Alan Frost

Alan J. Frost , (29 March 1943 – 12 April 2023) was an Australian historian and professor emeritus at La Trobe University. A major theme of his research involved the European exploration of the Pacific Ocean over the second half of the eighteenth century. He is best known for books in which he challenges common historical stereotypes and misconceptions concerning the colonisation of Australia. These include Botany Bay Mirages: Illusions of Australia's Convict Beginnings, Botany Bay: The Real Story, The First Fleet: The Real Story, and Mutiny, Mayhem, Mythology: Bounty's Enigmatic Voyage. Frost's arguments radically challenge those expressed by prominent historians Manning Clark and Robert Hughes. Early life Frost was born in 1943 in Cairns and as the son of teachers spent his childhood in rural Queensland including time in Gayndah, Beaudesert, East Barron and Cardwell. Academic career Alan Frost completed an MA at the University of Queensland in 1966. Following this, he went to the University of Rochester in New York, where he completed an MA (1968) and a PhD (1969). He took up his appointment in the English department at La Trobe University in 1970, moving full time into the history department in 1975. He was a visiting scholar at Oxford University and taught at the Australian National University, the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Calgary. He served as Pro-Vice Chancellor and Director of La Trobe's Mildura Campus (2004-2006) and as Director, Institute for Advanced Study (2006-2008). He held a personal chair in history at La Trobe until his retirement in 2008, after which he became professor emeritus and continued his scholarship. Awards and honours Hon. D.Litt., La Trobe University (2008) Centenary Medal (2003) D.Litt., University of Queensland (1996) Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (1990–) Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (1988–)