On This Day
On this day: Phar Lap’s death shocks the racing world
The death of the champion Australian racehorse was mourned by the nation – and shrouded in mystery.
Tag: history
History & Culture
Did a 19th-century sailor get swallowed by a sperm whale and survive?
It depends what you believe when you read the papers.
On This Day
On this day: Winning design for the Sydney Opera House revealed
Unknown Danish architect Jørn Utzon won the competition with his bold vision.
On This Day
On this day: Captain Moonlite’s hanging
Love letters, shootouts and bank robberies – Andrew George Scott’s life and relationship to James Nesbitt has left historians intrigued.
History & Culture
Vale Bernard ‘Midget’ Farrelly
Farewell to an icon of an era and the very first World Surfing Champion, Midget Farrelly.
History & Culture
Early Victoria: Bushfires, gold rushes and sad bushrangers
FROM VICTORIA’S GOLD RUSHES to its bushrangers, English artist William Strutt’s (1825-1915) paintings captured the state’s colonial history in vivid scenes and sketches. William arrived at Melbourne in 1850 and began work as an illustrator painting portraits of people such as explorer Robert O’Hara Burke, who’s famous expedition with William John Wills ended in their tragic deaths. William illustrated the scenes around Burke’s demise in the epic ‘The burial of Burke’ (1911). He also recorded many historical events such as Victoria becoming a separate state and the devastating Victorian bushfire on Black Thursday in 1851. His paintings depict the hardship of colonial life, exploration and the dangers of the environment. His oil paintings, watercolours, portraits, prints and preparatory sketches will be on display at ‘Heroes and villains: Strutt’s Australia’ exhibition at the State Library of Victoria until 23 October 2016. The exhibition is the first retrospectives of William’s work in Melbourne, it includes pop-up talks of three of his well-known paintings; ‘Bushrangers’ (1887), ‘The burial of Burke’ (1911) and ‘Black Thursday’ (1864).
On This Day
Centenary of the Battle of Fromelles
It’s been 100 years since the darkest day in Australian military history, which saw the most casualties in 24 hours of any Australian battle.
On This Day
On this day: The Batavia is fatefully wrecked
In 1629 a group of men murdered more than half the survivors of the Batavia wreck on deserted islands off WA, but 45 fought back and won.
Dr Karl: Need to Know
Australian breakthroughs: the cervical cancer vaccine
Dr Karl looks at how scientists have combated cervical cancer since the early 20th century.
History & Culture
The people on Australia’s banknotes
From royalty to poets and preachers – here are the stories behind the familiar faces that grace our banknotes.