Jessie Pile was the youngest daughter of wealthy South Australian pastoralist James Pile. James had built a ten room mansion at Gawler called Oaklands, and when the rest of her immediate family passed away Miss Pile lived on at the property alone. She became increasingly eccentric, dressing
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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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The age-old rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne flared in 1912 over a painting by Italian born Chevalier Eduardo de Martino (1838-1912). The story began in 1901, when the Duke and Duchess of York visited Australia for the opening of the first parliament, held in Melbourne. The couple
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My home town of Ulverstone, on Tasmania’s north-west coast, was always known for its potatoes. However, in the late 1940s there was another contender for the town’s most valuable export product….. CANNED RABBITS! But before I continue with that I must share an earlier venture with rabbits
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She was an eccentric genius, credited with some thirty inventions. Many had a domestic application; including stitch-less buttons (an early press stud), boneless corsets, and a folding clothes line that could accommodate 280 ft of washing in an area of just 12ft by 6ft. Mrs Farrell claimed
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Cape Everard Lighthouse in Victoria is now known as Point Hicks Lighthouse. The reason why is explained in a link at the end of this article. From The Argus, January 10 1935 STEAMER CAPE YORK TAKES TOYS AND STORES Although the Christmas and New Year festivities are
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Cabinet maker Tom Piper arrived in Ulverstone from Victoria in 1921 and set up business in Reiby Street. What an asset he proved to be. If I were asked to describe the furniture showroom of Mr. T.H. Piper, cabinetmaker, Ulverstone, at the main entrance to which is
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The soprano Amy Sherwin was ‘discovered’ as a young woman when members of an Italian Opera company heard her singing in rural Tasmania. Many years later something similar happened in England, but this time it was Amy who was the discoverer. As Amy’s own singing career began
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Isn’t this a striking, full length portrait? The subject is Tasmanian born artist Florence Rodway. It was completed by her friend and fellow artist Norman Carter (1875-1963), in 1910. Unfortunately no colour version exists. The first mention of the portrait in the press was in 1911; Mr
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The Kindergarten Union of New South Wales was established by a handful of educational reformers in 1895. They believed that Sydney’s deprived, inner-city children should be given the opportunity to experience gentle, play based learning before entering public school. A founding member of the group was the
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