Dr Lauren Samuelsson

Southern Highlands Writers’ Festival 2025

Dr Lauren Samuelsson is a cultural historian whose award-winning work includes Australian cultural history, popular culture and gender history. In A Matter of Taste, Lauren examines the history of The Australian Women’s Weekly and its influence on our food and culture.

Drawing on recipes, food editorials and readers’ memories, this book is a celebration of the Weekly’s vital role in the development of Australian food culture, debunking the myth that Australian food was “bland” and “boring” prior to postwar migration and illuminating important relationships between food, culture and identity.

Lauren holds a PhD in history from the University of Wollongong, Australia, where she is an Honorary Fellow. Her work has been published in History Australia and Australian Historical Studies and The Conversation. She is a regular guest on Australian radio, where she shares her love of food history with people nationwide.

Tickets $18 + booking fee