6029 is a four-cylinder, simple, non-condensing, superheated, articulated 4-8-4+4-8-4 Garratt steam locomotive, of the AD60 class, built by Beyer, Peacock and Company, Manchester, England, for the New South Wales Government Railways (NSWGR). Vision used courtesy of: – NFSA (Steam on the main north line; R McKensie and B Kent 1968), – Transport Heritage NSW – …
Tag: Australian History
Jan 26
How a sheep farm became a leading astronomy centre
The CSIRO’s Parkes Radio Telescope was commissioned on a former sheep farm in 1961. It was the most advanced radio telescope on the planet at the time, with many innovative features that have since become standard in all large-dish antennas, and it has maintained it’s cutting edge technology and research ever since. Based in part …
Jan 15
Martha Rendell, serial child killer of Perth
Martha Rendell (10 August 1871 – 6 October 1909) was the last woman to be hanged in Western Australia, for the murder of her de facto husband’s son, Arthur Morris, in 1908. She was also suspected of killing his two daughters, Annie and Olive, by swabbing their throats with hydrochloric acid.
Jan 11
Australia’s homegrown fighter that couldn’t fight, the CAC boomerang
The Commonwealth Boomerang was designed and built in Australia in response to the impending Japanese invasion of the Australian mainland. It’s main issue was that it sucked as a fighter! But it could attack the ground, and found a use in the war.
Jan 08
Jessie Hickman – the Wild Woman of Wollemi – Australia’s unknown outlaw
Australia had several women bushrangers, and their stories are only now being told. Jessie Hickman (1890-1936) – also known as McIntyre, Bell, Hudson, and Murray, was one such outlaw. We’ve pieced together a brief account of her life.
Jan 04
Cara Southern, Australian Impressionist pioneer
Her landscapes are truly poems, full of sentiment and feeling – this early pioneer impressionist artist laid the foundations of Australian Impressionism and for women artists who followed.
Jan 02
Dulcie Markham, Angel of Death
Dulcie May Markham was variously known in the media as The Angel of Death, The Black Widow, Pretty Dulcie, Australia’s most beautiful bad woman, Bad Luck Doll, and The One-Way Ticket. You see, of Markham’s lovers five were shot dead, while two were stabbed with one dying from those injuries.
Dec 31
Australia’s famous 3801 steam locomotive
A brief history of Australia’s famous steam locomotive the 3801, and the 38 class, along with plenty of shots of her in action. Vision used is creative commons or under fair use provisions.
Dec 25
Australia’s greatest circus performer, Wizard of the Wire, Con Colleano
Few have heard of Con Colleano, but from humble beginnings in Lismore and Lightning Ridge NSW he became the highest-paid circus performer in the world.