Blog

This is a sneak peek of edition 23 of Traces! A set of 19th-century letters passed down through her husband’s family set Kate Hobbs on a quest to uncover the identity of Fannie Starr and her ‘Dear Uncle’. When I began researching my husband’s family history, I was given photocopies of four very old letters, … Read on

In partnership with Museums of History NSW Celebrate the stories of New South Wales’s most significant historical houses, museums and collections. A Museums of History NSW membership unlocks an historical experience unlike any other. Members can access 13 stunning properties and the extensive collections that make up New South Wales’s rich history – including more … Read on

In partnership with the University of Strathclyde. An initiative to promote world-leading genealogy education, events and research has been launched at the University of Strathclyde. The Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies has been established, with the aim of delivering academic excellence through the creation of new courses and research opportunities to run alongside the university’s … Read on

This is a sneak peek of edition 22 of Traces! By Peter Baker In May 1926, Percy James Bevin Cowan – a violinist, entertainer and friend of the poet Henry Lawson – lay in a tent in the bush on the Manly Harbour foreshore with a fever and uncontrolled coughing. Boatbuilder James Verrall had granted … Read on

This is a sneak peek of edition 22 of Traces! By Dr David Waldron On 25 January 1875, Melbourne’s newspapers were abuzz with a grisly discovery in the slums of Fitzroy North: a ‘Hand of Glory’. In a small cottage on Batman Avenue, an elderly woman, Margaret Connor, passed away in a state of extreme … Read on

This is a sneak peek of edition 22 of Traces! Within walking distance of Bondi Junction is one of the few late Victorian mansions left in Sydney, yet few people know it exists. Michael Waterhouse introduces us to this hidden gem, known as ‘Edina’. Surrounded by trees and houses, and backing onto a busy road, … Read on

Most of what we know about Australian mosses is thanks to Ilma Stone’s amazing research. Her work opened the scientific world’s eyes to the incredible diversity of moss in Australia Ilma Stone was born as Ilma Balfe in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick in 1913. Known for being a clever child, Stone attended Ivanhoe Girls’ … Read on

Built as Melbourne’s first mechanics’ institute, the Athenaeum is now a central part of the city’s long-lasting love affair with art and culture. The Melbourne Athenaeum has operated for more than 170 years, since its beginnings as a mechanics’ institute. Back then, ‘mechanic’ meant artisan or tradesperson. In the early 19th century, mechanics’ institutes were … Read on

Located on Bridge Street in the Sydney CBD, this stately building was constructed in 1877 for the New South Wales Department of Lands, and was used as the organisation’s administrative head office. The Department played an especially significant role during the rapid expansion of settlement during the late 1800s. The three-storey building was designed by … Read on