Blue Mountains – latest article

  • EVERGLADES HOUSE - AN ART DECO GEM
    EVERGLADES HOUSE – AN ART DECO GEM
    On a recent (very rare) sunny day here in the Blue Mountains, my partner Rob and I visited the recently restored Everglades House at Leura. I had read  a feature about it  in the January 2024 National Trust magazine. Even though we live nearby at Blackheath, it...
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History – latest article

  • PAUL LOUBET - THE FALLOUT
    PAUL LOUBET – THE FALLOUT
    When  ‘Doctor’ Paul Rene Loubet was unmasked as an imposter in September 1917 he left behind a grieving, bewildered young widow. Nell Kent Loubet (nee Hughes) immediately moved back to her family’s home  in Toorak. More positively, she graduated from Melbourne University in January 1918 as a...
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Humour – latest article

  • VITA-WEAT - NOW WITHOUT  'WORMS'
    VITA-WEAT – NOW WITHOUT ‘WORMS’
    Vita-Weat biscuits were introduced  in Australia in 1932, by the UK company Peak Frean’s.  For many years the factory was located in the Syndey suburb of Ashfield. The cartoon style advertisements in the Women’s Weekly during the 1930s were hilarious At least women weren’t the only target,...
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Travel – latest article

  • WOOLLOOMOOLOO.....FULL CIRCLE
    WOOLLOOMOOLOO…..FULL CIRCLE
    First up, a silly riddle about Woolloomooloo by C.J. Dennis; Yes, that’s eight o’s. 😛 It’s a small jump to the puzzle of which Aussie icon rhymes with Woolloomooloo. WOOLLOOMOOLOO – affectionately dubbed ‘the Loo’. It once had a reputation as a rough and ready sort of...
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Latest Blog Posts

  • PAUL LOUBET - THE TRAGIC FINALE
    PAUL LOUBET – THE TRAGIC FINALE
      The continuing story of  Paul Rene  Loubet. Dr Loubet accepted a position at the Melbourne Hospital in May 1917. Subsequently  he was required to present himself at Melbourne University,  to be examined for the degree of M.D. As part of the process he presented the Registrar...
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  • THEY FOUND A CAVE
    THEY FOUND A CAVE
    The well known  children’s novel They Found a Cave was written  by Tasmanian author  Nan Chauncy, and  published in 1948. Some years ago my partner and I visited the writer’s longtime home, Chauncy Vale, near the small town of Bagdad.  The adventure story was inspired by a...
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  • THE TASMANIAN 'ABDUCTION' OF KING'S CROSS BOB
    THE TASMANIAN ‘ABDUCTION’ OF KING’S CROSS BOB
    The Tasmanian sojourn of the fox terrier known as Kings Cross Bob began early in 1939.   It’s worth noting that by then  the dog had truly entered the mythology of The Cross. By the way, if you haven’t read part one of the story, CLICK HERE. Here...
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  • KING'S CROSS BOB - THE FAMOUS FOX TERRIER
    KING’S CROSS BOB – THE FAMOUS FOX TERRIER
    This is the story of  King’s Cross Bob,  a dog who brought joy to a community (actually to an entire city) throughout the Great Depression. The Sydney tabloid Smith’s Weekly paid tribute to him in April 1940. Yes, the ‘retired gentleman’ was a famous, aging fox terrier. ...
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