My Articles

BIRDS – THE EYES HAVE IT!

BIRDS - THE EYES HAVE IT!

For birds, sight is the most critical of the senses for survival. Hence, their eyes are much larger in relation to the size of their heads (and brains) in comparison to other vertebrate, including we humans. A large pupil allows more light to enter. That’s why an

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STAMPS OF VAN DIEMEN’S LAND

STAMPS OF VAN DIEMEN'S LAND

By the 1850s Tasmania (still known as Van Dieman’s Land) was in need of its own, official postage system and legislation was duly passed. It was intended that the first stamps would be printed in England, but as the deadline of a November 1 1853 issue date

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EDITH HOLMES – AN ARTIST WITH A PERSONAL OUTLOOK

EDITH HOLMES - AN ARTIST WITH A PERSONAL OUTLOOK

Edith Holmes (1893-1973) was born in the rural community of Hamilton, in Tasmania. She showed great promise at drawing from an early age. Encouraged by her mother, Edith began studying art at the Hobart Technical College in 1918, aged 15. In 1930-31 she received tuition at Julian

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HOBART’S FLOATING BRIDGE

HOBART'S FLOATING BRIDGE

HOBART – Sunday. The Premier Mr A. G. Ogilvie announced tonight that the Government intended to submit a bill to Parliament on October 13 to permit a private company to construct a pontoon type of bridge across the Derwent between Government House Point and midway between Lindisfarne

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ANNA KING; AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF A GOVERN0R’S LADY

ANNA KING; AN INTIMATE PORTRAIT OF A GOVERN0R'S LADY

Anna King was the first Governor’s spouse to reside in New South Wales. Her husband (and first cousin) was Philip Gidley King, the Colony’s third Governor. He was in office from 1800 until 1806. In 1799 Anna boarded the ship Speedy for a not so speedy trip

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A BANDICOOT AND OTHER FRIENDS

A BANDICOOT AND OTHER FRIENDS

Is it possible to make friends with a bandicoot? Well, to my surprise the answer is ……yes! Lorraine Tongs Clifford spent her early years on a farm at North Motton, outside Ulverstone on the north-west coast of Tasmania. It was an idyllic childhood, as her recently completed

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OLD MASTER AUCTIONED AT DEVONPORT

OLD MASTER AUCTIONED AT DEVONPORT

Residents of Devonport, on the north-west coast of Tasmania, once had an opportunity to pick up an old master; a portrait by French artist Nicolas de Largillière (1656-1746) THE SELLER – MR GARNETT Offering the painting at auction was Yorkshire born George H. Garnett. He was a

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AN ISLAND MYSTERY

AN ISLAND MYSTERY

Three Hummock Island is located in the Bass Strait, close to the north-west coast of Tasmania. It became the centre of a mystery in October 1902. Captain Leask, master of the ketch Royal Oak, returned from a visit there and notified authorities that he had found the

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ASHES TO ASHES – A ‘WILL’ FOR CREMATION

ASHES TO ASHES - A 'WILL' FOR CREMATION

Cremation was being advocated in Tasmania in the 1890s. The following piece is from the Tasmanian Democrat, August 7 1896. A correspondent asserted that traditional burial was very costly, and that cemeteries often became eyesores. ‘For a piece of ground suitable for this purpose you will have

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WOODCHOPPING CHALLENGE 1903

WOODCHOPPING CHALLENGE 1903

The great woodchopping challenge at Ulverstone in 1903

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