[Editor: This article, regarding Barcroft Boake, was written for the Institute of Australian Culture.] The melancholic nature of Barcroft Boake The 26th of March is the anniversary of the birth of Barcroft Boake (1866-1892). It is therefore appropriate that we take a new … [Read more...] about The melancholic nature of Barcroft Boake
IAC articles
Types of language
Elsewhere on this site is a list of Australian terminology, being a collection of slang, idioms, and colloquialisms used in Australia. The defining of colloquial language, slang, idioms, jargon, and dialects can be fraught with difficulty; the separation of words, phrases, and … [Read more...] about Types of language
Drop Bears
Drop Bears are a native Australian mammal, which can be found in bushland areas, especially in those habitats with a dense distribution of trees and a high level of canopy cover. The vernacular name for these animals can be somewhat deceptive, in terms of their taxonomic … [Read more...] about Drop Bears
1905 postal regulations for postcards (divided and undivided backs)
Prior to 1905, Australian postal regulations stated that the address side of postcards should only contain the address of the addressee, with no message or other writing on that side. This meant that people sending picture postcards had to write on the pictorial side of the card, … [Read more...] about 1905 postal regulations for postcards (divided and undivided backs)
The legislative passage of the Gold Fields Law Amendment Bill [extracts from the Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council, Victoria, 1855]
The Gold Fields Law Amendment Act went through a long process before it became law; the legislative process can be seen in extracts from the Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council (Victoria, 1855). This law, known as the Gold Fields Law Amendment Act, was passed by the … [Read more...] about The legislative passage of the Gold Fields Law Amendment Bill [extracts from the Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council, Victoria, 1855]
NightCafé AI art
NightCafé Studio is an Australian company which provides people with the tools to create lots of AI-generated images. NightCafé is one of the best AI art sites in the world. And it’s free to join and use! Australian content There are many Australians on the NightCafé site, so … [Read more...] about NightCafé AI art
Gold Licenses (Victoria)
The widespread public awareness of the discovery of gold in Victoria in 1851 led to a series of gold rushes, with many hopeful people dashing to areas where gold was known to be found. Every one of them hoped to “strike it rich” by obtaining enough of the yellow metal on the … [Read more...] about Gold Licenses (Victoria)
The Miner’s Right
The Miner’s Right has a long history in Australia. Still in use today, it was first established in Victoria in 1855, as a replacement for the Gold License (which had been introduced in Victoria in 1851). The Miner’s Right was subsequently adopted by other Australian … [Read more...] about The Miner’s Right
Cabinet cards
Cabinet cards were a development in photography in the 1860s, which arose from the popularity of the cartes de visite. Cartes de visite (visiting cards, with photographs attached) were a phenomenon in the Western world (including Australia), beginning in the 1850s. They were … [Read more...] about Cabinet cards
Cartes de visite
Cartes de visite (visiting cards, with photographs attached) were a phenomenon in the Western world (including Australia) in the late 19th century. Many of them survive into modern times, giving us a glimpse back in time, showing us the faces and fashions of Australians of olden … [Read more...] about Cartes de visite
Wages in Australia
Listed below are various reported weekly wages, earned by Australian workers in the country’s early history, in a variety of occupations. This list was created to give some context to amounts of money which are mentioned in various articles; it includes wages from the 1850s to … [Read more...] about Wages in Australia
Saint Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is celebrated each year on the 14th of February. The day is also known as Saint Valentine’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Valentine; it was originally a Christian feast day to honor Saint Valentine, who was a 3rd Century Christian priest who was imprisoned, tortured, … [Read more...] about Saint Valentine’s Day
The Kangaroo and Map stamps (1913)
The first national postage stamps to be produced by the Commonwealth of Australia were the “Kangaroo and Map” stamps (also known as the “Kangaroo” stamps, “Roo and Map” stamps, or “Roo” stamps). Although it was intended that the Commonwealth should have its own postage stamps, … [Read more...] about The Kangaroo and Map stamps (1913)
The dog on the tucker box (Gundagai)
[This IAC article gives some historical information regarding the Dog on the Tucker Box poem and the associated famous statue (five miles from Gundagai). See the IAC list “The dog on the tucker box” for various articles regarding the subject, as well as some postcards with photos … [Read more...] about The dog on the tucker box (Gundagai)
The Burke and Wills expedition (1860-1861)
The Burke and Wills expedition was created with the aim of exploring the Australian interior and finding a suitable path for the Australian Overland Telegraph Line (which would connect Australia with the rest of the world, in terms of fast communication, by linking up with the … [Read more...] about The Burke and Wills expedition (1860-1861)
The charge of the Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Beersheba
There has been much debate regarding the famous photograph of the charge of the Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Beersheba (1917). This photograph has been variously described as being one taken of: 1) The Beersheba charge on 31 October 1917 2) Some Light Horsemen … [Read more...] about The charge of the Australian Light Horse at the Battle of Beersheba
The Battle of Beersheba (1917)
The Battle of Beersheba was a military action fought between Allied forces against troops of the Ottoman Empire (assisted by German and Austrian officers) in the area in and around the town of Beersheba (now a city), in Palestine. The battle took place on 31 October 1917, during … [Read more...] about The Battle of Beersheba (1917)
The discovery of Australia
Early European cartographers had long suspected that there was a “great southern land” located in the Southern Hemisphere; hypothesizing the existence of such a continent seemed to make good sense, as it would “balance out” the continents known to exist in the Northern … [Read more...] about The discovery of Australia
Australian inventions and innovations
Australians have been instrumental in developing various inventions and innovations. Whether they are inventions which have saved thousands of lives (like the Black Box for civil aircraft) or simply saved thousands, or millions, of hours (such as the combine harvester or the … [Read more...] about Australian inventions and innovations
The Ode of Remembrance
The “Ode of Remembrance”, also known as simply “The Ode”, is commonly recited at remembrance services in Australia, on Anzac Day (25 April) and on Remembrance Day (11 November). Although this work was created by an English poet with no direct relationship to Australia, it has … [Read more...] about The Ode of Remembrance
The birth of Ned Kelly
The date of Ned Kelly’s birth is not specifically known, as the records of his baptism have been lost. There are several theories as to the dating of his birth, which have been accepted by different authors. Herein are listed instances of the date of his birth as noted in various … [Read more...] about The birth of Ned Kelly
Under the Southern Cross I Stand [the Australian cricket team’s victory song]
[Updated 31 January 2022, with videos.] Under the Southern Cross I stand, A sprig of wattle in my hand, A native of my native land, Australia, you f***ing beauty! This poem is one used by the Australian cricket team as their “victory song”; to be recited by the team … [Read more...] about Under the Southern Cross I Stand [the Australian cricket team’s victory song]
A comparison of the Backblock Ballads books by C.J. Dennis
C.J. Dennis published Backblock Ballads and Other Verses in 1913, but it did not sell very well. However, twenty-one of the poems from the 1913 book were included in his later book, Backblock Ballads and Later Verses, along with an additional sixteen poems. His new book, … [Read more...] about A comparison of the Backblock Ballads books by C.J. Dennis
Poetry by Ned Kelly [1878]
Ned Kelly indulged in a bit of poetry at the end of his letter to Donald Cameron, with the following two passages: While an outlaw reigns their pocket swells ’Tis double pay and country girls [gals] For I need no lead or powder To revenge my cause And if words be … [Read more...] about Poetry by Ned Kelly [1878]
Advance Australia Fair: How the song became the Australian national anthem
The story of how “Advance Australia Fair” became Australia’s national anthem takes place over the span of 106 years, from 1878 to 1984. First written as a patriotic song in the late nineteenth century, it grew in popularity over the years; although not without its … [Read more...] about Advance Australia Fair: How the song became the Australian national anthem