Articles by: Paul Dee

Tango in Melbourne

Tango in Melbourne

August 6, 2013

Social life & customs, Such was life:

‘When an Argentinean dance called the tango arrived in Melbourne in 1913, the wowsers were shocked by dancers who danced cheek-to-cheek and whose legs and arms pressed against each other… Read More ›

Skiing Marnong

Skiing Marnong

June 6, 2013

Sport, Such was life:

Thousands of years before alpine resorts, chalets and four-wheel drives, Victoria’s Mt Buller was inhabited by Aboriginal tribes, in particular the Taungurong people (also spelt Taungurung). A Taungurong woman is quoted… Read More ›

Telling time in early Melbourne

Telling time in early Melbourne

May 29, 2013

Social life & customs, Such was life:

In 1853 Melbourne was developing rapidly and the need for consistent, accurate time across the burgeoning colony saw the first observatory built in Williamstown. Time was communicated… ‘by dropping a… Read More ›

Melbourne’s feral dogs

Melbourne’s feral dogs

May 2, 2013

Social life & customs, Such was life:

In the 1840s and 50s, Melbourne had an unregistered dog problem. Initially the stray dogs were only a nuisance, but they soon became aggressive and threatened the safety of Melburnians.

Mock Valentines

Mock Valentines

February 8, 2013

Arts & literature, Such was life:

The State Library held a Valentine’s exhibition in 1951 which, according to the Report of the Trustees of the Public Library of Victoria, consisted of a small display on a… Read More ›

Fire fighting in Victoria

Fire fighting in Victoria

January 24, 2013

People & professions, Such was life:

The first fire in Melbourne, after European settlement, is believed to have occurred in Melbourne’s first gaol in 1838. The incident was later depicted in watercolour by WFE Liardet in 1875.