11 Facts About Geoffrey Serle

Geoffrey Serle attended Scotch College and briefly read history at the University of Melbourne where he was a resident at Ormond College before joining the Second Australian Imperial Force in 1941.

Geoffrey Serle was seriously wounded in action at Finschhafen, New Guinea.

Geoffrey Serle was discharged in 1944, and resumed study at the University of Melbourne, being active in the University Labour Club.

From 1950 Geoffrey Serle taught Australian History at the University of Melbourne, and after 1961 was Reader in History at the newly established Monash University.

Geoffrey Serle's first book appeared in 1957; The Melbourne Scene was a selection of documents relating to Victoria and was edited with James Grant.

Geoffrey Serle was active in the establishment of the Victorian branch of the Australian Fabian Society and in establishing the Friends of the La Trobe Library in 1966.

Geoffrey Serle was closely associated with Meanjin and Overland magazines.

Geoffrey Serle was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1986.

On 12 January 1955 Geoffrey Serle married Jessie Macdonald, an art historian, with whom he had four children: Oenone, Donald, Jamie and Richard.

Geoffrey Serle was known in his youth for his sporting prowess and in his middle age for being an "enthusiastic spectator".

Geoffrey Serle enjoyed a can of beer, a glass of wine, a cigarette and his pipe.