One of my favourite places in Sydney is the Library of NSW in historic Macquarie Street. So much to see, but one of the most interesting sections of the library is the ever changing Amaze Gallery. Look what I spotted recently; a Victorian era recipe book about
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What could be more wonderful than working at Sydney’s Mitchell Library then popping up to the roof for a drink….or two? 🍸🍹 The space was once used by library staff as a canteen and recreation area, but then just forgotten about. Apparently the young women are playing
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Max Meldrum (1875-1955), was a Melbourne artist whose portraits won the Archibald Prize on two occasions. Meldrum established the Australian art movement that became known as ‘tonalism‘, in which light and shade were deemed to be as important as colour itself. This article is about a very
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Wealthy Queensland grazier Alfred Hill and his beautiful wife Edith were among the first to purchase a flat in The Astor, Sydney’s first ‘skyscraper’ residential block at 123 Macquarie Street. Built in the 1920s, it offered expansive harbour views, a maid service, staffed lifts and an internal
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Completed in 1923 The Astor represented an entirely new concept in Australian residential living; private ownership of individual apartments. Located at 123 Macquarie Street the building was thirteen storeys high, Sydney’s first ‘skyscraper’. The 52 ultra-modern flats provided expansive views of the harbour. Premier of New south
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My older sister gave me a late night, graphic account of Hitchcock’s The Birds after going to see that creepy movie many years ago. She was such a good storyteller that I lay awake in a state of terror. However, since then I have become an absolute
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Tasmania’s Advocate newspaper provides incredibly detailed information for social historians and those researching family history. It has recorded daily life along the state’s north-west coast for generations. How it missed the story of the backyard lion is beyond me. In 1893 Esther Powley of Cressy married Alfred
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Ceratopetalum gummiferum, is a small tree commonly known as the New South Wales Christmas Bush. Its sepals turn bright red/pink in December. In Victorian times, native foliage such as Christmas bush was very popular as a festive decoration in Sydney. It was growing in the heart of
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So much has been written about William Dobell’s controversial portrait of his friend and fellow artist Joshua Smith. It was awarded the prestigious Archibald Prize in 1943, but branded by many as a caricature due to Smith’s exaggerated features. A law suit followed, brought by two unsuccessful
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Rations and ‘comfort parcels’ for Scottish relatives were part of Jean Nicholson’s childhood memories in wartime Sydney, when her family were living at Eastwood. This is an extract from her brief memoir of those years. Food was rationed from 1942. Mum had coupons that were exchanged for
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