The three dolls’ houses in this story were raffled to support the Red Cross in sending comfort parcels to Australian prisoners of war. The first mentioned was constructed and designed by the Apex Club of Tasmania. The name ‘Young Bill’ was used in publicity material to represent
Read more →
Bridges Bros. was established in 1857 by English born Samuel Bridges, at 142 Elizabeth Street, Hobart. He produced all manner of wicker furniture, prams and baskets. Mr Bridges had learnt the skills of wicker weaving in Hereford, where he had grown up. There was an early setback
Read more →
Around 1830 the Old Bell Hotel was built at 132 Elizabeth Street, Hobart. The Old Bell became a mecca for 19thC literary tourists. It was believed that in 1870 Marcus Clarke wrote the notes for his 1874 novel, For The Term of His Natural Life in the
Read more →
‘Bigger than Ben Hur’. the saying goes. Well that was certainly true of the fire that engulfed Sydney’s Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1902. Impressario J. C. Williamson’s production of Ben Hur had been wowing audiences since opening night on February 8. It was the biggest and costliest
Read more →
The first case of bubonic plague in Sydney occurred in January 1900. Sporadic cases occurred long after the initial outbreak and the Zoological Gardens at Moore Park did not escape. In 1902, they were forced to close, at least temporarily; Naturally the question arose of how the
Read more →
In the 1930s the general public still regarded an X-Ray plate with incomprehension and wonder. When a 65 year old coal miner underwent an X-ray of his lungs at Lithgow Hospital the bizarre result only increased that feeling. Beside Thomas Jackson’s ribs was a clear picture of
Read more →
Irish born 62 year old Miss Mary Fahy owned a two storey property on the corner of The Corso and Marine Parade in Sydney’s Maroubra. She ran a successful mixed business, and lived in a flat behind the shop. Her upstairs tenants were the Potter family; 47
Read more →
Gwen Meredith was the writer of one of Australia’s best loved radio serials; The Lawsons. I had no idea there had been a propagandist element behind its creation. In 1943 John Curtin’s Labor Government approached the ABC about highlighting the need to grow soya beans to help
Read more →
On January 19 1902, a buyer at the remote NSW mining town of White Cliffs received an order to supply several hundred pounds worth of opal to a jeweller in Melbourne. Being Sunday, the buyer was unable to insure or register the precious parcel. A risky decision
Read more →
Hello, Editor Des here. We have been doing a lot landscaping around our new house, digging trenches for pipes and stuff like that. I was helping the men the other day when I spotted something VERY interesting. It looked a bit like the moon, or a miniature
Read more →