Australian History: Brilliant stories from Australia's past.
In part one of Convict Mutineers, we learn about a felon who just could not bear the idea of a life in exile, willing to take all necessary risks to try to return to England. And his efforts were extraordinary. I think you will enjoy hearing about this Houdini like...
As an appendix to Episode 44, Henry Lawson, today’s episode presents two final readings, two more humorous offerings. We read a Banjo Paterson poem, called ‘The Man from Ironbark’ which I mentioned in Ep 44, and then a short story by Henry Lawson, titled ‘The Loaded Dog’. (23 mins) [Image:...
This episode is an appendix to Episode 44 – Henry Lawson. We read poems that contributed to the ‘Bulletin Debate’, discussed in the earlier episode. We include Banjo Paterson’s ‘Clancy of the Overflow’, ‘In Defense of the Bush’ & ‘An answer to various Bards’, as well as Henry Lawson’s ‘Up...
Following Ep 44 on Henry Lawson, this episode will be a reading of Henry Lawson’s short story (or sketch), The Drover’s Wife, published in the Bulletin, July 1892. Please listen to Ep 44 first, for the life & times of Henry Lawson. (20 mins) References: LAWSON, HENRY. The Drover’s Wife...
Henry Lawson was a ‘bush poet’ and writer from the 1880s. One of a number of writers that were focusing on the Australian experience and fostering a pride and understanding of the emerging Australian identity. Today’s episode looks at Henry’s complicated life, and the times in which he was writing....
In 1796, the Calcutta merchants Campbell & Clark, sent a boat load of attractive goods, including much needed home and personal wares, and much desired rum, to sell to the isolated people in the new penal colony at Port Jackson (now current day Sydney). The Sydney Cove foundered and the...
This episode concludes the series exploring the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme; the vast hydro electric, and irrigation project, that began in 1949 and was under construction for 25 years. As well as providing much needed electricity and irrigation water to a soon to be booming Australia, the international workforce helped...
Today we turn our attention the workers’ arrangements. At the peak of construction, over 1959/60, there were 7300 people employed on the project. So that’s a lot of people to keep fed & watered, and entertained. But it was hard and sometimes dangerous work, so we consider some of the...
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme began construction at Guthega, with a Norwegian contractor, and before too long, power was being delivered to the people. Workers and families got used to the new environment and the working conditions as the construction projects multiplied across the project sites, while others had to...
The Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme was underway. Now they Authority had to acquire the land across the Alps, and recruit a workforce, to survey, plan and construct the many parts of the project; not an easy thing to do in booming post war Australia. Part 2 gives an overview of...