Imperial Arcade Lottery Swindle

Imperial Arcade Lottery Swindle

The saying goes that life is a lottery, and  in nineteenth century Sydney two men promised everyone a chance to win big. In the  early 189os  Australia experienced  a severe economic depression. Many banks and other financial institutions went bust. One casualty  was the Mercantile Building Land

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HUONDEN – LOVE AND LOSS

HUONDEN - LOVE AND LOSS

In 1895, architect Alan Cameron Walker designed his own home, Huonden,  in his birthplace of Hobart.   The property had an immediate impact; That charming coterie of accomplished ladies and gentlemen who strive to keep an interest in art alive in our midst and who form the

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STEPHEN BRANSGROVE – ART FRAUD 101

STEPHEN BRANSGROVE - ART FRAUD 101

In 1933 Tasmanian born artist  Stephen Bransgrove was being feted as a principal prize winner at the 108th annual exhibition at the National Academy of Design in New York City. Bransgrove was a complete unknown, so it was a huge but pleasant surprise.  Apparently he had  lived

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THE MERINO – AND A PRECIOUS FRENCH CARGO

THE MERINO - AND A PRECIOUS FRENCH CARGO

The Merino – ship of treasures. In July  1949, Tasmanian Premier Robert Cosgrove travelled to Scotland to  launch the freighter Merino. It had been  built on Glasgow’s River Clyde on behalf of Launceston trading company L.W. Smith Pty. Ltd. A bottle of Tasmanian  champagne had been sent

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THE MYSTERY OF MATRON LUCY OSBURN’S COSTUME

THE MYSTERY OF MATRON LUCY OSBURN'S COSTUME

In September 1953 an event celebrating the history of nursing in Sydney was held at the Town Hall. It was organized by  the Australian Trained Nurses Association. One of the major characters represented in the ‘cavalcade’ was Lucy Osburn,  first matron of  the Sydney Infirmary (later known

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HARD TIMES FOR HEADMASTER HUXLEY

HARD TIMES FOR HEADMASTER HUXLEY

Eric Huxley, 19, a student of the Sydney University, living at Clanalpine Street, Mosman, was struck by a motor car as he was crossing Parramatta Road near the University yesterday. He suffered a fractured skull…..he died late last night. (Sydney Morning Herald, June 13 1930) The  young

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