Allan McCulloch; Australian Museum Curator

Allan McCulloch; Australian Museum Curator

Allan Riverstone McCulloch (1885-1925) scientist. museum curator, illustrator, journalist, and so much more. McCulloch’s legacy has been largely unacknowledged, but he is the subject of a recent biography by Brendan Atkins. I absolutely loved the book, although it may not appeal to everyone. McCulloch was born in

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THE ATKINS WWII TRAY

THE ATKINS WWII TRAY

I have been ‘decluttering’ as we move into our new house. One item that nearly went into the skip was an old, glass covered wooden tray. Apart from accumulated dust and dirt it had one seemingly unsolvable problem, The gold braid trim under the glass had broken.

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ARTILLERYMAN & ‘THE PEACE CUP’ 🏆🐴

ARTILLERYMAN & 'THE PEACE CUP' 🏆🐴

November 1919 – WWI has ended, the flu epidemic has eased, and 110,000 people turn out for race day at Flemington; the nation stopping Melbourne Cup From the Adelaide Observer, November 8 1919); ‘One of Australia’s best assets is the horse. Like the call of the bush,

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CONSTANCE DICKENS, A TRAGIC ‘MRS MICAWBER’.

CONSTANCE DICKENS, A TRAGIC 'MRS MICAWBER'.

Constance Dickens (nee Desailly) was the wife of Edward Bulwer Lytton Dickens, affectionately dubbed Plorn by his father, the author Charles Dickens. Plorn was a contraction of a much longer ‘nonsense’ nickname. The pair married on July 7 1880 at the Desailly residence in outback Wilcannia, New

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AGATHA CHRISTIE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS & BEYOND

AGATHA CHRISTIE IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS & BEYOND

Imagine Agatha Christie needing an introduction. 😎 The following article appeared below a small photo of her in Sydney’s Evening News a century ago. (1922). Wife of Colonel Christie, a member of the British Empire Mission at present travelling through Australia to spread the details of the

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ARCHIBALD THOMPSON & THE POTTS POINT PROWLER

ARCHIBALD THOMPSON & THE POTTS POINT PROWLER

After making his fortune through a wine and spirit business in Sydney’s Pitt Street, Archibald Thompson J.P. bought a harbourside mansion at Potts Point called Clopee. The home had been built by John Solomon in 1858. At the time of the events in this story, Archibald and

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‘HARD TIMES’ FOR DICKENS’ STATUE

'HARD TIMES' FOR DICKENS' STATUE

In the 1890s it was decided to ‘dress up’ Sydney’s Centennial Park with monuments of eminent people. One choice was a full size, marble statue of novelist Charles Dickens. However, there was a major problem, as M.P Mr J.D. Fitzgerald made known in State Parliament. He demanded

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GEOFF MOLINE; GOLD FIELD ARCHITECT & ARTIST

GEOFF MOLINE; GOLD FIELD ARCHITECT & ARTIST

HERE IS A SECOND GUEST POST BY MY FRIEND WENDY MOLINE ABOUT HER INTERESTING FAMILY HISTORY. THIS TIME SHE WRITES ABOUT HER TALENTED GREAT UNCLE GEOFF. In late August 1892, at a site known as Fly Flat in Coolgardie, prospectors Arthur Bayley and William Ford found more

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TYPHOID ON THE OPAL FIELD

TYPHOID ON THE OPAL FIELD

Typhoid fever is a contagious disease caused by salmonella bacteria. Outbreaks occur where there is a lack of clean water and sanitary facilities, resulting in poor hygiene. Australia’s outback mining camps presented the perfect breeding ground. In the 1890s there were outbreaks in the NSW goldmining town

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