Leviathan: An Astonishing History of Whales

Dr Adam Paterson presented on 13 February 2018 'Leviathan: An Astonishing History of Whales' at the South Australian Maritime Museum.

Around the globe and across centuries, whales have inspired awe. They exemplify nature’s grandeur and they have been linked to gods and monsters. But such enormous creatures hold a bounty unlike any other. They have been hunted by subsistence fishers hungry for food. And they have been driven to the cusp of extinction by industrial whalers. Now gaining strength, whale numbers may continue to grow or their recovery may be undermined as human actions degrade their habitats.

In this talk curator Dr Adam Paterson unpacked the history of South Australia’s whaling industry against the back drop of the SA Maritime Museums exhibition 'Leviathan: An astonishing history of whales'. The exhibition challenged audiences to look beyond the biological importance of whales and consider cultural questions by exploring different viewpoints – unpacking the history of the relationship between humans and whales across time and cultures.

Leviathan was on display at the South Australian Maritime Museum in 2018.

This free public lecture was part of the History Trust of South Australia's Talking History series. For upcoming events visit: history.sa.gov.au/whats-on/events/