-a-bird-b... Lively piece about alien-anxiety here @austhistassoc.bsky.social #BirdsandPeople #organismsandus
My first ever Conversation article!
South Australian authorities are again on the hunt for the elusive red-whiskered bulbul. Does the xenophobia of the past still influence our attitudes today?
Can a bird be an illegal immigrant? How the White Australia era influenced attitudes to the bulbul
theconversation.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:23 AM
My first ever Conversation article!
Reposted by Simon Farley
“Someone who incites genocide does not satisfy the good character test for entering Australia. On the contrary, a person who incites genocide should be arrested on arrival and tried under Australian law and international law for the crime.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Isaac Herzog is accused of inciting genocide in Gaza. He shouldn’t be welcomed to Australia | Chris Sidoti
Anthony Albanese should recognise he made a terrible mistake in inviting the Israeli president to Australia and put a stop to this divisive political visit
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:05 AM
“Someone who incites genocide does not satisfy the good character test for entering Australia. On the contrary, a person who incites genocide should be arrested on arrival and tried under Australian law and international law for the crime.”
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Is there anything cuter than a baby moorhen?
February 5, 2026 at 6:35 AM
Is there anything cuter than a baby moorhen?
Reposted by Simon Farley
On X, @osinttechnical.bsky.social reacted with this bloosk by @tommchenry.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 10:23 PM
On X, @osinttechnical.bsky.social reacted with this bloosk by @tommchenry.bsky.social
Reposted by Simon Farley
JK Rowling has not tweeted since openly denying that her team invited the world's most notorious child rapist to a kid's play despite evidence directly disproving her claims
![Peggy Siegal Company: "Hi just liet us know where you like to send the tickets.
Rhys Kimmitt "the tickets are on their way to Peggy's office. Please deal with Lila to arrange pickup"
CC Jeffrey Epstein "Rhys please deal with Jeffrey Epstein's assistant [redacted] She will send a messenger to pick up his two dinner tickets. Thanks so much! xoxo Peggy"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:fv2nxxac24oxk5fqztfazyuc/bafkreibvvykhmreglympq4uaov4u3syunnowmaxran4gkhjrstbg2d6pby@jpeg)
February 3, 2026 at 10:34 PM
JK Rowling has not tweeted since openly denying that her team invited the world's most notorious child rapist to a kid's play despite evidence directly disproving her claims
We are hurtling towards an even stupider version of the dystopia in Snow Crash
Peter Thiel has been open about this for a long time. Trump is a way to break the republic, which can then be replaced by “free economic zones” with oligarchs as dictators and tech as a taskmaster for helpless humans without any rights. (1/2)
Definitely seems like they destroyed the country on purpose.
February 3, 2026 at 8:32 AM
We are hurtling towards an even stupider version of the dystopia in Snow Crash
Reposted by Simon Farley
'Anyone who simplistically concludes that this 2024 election result in South Brisbane was because the Greens were 'too radical' or didn't collaborate enough with Labor, simply isn't attuned to what was really happening on the ground'
Cul de sac politics: Have the Australian Greens hit a strategic dead-end?
Why aren't the Greens offering a stronger challenge to the political establishment?
www.jonathansri.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:10 AM
'Anyone who simplistically concludes that this 2024 election result in South Brisbane was because the Greens were 'too radical' or didn't collaborate enough with Labor, simply isn't attuned to what was really happening on the ground'
I always had a soft spot for Bundy for this reason - you could tell he was a man of genuine libertarian principles, but so immersed in a white supremacist, patriarchal, settler colonial community (and society) that those principles were thwarted long before they could turn into something liberatory.
February 2, 2026 at 8:33 AM
I always had a soft spot for Bundy for this reason - you could tell he was a man of genuine libertarian principles, but so immersed in a white supremacist, patriarchal, settler colonial community (and society) that those principles were thwarted long before they could turn into something liberatory.
Reposted by Simon Farley
Happy #NationalHedgehogDay 🥺
This little Egyptian faience model of a hedgehog is from a tomb at Abydos, and was made around 1,500–1,300 BCE.
Hedgehogs had a favourable reputation in ancient Egypt, and were often seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal of life.
This little Egyptian faience model of a hedgehog is from a tomb at Abydos, and was made around 1,500–1,300 BCE.
Hedgehogs had a favourable reputation in ancient Egypt, and were often seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal of life.
February 2, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Happy #NationalHedgehogDay 🥺
This little Egyptian faience model of a hedgehog is from a tomb at Abydos, and was made around 1,500–1,300 BCE.
Hedgehogs had a favourable reputation in ancient Egypt, and were often seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal of life.
This little Egyptian faience model of a hedgehog is from a tomb at Abydos, and was made around 1,500–1,300 BCE.
Hedgehogs had a favourable reputation in ancient Egypt, and were often seen as a symbol of rebirth and renewal of life.
Reposted by Simon Farley
Moving more electricity use off-peak could save the country up to $3 billion and transform the energy system in the process.
The study found New Zealand could, through fully exploiting modern technologies, lower electricity use at the busiest times by up to 25%.
www.eeca.govt.nz/about/news-a...
The study found New Zealand could, through fully exploiting modern technologies, lower electricity use at the busiest times by up to 25%.
www.eeca.govt.nz/about/news-a...
EECA flexible electricity report
Moving more electricity use off-peak could save the country up to $3 billion and transform the energy system in the process, according to new research from EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Aut...
www.eeca.govt.nz
February 1, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Moving more electricity use off-peak could save the country up to $3 billion and transform the energy system in the process.
The study found New Zealand could, through fully exploiting modern technologies, lower electricity use at the busiest times by up to 25%.
www.eeca.govt.nz/about/news-a...
The study found New Zealand could, through fully exploiting modern technologies, lower electricity use at the busiest times by up to 25%.
www.eeca.govt.nz/about/news-a...
Listening to bluegrass makes me feel like I'm on an adventure
February 2, 2026 at 2:05 AM
Listening to bluegrass makes me feel like I'm on an adventure
Reposted by Simon Farley
in 2018!!!! can we please stop giving her plausible deniability for being one of the most disgusting humans alive
JK Rowling's team invited Jeffery Epstein to the deathly hallows play and to a Harry potter dinner.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
February 1, 2026 at 6:06 PM
in 2018!!!! can we please stop giving her plausible deniability for being one of the most disgusting humans alive
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
1. Pop Songwriting
2. Literature, Ecology, Catastrophe
3. Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna
4. The History of Sexuality
5. Magic, Reason, New Worlds
1. Pop Songwriting
2. Literature, Ecology, Catastrophe
3. Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna
4. The History of Sexuality
5. Magic, Reason, New Worlds
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
1. Gender and Race in a Postcolonial World
2. Media Images and Representation
3. The Sixties: From Beats to Bongs
4. The Politics of Sexuality
5. Dangerous Liasons: Writing out of Africa
(I was a Gender major/English minor 😅)
1. Gender and Race in a Postcolonial World
2. Media Images and Representation
3. The Sixties: From Beats to Bongs
4. The Politics of Sexuality
5. Dangerous Liasons: Writing out of Africa
(I was a Gender major/English minor 😅)
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
1. Drawing the Human Figure
2. Sex, Gender & Representation
3. The Moving Image: Film, Art & Theory
4. Etching & Intaglio
5. Romanticism: From Impulse to Style
#ArtSchool kids represent! 😆 🎨🖼
1. Drawing the Human Figure
2. Sex, Gender & Representation
3. The Moving Image: Film, Art & Theory
4. Etching & Intaglio
5. Romanticism: From Impulse to Style
#ArtSchool kids represent! 😆 🎨🖼
January 31, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Never mind jobs you had, tell me five classes you took at university
1. Pop Songwriting
2. Literature, Ecology, Catastrophe
3. Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna
4. The History of Sexuality
5. Magic, Reason, New Worlds
1. Pop Songwriting
2. Literature, Ecology, Catastrophe
3. Biology of Australian Flora and Fauna
4. The History of Sexuality
5. Magic, Reason, New Worlds
Deeply sad news - vale!
Very sad to learn of the death of Heather Goodall, a brilliant historian and activist. She pioneered Aboriginal history in collaboration with Indigenous communities as well as leading the way in Australian environmental history. She was warm, generous, and immensely kind
@austhistassoc.bsky.social
@austhistassoc.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Deeply sad news - vale!
Belatedly did some tallying and I saw 111 species of bird last year - but that was across three continents, which feels a bit like cheating
January 30, 2026 at 10:22 AM
Belatedly did some tallying and I saw 111 species of bird last year - but that was across three continents, which feels a bit like cheating
Reposted by Simon Farley
Israel's apologists spent over 2 years sowing distrust in the official Gaza death toll.
Now the Israeli army quietly accepts that it is actually an underestimate.
Eternal shame for the atrocity deniers. They must never be absolved of their guilt.
Now the Israeli army quietly accepts that it is actually an underestimate.
Eternal shame for the atrocity deniers. They must never be absolved of their guilt.
January 30, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Israel's apologists spent over 2 years sowing distrust in the official Gaza death toll.
Now the Israeli army quietly accepts that it is actually an underestimate.
Eternal shame for the atrocity deniers. They must never be absolved of their guilt.
Now the Israeli army quietly accepts that it is actually an underestimate.
Eternal shame for the atrocity deniers. They must never be absolved of their guilt.
Reposted by Simon Farley
The Lebanese Muslim Association have released a statement on Scott Morrison’s recent statements.
They truly nailed it. It’s worth the read
They truly nailed it. It’s worth the read
January 29, 2026 at 9:04 AM
The Lebanese Muslim Association have released a statement on Scott Morrison’s recent statements.
They truly nailed it. It’s worth the read
They truly nailed it. It’s worth the read
What can one even say about Albo at this point. Few have sold out so much for so little. He gives up on everything in exchange for nothing. You can't even say he's good at compromise bc he backs down instantly and fully in the face of pressure. The leadership qualities of a flagless pole.
Inviting a president accused of genocide in the ICJ is one hell of a way to build "social cohesion" www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Albanese defends Isaac Herzog’s Australia visit as federal MP joins calls to rescind invitation
Independent MP Sophie Scamps joins Labor’s Friends of Palestine group and Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi in objecting to Israeli president’s visit
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:03 AM
What can one even say about Albo at this point. Few have sold out so much for so little. He gives up on everything in exchange for nothing. You can't even say he's good at compromise bc he backs down instantly and fully in the face of pressure. The leadership qualities of a flagless pole.
A lot of overlap between this stuff and the nonviolent resistance theologian Walter Wink described as "Jesus' third way". Make the forces of empire frustrated, confused, humiliated, trip over themselves without spilling a drop of blood.
January 29, 2026 at 7:46 AM
A lot of overlap between this stuff and the nonviolent resistance theologian Walter Wink described as "Jesus' third way". Make the forces of empire frustrated, confused, humiliated, trip over themselves without spilling a drop of blood.
Reposted by Simon Farley
Your regular reminder that #LunarNewYear is a public holiday in parts of Australia - on Christmas Island they get two days for it.
Wouldn’t it be nice if it was emulated across the country?
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #auspol
Wouldn’t it be nice if it was emulated across the country?
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #auspol
Extra public holiday for NSW under consideration as Anzac Day falls on weekend, premier says
State government in talks with RSL to ensure the creation of long weekend doesn’t detract from national day of remembrance
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:21 AM
Your regular reminder that #LunarNewYear is a public holiday in parts of Australia - on Christmas Island they get two days for it.
Wouldn’t it be nice if it was emulated across the country?
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #auspol
Wouldn’t it be nice if it was emulated across the country?
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne... #auspol
Quarterly reminder that if you'd like to pitch an "Off the Page" review for @historyaustralia.bsky.social (e.g. a review of an exhibition, podcast, series or movie), I'm your guy*!
*gender-neutral
*gender-neutral
January 29, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Quarterly reminder that if you'd like to pitch an "Off the Page" review for @historyaustralia.bsky.social (e.g. a review of an exhibition, podcast, series or movie), I'm your guy*!
*gender-neutral
*gender-neutral
Reposted by Simon Farley
Albanese must lead a strong response to the Boorloo Day of Mourning bomb attack.
After the horror at Bondi we saw that leadership on violence and racism is possible with political will.
The same urgency is needed on rising threats against First Peoples.
My response:
nit.com.au/28-01-2026/2...
After the horror at Bondi we saw that leadership on violence and racism is possible with political will.
The same urgency is needed on rising threats against First Peoples.
My response:
nit.com.au/28-01-2026/2...
Lidia Thorpe urges decisive response to attack on First Peoples and supporters at Boorloo rally
Senator Lidia Thorpe has urged the federal government to respond as decisively to the rising threats against First Peoples as it did to the antisemitic attack at Bondi.The Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab...
nit.com.au
January 28, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Albanese must lead a strong response to the Boorloo Day of Mourning bomb attack.
After the horror at Bondi we saw that leadership on violence and racism is possible with political will.
The same urgency is needed on rising threats against First Peoples.
My response:
nit.com.au/28-01-2026/2...
After the horror at Bondi we saw that leadership on violence and racism is possible with political will.
The same urgency is needed on rising threats against First Peoples.
My response:
nit.com.au/28-01-2026/2...
Reposted by Simon Farley
You’d think an attempted bombing of an event with 2,000 attendees on the shores of mainland Australia would get a breaking news alert and statement from the Prime Minister of the country.
But it’s blackfullas and people who associate with them, that’s fine.
But it’s blackfullas and people who associate with them, that’s fine.
January 27, 2026 at 10:17 AM
You’d think an attempted bombing of an event with 2,000 attendees on the shores of mainland Australia would get a breaking news alert and statement from the Prime Minister of the country.
But it’s blackfullas and people who associate with them, that’s fine.
But it’s blackfullas and people who associate with them, that’s fine.
Reposted by Simon Farley
To celebrate the publication of @d-j-frost.bsky.social and mine’s book ‘In Solidarity, Under Suspicion: The British Far Left from 1956’, I am giving away a copy to one randomly chosen person who reposts this post by 11.59pm ACST Sunday 1 Feb.
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/
January 27, 2026 at 7:21 AM
To celebrate the publication of @d-j-frost.bsky.social and mine’s book ‘In Solidarity, Under Suspicion: The British Far Left from 1956’, I am giving away a copy to one randomly chosen person who reposts this post by 11.59pm ACST Sunday 1 Feb.
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526179593/