Articles by: Paul Dee

Queen’s wharf

Queen’s wharf

March 22, 2016

Buildings & streets, Such was life:

In the 1840s a burgeoning Melbourne needed a robust wharf, one to replace the current bog built over swamps.

Our women

Our women

January 24, 2016

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Our women was a magazine in the 1950s and ’60s which focused on the social issues, contributions and opinions of women in Australia.

Digitising newspapers

Digitising newspapers

August 19, 2015

Our stories, Preservation, Such was life:

Learn how the Library digitises newspapers; from selection of titles through conservation to the scanning of the pages.

The great flood of 1891

The great flood of 1891

July 20, 2015

Buildings & streets, Such was life:

In July 1891, non stop rain over a weekend saw the Yarra break its bank and flood surrounding suburbs- leaving thousands homeless.

Tiger in the goldfields

Tiger in the goldfields

June 9, 2015

People & professions, Such was life:

Ballarat: Sunday 8th July, 1855: ‘Got home and found the tent afloat and my blankets wet…Kindled fire and cleaned up tent. Boiled kettle and prepared supper. Ironing my blankets, I burned one of them.’

Moomba

Moomba

March 3, 2015

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Melbourne’s Moomba festival first took place in March 1955 and was initiated to liven up Melbourne and attract tourists.

Victoria’s early horse trams

Victoria’s early horse trams

November 19, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

In 1884 Melbourne’s first tramway- a horse tramway in Fairfield- was built to promote land sales in the area (100 years of Melbourne’s trams, pg 1). Two horses pulled a carriage containing… Read More ›

Melbourne’s historic skyline

Melbourne’s historic skyline

August 19, 2014

Buildings & streets, Such was life:

Melbourne’s skyline developed rapidly once the first passenger lifts were installed. The L. Stevenson & Sons warehouse in Flinders Lane had two of the first hydraulic goods lifts installed in… Read More ›

Olde Melbourne guidebooks

Olde Melbourne guidebooks

July 21, 2014

Social life & customs, Such was life:

Wondering what the cab fare rate was in Melbourne in 1973? Or the opening hours of St Paul’s Cathedral in 1911? Or where must imported explosives be unloaded in 1925? … Read More ›

It will look better embossed!

It will look better embossed!

June 19, 2014

Such was life:

Frank Firestone was responsible for many examples of iconic design and advertising imagery for predominantly Australian brands and products.