Parramatta Gaol has a history dating back to 1798, when the first building was described as, ‘a strong, logged gaol of 100 feet in length, with separate cells for the prisoners…and paled around with very high fences.’ By the early twentieth century it looked very different. James
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My original story of Sydney born Mary Drummond (nee Gallagher) was a sad one (*there is a link to it at the end of this piece). The doctor she married in May 1887 turned out to be a complete charlatan. He had stolen another man’s medical diplomas
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Dr Edward Drummond had undertaken his medical training in Edinburgh, and spent time in England and Italy. His entry in the 1886 Australian Medical Directory read ‘Formerly Physician Scots. Coll, Rome, Sidmouth Dispensary etc. ‘ He had recently arrived in Sydney from South Africa and was initially
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On November 8 1916 a fund-raising day was held at tiny Wakool, in the Riverina region of New South Wales. The day’s events were of particular significance to Frank and Annie White, who ran the Wakool Hotel. A few days earlier word had arrived of their son,
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The text accompanying this picture was as follows; A public reserve which the Ulverstone Council apparently did not know was private property. Ratepayers’ money was expended in improving this area. The reserve proved to be privately owned. (Weekly Courier 1919) Yes, a half acre block within a
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During my 1960s childhood saveloys were a winter treat. We lived on a dairy farm in Tasmania, but my siblings and I did not really appreciate the fresh produce my father produced. We adored anything ready-made… and shop bought. Our saveloys were made by Lionel Johnson, a
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The rivalry between Australia’s biggest cities reached a peak with Federation. Melbourne was the temporary base for Parliament, and hence the centre of festivities when the Duke and Duchess of York arrived for the formal opening of proceedings in 1901. I love this report from a seething
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New Zealand born Cyril Ballard enlisted in the A.I.F in Sydney in 1916, aged 28. He was a records clerk, living quietly in the Northern Beaches suburb of Narrabeen with his wife Harriet and two children. Lance Corporal Ballard served in France as a machine gunner. His
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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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