PlanningxChange 145: Robyn Annear on Cities, Memory and the Art of Noticing

In this episode of PlanningxChange, Jess Noonan and Peter Jewell speak with historian and writer Robyn Annear about cities, memory and the art of noticing. Robyn has written extensively about Melbourne, lost places, everyday life, archival fragments and the small details that open up larger stories. Her recent book Shutter City looks closely at early photographs of Melbourne, but the conversation ranges more widely across her work as a historian and writer. The discussion explores place-based history, the previous lives of cities and towns, and the question that sits behind much of Robyn’s work: what was here before? Robyn reflects on how photographs, newspapers, buildings, signs, shopfronts, street furniture and passing figures can reveal the ordinary rhythms of urban life, including work, trade, movement, amusement, language, humour and sociability. The episode also considers whether history has become a niche interest, how historical knowledge can help planners, architects and city managers resist generic “anywhere” urbanism, and how memory can survive even when buildings and places change. Robyn also discusses AI-generated versions of the past, the danger of confident but invented historical narratives, and why human curiosity and judgement remain central to historical understanding. In Podcast extra / culture corner, Robyn recommends the poetry of John Clare, Jess recommends Pete's children’s book 'Kaizo at Dog Beach' (soon to be released on Amazon), and Pete recommends the Korean drama Teach You a Lesson appearing on Netflix. Podcast released 29 July 2026.