About

2026 Annual Oration and Dinner with Andrew Roberts, Lord Roberts of Belgravia 

The Robert Menzies Institute is delighted to invite you to our 2026 Annual Oration and Dinner on Thursday 17 September 2026 at the Park Hyatt Ballroom from 6:30pm to 10:30pm.

This year, we are thrilled to bring to you one of the world’s greatest historians, Andrew Roberts, Lord Roberts of Belgravia.

Lord Roberts will speak on the stirring theme: One Soaring Imagination: The Destiny of the English-Speaking Peoples in the Twenty-First Century.

ABOUT LORD ROBERTS

One of the most frequently quoted historians on The Rest is History podcast, Lord Roberts has written 21 books which have been translated into 28 languages and have won thirteen literary prizes. These include Churchill: Walking with Destiny, Napoleon: A Life, and most recently, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare 1945 to Ukraine, which he co-authored with General David Petraeus.

Lord Roberts is the Bonnie and Tom McCloskey Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he hosts the podcast Secrets of Statecraft with Andrew Roberts, a visiting Fellow of King’s College, London, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Historical Society, and a member of the House of Lords.

ABOUT THE TOPIC

The phrase “one soaring imagination” comes from Sir Robert Menzies’s eulogy for Sir Winston Churchill in January 1965:

“In the whole of recorded modern history this was, I believe, the one occasion when one man with one soaring imagination, with one fire burning in him, and with one unrivalled capacity for conveying it to others, won a crucial victory not only for the forces (for there were many heroes in those days) but for the very spirit of human freedom.” 

For Menzies, Churchill represented more than Britain alone. He embodied a civilisation of free institutions, democratic resolve and moral courage.

Lord Roberts is uniquely placed to explore this inheritance. His acclaimed work, A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1901, deliberately continues Churchill’s own great history, which ended in 1900 – just before the birth of the Australian Commonwealth.

But this Oration will not simply look back. At a time when liberal democracy is under pressure, alliances are being tested, and confidence in the institutions of freedom can no longer be taken for granted, Lord Roberts will ask what responsibilities now fall upon countries such as Australia, Britain and the United States.

Can we recover the imagination, courage and conviction needed to defend the free society in the twenty-first century?

Join us for what promises to be a memorable evening of history, ideas and national reflection.

DETAILS OF THE EVENT

DATE: Thursday 17 September 2026
TIME: 6:30pm to 10:30pm
VENUE: Park Hyatt Ballroom, Park Hyatt Hotel, 1 Parliament Square, Parliament Place, Melbourne, VIC 3002
DRESS CODE: Business attire 
TICKETS: Early Bird tickets will be available until Wednesday 15 July. Robert Menzies Institute members receive an additional 10% discount. The discount code will be emailed to them.

ABOUT THE DINNER

The tickets include canapés commencing at 6.30pm followed by a three-course meal with drinks in the luxury surrounds of the Park Hyatt Ballroom.

TICKET AND BOOKING INFORMATION

There are a range of ticket options for this event.

RMI members can avail a 10% discount on all tickets. If you haven't received your membership discount code, please write to Chetna Mahadik at chetna@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au.

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS 

Speaker’s Table (only 6 seats available): $2,250 per person

Early Bird Specials available until Wednesday 15 July 2026.
Early Bird Silver Tickets: $300
Early Bird Gold Tickets: $500
Early Bird VIP Tickets: $1,000
Gold seats have premium seating. VIP tickets have exclusive seating.

Ticket prices from Thursday 16 July 2026. 
Silver Tickets: $350
Gold Tickets: $550
VIP Tickets: $1,100
Gold seats have premium seating. VIP tickets have exclusive seating.
Student tickets: $150 (These can only be purchased by writing at chetna@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au and sharing your student ID).

BOOKINGS FOR TABLES FOR 10

Early Bird Specials available until Wednesday 15 July 2026.
Early Bird Gold Table: $4,500
Early Bird Silver Table: $2,700
Early Bird VIP Table: $9,000

Ticket prices from Thursday 16 July 2026. 
Gold Table: $5,000
Silver Table: $3,000
VIP Table: $10,000
Gold and VIP tables are a premium table location for the dinner.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

Trybooking accepts credit card payment for VISA, Mastercard and Apple Pay. You may use American Express if your American Express card is linked via Google Pay or Apple Pay.

For direct payment with American Express or invoices for payment via EFT or to purchase student tickets, please contact Chetna Mahadik, General Manager at chetna@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au.

If you wish to become a member of the Robert Menzies Institute and avail our discounted tickets to our events, visit here: Membership | Robert Menzies Institute

Refunds are not available from 7 days prior to the event (Thursday 10th September) 

We have created several Early Bird offers for our members and supporters and I urge all of you to avail yourself of these offers which end 15 July 2026.

Student discount available to current students, please email chetna@robertmenziesinstitute.org.au with proof of student status.

The Institute is bringing Lord Roberts to Australia in partnership with the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney. Lord Roberts will be speaking in Sydney on the night of Wednesday 16 September 2026. For details, please visit here.

Date

Location

Get directions

Park Hyatt Ballroom
1 Parliament Square, Parliament Place, Melbourne , CBD VIC 3002

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