Post war play creates furore in Bendigo
On Saturday 3 July 1920, the play Advance Australia was staged at the Princess Theatre in Bendigo. Written by a local Catholic priest, John Joseph Kennedy, it would create a national furore.
Articles by: Andrew McConville
The other side of Shackleton’s Antarctic adventure
When Ernest Shackleton’s 1915 Antarctic expedition ran into trouble, the Ross Sea party that was laying out stores for his team continued unawares, facing harrowing challenges of their own.
The Beatles in Australia: all five of them!
Andrew McConville, the State Library’s very own mop-top, couldn’t resist commemorating the anniversary of this special madness! In Melbourne on 14 June 1964 all five Beatles, John, Paul, George, Ringo… Read More ›
Cobb and Co
People & professions, Such was life:
On 30 January 1854, American businessman Freeman Cobb and three associates started a passenger coach service to Castlemaine and Bendigo.
Houdini flies in Diggers Rest
Cities & towns, Such was life:
On 18 March 1910, Harry Houdini, the world famous escapologist, made what is claimed to be the first controlled powered flight in Australia.
Ned Kelly at the cinema
People & professions, Such was life:
The world’s first feature film, The Story of the Kelly Gang, premiered at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre on 26 December 1906, twenty-six years after Ned was hanged.
Christmas and the Ashes
One of world sport’s most famous trophies, cricket’s Ashes urn, was presented for the first time on 24 December 1882.
18 years old and in charge of the ship
People & professions, Such was life:
The British barque Trafalgar docked at Williamstown on 16 December 1893 after a harrowing voyage. Several of the senior officers had died from fever on the journey, and the charge… Read More ›
