Isabella Pye was the sole fatality when Sydney’s Her Majesty’s Theatre burned down on March 23 1902. Her family had recently moved to Paddington from Parramatta. Known affectionately as Bella, the 27 year old widow was working as a live-in domestic at Gaffney’s Bakery, located at 102
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Charles Shepherd, a struggling, Brisbane born artist, was the subject of great excitement when a portrait he exhibited at the 1926 Dominion Artists’ Exhibition in London was called ‘a work of genius’. The Exhibition arose from the Dominion Artists’ Club, established in 1924 by Dr. G.A Pfister
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In August 1945 Manchester born Mrs Ethel Livesey arrived in Sydney’s wealthy Eastern Suburbs. She was a larger than life character, who enjoyed the good things in life and delighted in entertaining. The Sun newspaper published a piece on her hospitality towards Australian and American servicemen while
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Do you remember that engaging Kit Kat ad based on Frederick McCubbin’s On the Wallaby Track? The characters came to life after closing time, rather like the movie Night at the Museum. Whenever I see the painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales I can’t
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In April 1954 a registered mailbag was found on the Mitchell Highway at Blaxland, in the Blue Mountains. Its contents were intact, which was a relief, but authorities were worried. On May 25 a police officer came across another registered mailbag in Hickson Street, Miller’s Point, near
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I thought it would be interesting to look back at the federal election 100 years ago. It was spookily similar. A conservative government seeking re-election after a lengthy time in office. Leader of the Nationalists Billy Hughes was dubbed The Little Digger. As Prime Minister he had
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This is the second part of the Worrell story. For the first part, CLICK HERE. ✔ Leslie Worrell left his sweetheart Martha Lennon at home when he enlisted in WWI (the 35th Battalion). The pair corresponded for three years, but just before Worrell returned home in 1919
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The story of Les Worrell is one of those cases of human nature that defy understanding. Leslie Clive Worrell was from Baradine Creek, Coonamble, NSW. He was the eldest son of Lewis and Charlotte Worrell, highly respected graziers on a property called Melrose. His 21st birthday party
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Remember how excited we were to see Sydney Tower/Centrepoint Tower rising above the city in the late 1970s? Passengers aboard the QEII in 1978 were a bit too early to dine in the Tower, When it opened in 1981 it was THE place to take overseas visitors,
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It has taken me nearly thirty years to visit Nutcote, the artist May Gibbs’ harbourside home in Sydney. Why I left it so long I have no idea, but it was certainly worth the wait. After almost being lost to developers the property opened to the public
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