Friday, April 19, 2024

The Difficult Life of Frank The Poet (Frank MacNamara)

A poet, a prison, and one memorable Christmas amid the misery....... “I am a native of Erin’s island/ though banished now from my native home...”...

Kuranda Railway: From Pioneer Lifeline to Travel Experience

In April 1880, prospectors uncovered a rich vein of tin ore in a gully along the Wild River, inland from the coastal town of...

Brian Dixon: Politics and Leadership

Having completed a Bachelor of Commerce and a Diploma of Education at Melbourne University, and all while still playing at the Melbourne Football Club,...

Captain James Cook’s Pacific Exploration

Until the successes of Captain James Cook, the Pacific was very imperfectly known despite earlier voyages by men like Abel Tasman, employed by the...

History of Bungee Jumping: The Modern Bungee Jump Started as the Pentecost Jump in...

The first bungee jumpers, Pentecost Land Divers, used vines tied to their ankles and dived off towers made of sticks wearing nothing but a...

Politics in Hawaii: A Brief History

Most visitors to Hawaii know little about its history. They may be aware that Hawai`i enjoys the distinction of having the only royal palace...

Tattoo Origins in the South Pacific: In Ancient Polynesia, Body Art Began with the...

Indigenous peoples around the world wore tattoos, from African tribes to the Ainu of Japan to the Celts of northern Europe. And the practice...

A Brief History of Cooktown in North Queensland, Australia

Cooktown, in far north Queensland, provides visitors with a rich Aboriginal and European history alongside the pleasures of a tropical Australian getaway. Cooktown has a...

The Rangitoto Eruption: Birth of an Iconic Island

Rangitoto Island dominates the skyline north and east of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. A mere seven hundred years ago, Rangitoto did not exist. Scientists...

Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Prime Minister Curtin believed appointing a member of the royal family would improve chances Britain maintained its commitment to Australia's defence during World War...