In 1918 Nellie Melba provided the boost to the career of artist Frank Williams that he had always dreamed of. The Adelaide born Williams had been wounded at Gallipoli, and was discharged in 1916 suffering from paralysis and severe shellshock. Back in Adelaide he slowly regained his
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Charlie Leeming, one of the smartest telegraphists in Tasmania, leaves Launceston to take charge of the Queenstown office. His co-workers packed him with lots of good wishes, travelling bag and rug of the very best. He will be much missed in Launceston. (The Clipper, Sat. Jul 23
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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
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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
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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
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‘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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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