Tuesday, December 3, 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...”...

The Taniwha: Monster of Maori Myth and Legend

The rich culture of the Maori people is resplendent with stories of supernatural beings. The taniwha is a recurring subject of many myths and...

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...

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...

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...

The Ancient Polynesian Voyages: The Last Great Migrations to Distant Lands

The islands of the Pacific Ocean were settled by people travelling great distances in flimsy craft, using only nature's signs for navigation. One of the...

Abel Tasman and Australia, the Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land

Abel Janszoon Tasman was a player in the colonial expansionism of 17th century Holland. The Dutch, having established a trading empire in South East...

The Victorian Gold Rush: Melbourne Booms when Gold is Discovered in the Colony

When its rich goldfields were discovered, Victoria became a magnet to people from across the seas. The town of Melbourne quickly became Australia's largest...

The Hunt for Precious Australian Opals

The opal is unlike other gemstones in that each stone is unique in form. That often strikingly brilliant individual colour and pattern has been...

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...