History & Culture Archives

History & Culture

French Island: Life in trees, surrounded by water

When Victoria’s national parks run short of koalas, this is the place to go.

History & Culture

Crumbling ruins tell colonial story of failed ‘second Singapore’ trade hub

Before Palmerston (modern-day Darwin) was founded in 1869, the British made four failed attempts to create a settlement on New Holland’s “unclaimed” northern coastline. The largest of these was Victoria Settlement, located about 200km north-east of Darwin, at Port Essington on the Cobourg Peninsula.

Destinations

A new Broome

New experiences with First Nations people on Country are transforming “flop-and-drop” tourism in this tropical getaway.

History & Culture

Defining Moments in Australian History: Last man hanged

1967: Ronald Ryan is the last person legally executed in Australia.

History & Culture

Should Australian birds be renamed to mirror societal change?

Many Australian birds are named after people. But with so many of these historical figures having direct – or indirect – links to violent colonialism, there’s a growing movement advocating for them to be renamed.

History & Culture

Notes from the field: Obsessed with Big Things

Australia’s Big Things aren’t only quirky froth and bubble. They’ve been a fixture of family road trips for generations of Aussies.

History & Culture

Short on trees, big on story

Gold was once the reward for digging at Kosciuszko National Park’s Long Plain. Now a rich history awaits, just below the surface.

History & Culture

Australia’s unsung hero

Australian George Hubert Wilkins was highly regarded in the USA, where he was famous for his brave exploits, but he’s still largely unknown in his home country.