2016
Inaugural Sir Martin Oration
By The Hon. Thomas Frederick Bathurst AC CJ
Martin is remembered as the first Australian Premier and Chief Justice, and the only person to have occupied both positions.
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2017
Leadership and Public Trust: the binding forces of democracy
By The Hon. Robert French AC
Contemporary Australia does not do a lot to celebrate those leaders of the Australian colonies who created the conditions for one of the world’s most successful and durable representative democracies.
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2018
A Tale of Two Ships: the MV Tampa and the SS Afghan
By The Hon. Justice Stephen Gageler AC
This oration tells the tale of two events of constitutional significance: the arrival in 1888 of steamer the SS Afghan into Sydney Harbour and the entry in 2001 of Norwegian containership the MV Tampa into Australian territorial waters.
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2019
The Sir James Martin Oration
By The Hon. Justice Virginia Bell AC
When James Martin was sworn in as the fourth Chief Justice of the Colony, his appointment was welcomed as that of the “first Australian Chief Justice”.
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2022
‘On classic ground’: Martin’s monument and civilizational yearnings in colonial New South Wales
By The Hon. A. S. Bell Chief Justice of NSW
Rather than exploring Martin’s contributions to established institutions, this oration examines the history of a particular material legacy that Martin left behind.
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