Australian History: Brilliant stories from Australia's past.
Australian histories related to notable or notorious Australians
When His Lordship Edward Lascelles, son of the 2nd Earl of Harewood, wrote a bouncing fifty pound promissory note to cover the purchase of some horses, the authorities in NSW took exception. In time he was brought to court to answer for his fraud, but was his deception greater than...
Waltzing Matilda is described as ‘the people’s song’. More well known than the actual Australian National Anthem around the world, Banjo Paterson’s jaunty little ditty actually contains clues to some turbulent times he witnessed in Australian history. This episode shares a little background about the much loved song. (40mins) Enjoying...
In this final episode on Alexander Pearce we hear about his second escape attempt from Macquarie Harbour, with fellow convict Thomas Cox. They planned a less difficult route for their escape but again, their scheme didn’t proceed as they had planned. This time the authorities took the situation more seriously...
In Part 2 of the Alexander Pearce series we continue the story of Alexander Pearce as he and his fellow convicts continue on their escape from Port Macquarie. They have found themselves in the wild west country, exhausted mentally & physically, and starving with no provisions remaining. Talk turns to...
Alexander Pearce was one of our more notorious convicts, and one of very few convict escapees from Macquarie Harbour, who survived attempting to reach the settled districts. As the last man standing from the eight that absconded together, his survival was only possible because he resorted to cannibalism. In Part...
John Macarthur was a divisive character in the first decades of the New South Wales penal colony and he was instrumental in the overthrow of Governor Bligh (see the Bligh series Eps 52-55), along with the discomfort and early recall of a number of other Governors. But he and his...
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....