Blog

Diving into Traces edition 13, contributor Peter Hobbins explores the deciphering of pharmacy registers. There are stories in these old registers. Stories about suffering and healing. Stories about families and communities. Stories about changing neighbourhoods and our rising expectations for long and robust lives. Yet, the books themselves sit forlornly on shelves in local museums. … Read on

Diving into Traces edition 13, contributor Terry Jenkins explores the life of Colonel John George Nathaniel Gibbes. Sometimes it is pure chance that unravels a genealogical mystery. And such is the case with the parentage of Colonel John George Nathaniel Gibbes (1787–1873), the colonial administrator in New South Wales. I have to admit that this … Read on

Diving into Traces edition 12, contributor Dr Peter Hobbins uncovers the air-war heritage located in a Sydney suburban park. To the children playing nearby, a small relic in their local park probably seems quaint, if they notice it at all. Yet it links Allison Playground in Sydney’s Dulwich Hill with communities across Australia, England, Germany … Read on

Between the years of 1788 and 1868, more than 160,000 convicts were transported from Britain to Australia aboard 825 ships. With so many people sent to Australian shores over the course of 80 years, it can be a daunting task trying to locate your ancestor among the masses. In edition 13 of Traces, we provide … Read on

Diving into Traces Edition 12, contributor Sarah Luke explores the life of schoolboys of the Nautical School Ship Vernon. In April 1880, 140 years ago, schooling became compulsory in New South Wales for six- to 14-year-olds. Out on Sydney Harbour, beside Cockatoo Island, the Nautical School Ship Vernon was not impacted by this change in … Read on

Diving into Traces edition 12, contributor Natasha Cantwell explores the Victorian Railways and the obsession with dried fruit. It’s 1925, and the world’s busiest passenger station is promoting raisins in a big way. If you think that might be a hard sell, you need to take a look at the beautiful kiosk that once greeted … Read on

Discovering the father of an illegitimate child can be difficult, and almost impossible. Often, only the mother’s name is shown on the birth record leaving the researcher no clue as to the father’s identity. For those of us with Scottish ancestry, however, there are some useful records that may help uncover the father’s name. For … Read on

Middle Island is known for its pink lake that attracts tourists from all over the world to see its distinctive hues. Its remote beauty and rugged landscapes are also steeped in fascinating history, having once been the home of Black Jack Anderson. John ‘Black Jack’ William Anderson was an infamous whaler and Australia’s only recorded … Read on

Diving into Traces Edition 11, contributor Kelli Schultz uncovers the life of her great-uncle Christian Henry Schultz, during the first World War.    Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to be gifted several folders full of letters mostly written by my great-uncle to his parents during World War I. These had been handed down … Read on

In the newest edition of Traces magazine, we revisit the Sydney–Kormoran battle – a clash between two warships that ended in huge loss and missing wrecks. Both wrecks remained missing until 2008, when a new search uncovered their final resting places – 112 nautical miles off Steep Point in Western Australia, bringing years of uncertainty … Read on

Located in Longford, Tasmania, is one of the most historically important farming properties in Australia: the Woolmers Estate. Well preserved and maintained, with a wealth of artefacts, the estate remains one of Australia’s best glimpses into colonial history and life in 19th-century Tasmania. In 2010, it was one of 11 places awarded World Heritage status … Read on

From its humble beginnings as a meat market in 1880, the Meat Market has become one of Melbourne’s main hubs for art and culture. Until 1874, the City Meat Market (where the current Queen Victoria Market is now) was where meat wholesaling took place. A group of butchers created their own Victoria Meat Market on … Read on

Discover more in ‘Women Work for Victory in WWII’, an online exhibition at Old Treasury Building from 15 August 2020. Prior to World War II, nursing was the only service role available for women. Manpower shortages, and pressure from women’s lobby groups finally brought about change in Australia. During 1941, new auxiliary services exclusive to … Read on

Written by Honey Dower, a PhD candidate in History at the University of Tasmania. A convict’s life did not start in the Australian colonies. Rather, this was what British authorities wanted convicts to believe: that their life in Britain was dead, and it was time to remake themselves on the other side of the world. … Read on

By Paige Gleeson, University of Tasmania. The site of the Cascade Female Factory is swamped in the cold shadows of autumn dusk long before the rest of the town. An inky blue mountain and steep hillsides lined with weatherboard houses encase what remains of the site. It was here in the early 1840s a group … Read on

By Dr Matthew Allen, Lecturer in Historical Criminology, University of New England (UNE). In writing about the past, historians must be aware of the pitfalls of anachronism. It is impossible for historians to avoid having their judgement shaped by the times in which they write. However, historians should try to avoid judging the past by … Read on

Australia is filled with a plethora of institutions that are seeping with rich history. With the continuous growth of infrastructure, visiting an alluring old-fashioned pub holds a dear place in the hearts of Australians. But which pub is Australia’s oldest? This has been a point of contention among historians and there are some conflicting opinions. … Read on

By Associate Professor Nathan Wise, Public and Applied History, University of New England (UNE). Back in January 2020, I wrote about the need to foster respect for both public and scholarly history. This emphasised the different objectives of the two broad approaches to historical practice, and I briefly touched on how scholarly history is typically … Read on

In 1790, the first exclusive female fleet of convicts arrived in Australia aboard the Lady Juliana. The women who were seen as the ‘most difficult’ were sent to forced labour camps so they could be educated on the ‘value of morality’. These camps were known as female factories, where they were punished in highly public … Read on

In Edition 10 of Traces, Michael Adams writes about the Titanic’s forgotten Australian hero, a man named Albert Nichols. The Titanic’s sinking is a tragedy that has been the subject of countless books and movies – but Albert Nichols’s heroic role has been vastly overlooked. Albert was born in July 1864 on Lord Howe Island, … Read on

By Associate Professor Nathan Wise, Public and Applied History, University of New England (UNE) Historical correspondence, often thought of as letters, telegrams and postcards, are among the most useful types of source material for historians. Not only do they describe events and provide personal insights, but they also reveal much about the styles and conventions … Read on

As discussed in Traces Edition 10 by Sandy Guy, what were once booming towns across Victoria are now considered forgotten ghost towns. Whilst lacking a flourishing population, these eerie settlements boast history waiting to be discovered. Steiglitz: Located just 37 kilometres west of Geelong, Steiglitz’s population amounted to 2000 during its glory days in 1850. … Read on

By Associate Professor Nathan Wise, Public and Applied History, University of New England (UNE) In my last blog, I urged people to ‘come together to talk about the past’. Despite now needing to urge people to ‘stay at home’ and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the message remains the same, while the method/mode of ‘coming … Read on

In Edition 9 of Traces magazine, Timothy Carnovale, a Canberra-based writer and heritage consultant, examined the discovery of the Shellal Mosaic – believed to be the remains of a Byzantine-era basilica. In Part 1, the Shellal Mosaic was uncovered, now let’s see where the artefact ended up.  William Maitland Woods, senior chaplain of the Church of … Read on

By Associate Professor Nathan Wise, Public and Applied History, University of New England (UNE). As Associate Professor of Public and Applied History at the University of New England (UNE), I’m often asked to explain the differences between public and scholarly history. In my foundation unit HINQ100: What is History? we spend the first half of the … Read on

As discussed in Edition 8 of Traces Magazine, Timothy Carnovale dives into the trenches of World War I and examines the discovery of the Shellal Mosaic. Christopher Hitchens, an Anglo-American author and anti-theist, once exclaimed that those with the title ‘Reverend’ would be able to get away with anything. Senior Church of England Chaplain to … Read on

In comparison to the rich and vast past in other nations, Australia is still considered to have a relatively short history. In saying this, Australia houses an abundance of religious churches that represent the multiculturalism we pride ourselves on. For the last 200 years, the country has accommodated a variety of religious congregations who created their … Read on

By Associate Professor Nathan Wise, Public and Applied History, University of New England (UNE). As university study has steadily become more accessible to Australians, the requirement for courses to emphasise the specific ‘workplace skills’ they impart and ‘employability’ aspects has also increased.  My particular views on the issue of employability stem from the career uncertainties … Read on

In Edition 9 of Traces Magazine, Lambis Englezos discusses his search for hundreds of missing Australian soldiers in Fromelles. On 19 July 1916, almost 2000 Australian troops were killed when attempting to attack German trenches in Fromelles, France. Encompassing all those who were killed, unaccounted for, wounded or taken as prisoner, 5533 Australians were directly … Read on

As an undergraduate student in the early 2000s, one of my first original historical research projects involved documenting the history of a local war memorial. Being new to the idea of ‘archival research’, I approached my lecturer for advice, and they suggested that I start with the local historical society. As I stepped through the … Read on

Here is your sneak peek to an upcoming article from Traces Edition 9. ‘Writing a non-boring family history’ written by Hazel Edwards dives into the world of uncovering your ancestor’s history and turning it into a piece of compelling writing. Have you discovered something captivating in your family history? Have you thought about sharing it? … Read on

Why did Victoria have such a high rate of insanity? A new book illuminating the world of Melbourne’s early lunatic asylums recently won the Victorian Premier’s History Award. Jill Giese, clinical psychologist and author of The Maddest Place on Earth, spoke with Tracesabout an intriguing slice of colonial history. When I stumbled on an 1876 eyewitness account of … Read on