First shot fired!
On 5 August 1914, the day Australians learnt of the declaration of war, the German trading ship SS Pfalz was just leaving Port Phillip Bay. The ship had originally planned… Read More ›
Such was life
Olde Melbourne guidebooks
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 ›
Violet Town railway disaster
Cities & towns, Such was life:
On a very hot Friday, 7 February, 1969, just after 7.00am, the Southern Aurora, Australia’s overnight express passenger train between Sydney and Melbourne, collided head-on with an Albury-bound goods train, 174km north of Melbourne. The Melbourne-bound Southern Aurora ran through the Violet Town crossing loop where it should have waited for the goods train to pass.
Unexpected sketches
Arts & literature, Such was life:
A library patron recently led me to a beautiful book containing sketches by the prison artist William Stanford. The patron had an old newspaper article which mentioned the book, but… Read More ›
Is your Victorian history project award-worthy?
Local history funding sources, Such was life:
Nominations for the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s 2014 Victorian Community History Awards are now open. The awards recognise ‘excellence in historical method’, and the types of works that can be… Read More ›
It will look better embossed!
Frank Firestone was responsible for many examples of iconic design and advertising imagery for predominantly Australian brands and products.
Victoria’s lost places
Cities & towns, Such was life:
Here’s a test of your local history knowledge: where is Emerald Hill? What about Sandhurst, Sandridge, Hotham or Phillipstown? If you’re not sure, don’t worry! Gazetteers and atlases are rich… Read More ›
Temperance and Melbourne’s grand coffee palaces
Social life & customs, Such was life:
The temperance movement originated in the 19th century and urged for the reduction or prohibition of alcohol. Temperance societies were initially founded during the 1820s in the United States and… Read More ›
Victoria’s budget 1852
In 1852 Victoria was barely one year old, after separation from New South Wales in 1851. It was ‘the period of the greatest social and political disorganisation that the colony… Read More ›
Victorian Historical Journal 1911-2012 now online
Arts & literature, Such was life:
For over a year, we’ve been providing free access to digitised copies of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s magazine for 1911-1954. Thanks to the Society, we’re now able to make Victorian Historical… Read More ›
