The Strange Case of Mr and Mrs Joel in the Blue Mountains

The Strange Case of Mr and Mrs  Joel in the Blue Mountains

A CHANGE OF AIR FOR MRS JOEL On April 15 1918,  Mr David  Joel and his wife Emily  left Sydney by train  for the Blue Mountains village of Wentworth Falls, about  95km (60 miles) west of the city.  Forty seven year old.  Mr Joel was a  small

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TOMMY BURNS V JACK JOHNSON, SYDNEY 1908

TOMMY BURNS  V JACK JOHNSON,  SYDNEY 1908

In 1908, world heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Burns was about to fight  the black  American  giant, Jack  Johnson, the son of former slaves. It was to be the Canadian born champion’s 13th defense of his title.  The location  for the bout was the then open-air  Sydney Stadium  in

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BLACKHEATH BOBBY!

BLACKHEATH BOBBY!

DID BLACKHEATH  REALLY NEED A BOBBY? During the summer of 1892 the cash box was stolen from the general store in  the Blue Mountains village of Blackheath. There was an immediate  call to appoint a policeman. Not everyone was in favour of this step, as the  following

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SCANDAL IN BLACKHEATH’S WENTWORTH STREET

SCANDAL IN  BLACKHEATH'S WENTWORTH STREET

Wentworth Street in the Blue Mountains village of Blackheath  is filled  with tourists  during April and May, when  the deciduous trees put on a spectacular display of  autumn colour. I live just around the corner and it’s always a pleasure to walk along the street on my way

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THE SPINEBILL FUCHSIA

THE SPINEBILL FUCHSIA

 THE FUCHSIA Fuchsias were discovered growing in the Caribbean in the 17th century,  by  a French monk  called Charles Plumier.  He named them in honour of  German botanist, Leonhart Fuchs. There are so many varieties it would be impossible to   list them here. Anyway, there is only one, very

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Autumn in Blackheath

Autumn in Blackheath

Autumn is a delight my little village of Blackheath. I do joke and call it Bleakheath, but only with affection.  It’s in the  upper Blue Mountains of New South Wales, so the seasons are well defined.  Spring is gorgeous and  snow  can occasionally transform it in winter.

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HISTORIC PAINTING RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA

HISTORIC PAINTING RETURNS TO AUSTRALIA

 THE EVANS PAINTING – AND A LITTLE MIRACLE For many years I have been attempting to trace four unidentified sketches by Elizabeth Macquarie,   wife of Lachlan Macquarie, an early Governor of New South Wales.  As a resident of the Blue Mountains, I would like to believe

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ERNIE APPLE TREE JNR.

ERNIE APPLE TREE JNR.

IN THE BEGINNING – ERNIE APPLE TREE SENIOR In 1953 my parents moved to the Tasmanian farm I grew up  on. It was four miles from the coastal town of Ulverstone In the back garden (out on sight in the photo)  was an old apple tree. Unfortunately

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BRADMAN HITS A TON IN 3 OVERS FOR BLACKHEATH V LITHGOW.

BRADMAN HITS A TON IN 3 OVERS FOR BLACKHEATH V LITHGOW.

Hello….Editor Des here, with a story about BRADMAN! 🏏 Well until the dreaded virus it was all sport, sport, sport in our household. So I thought I would write a piece about a famous cricketer!  By the way, the local coach once told me that I had

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BLACKHEATH – PIE IN THE SKY!

BLACKHEATH - PIE IN THE SKY!

It would be difficult to calculate the number of meat pies eaten at sporting events in Australia….especially at AFL matches.. There is an eatery in my Blue Mountains village of Blackheath regarded as a bit of an institution when it comes to a meal in a pastry

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