Join Professor David Headon AM as he explores how the extraordinary partnership of Walter and Marion has impacted his own life, via books, government, living principles and surprising discoveries.

From his life-changing subject choice for a doctoral thesis in Canada; to his teaching areas at UNSW/ADFA, his time as an NCA Cultural Advisor and finally to his present 10-year project, it is a five-decade relationship that has resulted in unexpected joys and opportunities. 

This event is a partnership between the National Library of Australia and the Walter Burley Griffin Society. 

Professor David Headon is a Canberra-based historian and cultural consultant. A regular commentator on cultural, political and social issues on ABC radio, he is a Foundation Fellow at the Australian Studies Institute (ANU) and an Associate in the Parliamentary Library. He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001, and an AM for ‘significant service to history preservation, as a historian, cultural advisor and author’ in the 2025 Australia Day Honours List.