Noel G. Butlin (19 December 1921 – 2 April 1991) was an Australian

economic historian Economic history is the study of history using methodological tools from economics or with a special attention to economic phenomena. Research is conducted using a combination of historical methods, statistical methods and the application of ...

, considered "one of the most outstanding Australian social scientists of his generation, and one of the major international figures in economic history." He was long associated with the

Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public university, public research university and member of the Group of Eight (Australian universities), Group of Eight, located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton, A ...

, the library of which has an archives centre that bears his name. Butlin was born in

Singleton, New South Wales Singleton is a town on the banks of the Hunter River (New South Wales), Hunter River in New South Wales, Australia. Singleton is 202km (126 mi) north-north-west of Sydney, and 70 km (43 mi) north-west of Newcastle, New South Wales ...

on 19 December 1921. His father was a railway porter. His brother was Sydney James Butlin. Noel Butlin attended Maitland Boys’ High School and the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...

. He worked for

Frank Lidgett McDougall Frank Lidgett McDougall (1884–1958) was a British-born Australian farmer and economic adviser, now best known for his part in the foundation of the Food and Agriculture Organization. Early life He was the son of John McDougall, a Wesleyan Met ...

, helping to prepare the Australian delegation for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation conference in 1945. From 1946 to 1949, Butlin was lecturer in economic history at the University of Sydney. In 1962, he became professor of economic history at the Australian National University. He was professor of Australian Studies at Harvard University from 1979 to 1980. He became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences from 1956 and a corresponding fellow of the

British Academy The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical, Philosophical and Philological Studies is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the sa ...

from 1976. The Economic History Society of Australia and New Zealand hold an annual lecture in his name. Butlin was appointed

Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an Australian honours and awards system, Australian honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Monarch ...

in 1992. His posthumous 1993 book ''Economics and the Dreamtime: A Hypothetical History'' provides an economic history of Australia that covers pre-European Australia's economy, as well as indigenous society's contributions to early colonial Australia's history. He married Lilias Joan Lindsay, a social worker, in 1946.

References

1921 births 1991 deaths Economic historians 20th-century Australian historians Academic staff of the Australian National University Academic staff of the University of Sydney Harvard University faculty Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Companions of the Order of Australia University of Sydney alumni {{Australia-historian-stub