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IAC articles

The Kangaroo and Map stamps (1913)

2 January 2023 · Leave a Comment

Kangaroo and Map stamp, 1d, Red, Melbourne

The first 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, it took … [Read more...] about The Kangaroo and Map stamps (1913)

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: 500x500, IAC article, Kangaroo and Map stamps

The dog on the tucker box

28 November 2022 · Leave a Comment

On the north side of Gundagai, five miles out from the town’s centre, there stands a monument, dedicated to Australia’s pioneers. The monument consists of a dog sitting on a tucker box, made from bronze, which is placed atop two granite blocks.[1] The story of the dog on the … [Read more...] about The dog on the tucker box

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: Gundagai (NSW), IAC article, Jack Moses (1861-1945) (subject), The Dog on the Tucker Box (Gundagai)

The Burke and Wills expedition (1860-1861)

20 August 2022 · Leave a Comment

Burke and Wills, a wood engraving

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)

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: 500x500, Australian explorers on land, Burke and Wills (subject), IAC article

The Battle of Beersheba (1917)

31 October 2021 · Leave a Comment

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)

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: 500x500, Battle of Beersheba (1917), IAC article, Light Horsemen, World War One (1914-1918)

The discovery of Australia

8 March 2015 · Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: Australian explorers by sea

Australian inventions and innovations

5 March 2015 · Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: inventions

The Ode of Remembrance

5 March 2015 · 2 Comments

For the Fallen, by Laurence Binyon, handwritten

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).[1] The words of the Ode of Remembrance are: They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow … [Read more...] about The Ode of Remembrance

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: 500x500, Anzac Day (25 April), IAC article, Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) (author), Ode of Remembrance, Remembrance Day, Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) (subject), wider relevance

The birth of Ned Kelly

12 July 2014 · 2 Comments

Ned Kelly in Pentridge Prison, 1880

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

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: 500x500, bushrangers, Ned Kelly (1854-1880) (subject)

Under the Southern Cross I Stand [the Australian cricket team’s victory song]

8 May 2013 · 11 Comments

[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]

Filed Under: featured posts, IAC articles, poetry, songs, sport Tagged With: @ featured, cricket (sport), poem, Rev. T. Hilhouse Taylor, song

Poetry by Ned Kelly [1878]

23 October 2012 · Leave a Comment

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]

Filed Under: IAC articles, poetry Tagged With: Ned Kelly (1854-1880) (author), poem

Advance Australia Fair: How the song became the Australian national anthem

17 October 2012 · Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: Advance Australia Fair, HTML tables formatted div style, Peter McCormick, song

The Groop [music videos]

5 October 2012 · Leave a Comment

The Groop was a rock band which was formed in Melbourne by Peter McKeddie, Max Ross, and Richard Wright, and which performed from 1964 to 1969. The band members, who had been students at Wesley College, were originally a folk trio named “The Oxford Trio” (named after the … [Read more...] about The Groop [music videos]

Filed Under: IAC articles, music videos, musicians and singers Tagged With: artic, Brian Cadd (music), The Groop

Australian Rules Football

1 September 2012 · Leave a Comment

Australian Rules Football is the most popular sport in Australia, with thousands of amateur teams playing in local competitions, along with professional-level teams competing nationally. The game is usually referred to as “Aussie Rules”, “AFL”, “footy”, or “football” (room for … [Read more...] about Australian Rules Football

Filed Under: IAC articles, sport Tagged With: Australian Rules Football

Australian slang

10 January 2012 · 26 Comments

A collection of Australian slang words and phrases. Some are in current widespread use, whilst others are not; some may be derived or taken from overseas slang, but most are unique to Australia. The expression of words in an Australian accent is known as “Strine” (which is how … [Read more...] about Australian slang

Filed Under: IAC articles Tagged With: 500x500, Australian language, Australian phrases, Australian slang, Australian words, IAC list, Strine

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Heritage, history, and heroes. Literature, legends, and larrikins. Stories, songs, and sages.

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Featured books

The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses, by Banjo Paterson A Book for Kids, by C. J. Dennis  The Bulletin Reciter: A Collection of Verses for Recitation from The Bulletin The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke, by C. J. Dennis The Complete Inner History of the Kelly Gang and Their Pursuers, by J. J. Kenneally The Foundations of Culture in Australia, by P. R. Stephensen The Australian Crisis, by C. H. Kirmess Such Is Life, by Joseph Furphy
More books (full text)

Featured lists

Timeline of Australian history and culture
A list of significant Australiana
Significant events and commemorative dates
Australian slang
Books (full text)
Australian literature
Rock music and pop music (videos)
Folk music and bush music (videos)
Early music (videos)
Recommended poetry
Poetry and songs, 1786-1900
Poetry and songs, 1901-1954
Australian explorers
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Featured posts

Advance Australia Fair: How the song became the Australian national anthem
Brian Cadd [music videos and biography]
Ned Kelly: Australian bushranger
Under the Southern Cross I Stand [the Australian cricket team’s victory song]

Some Australian authors

E. J. Brady
John Le Gay Brereton
C. J. Dennis
Mary Hannay Foott
Joseph Furphy
Mary Gilmore
Charles Harpur
Grant Hervey
Lucy Everett Homfray
Rex Ingamells
Henry Kendall
“Kookaburra”
Henry Lawson
Jack Moses
“Dryblower” Murphy
John Shaw Neilson
John O’Brien (Patrick Joseph Hartigan)
“Banjo” Paterson
Marie E. J. Pitt
A. G. Stephens
P. R. Stephensen
Agnes L. Storrie (Agnes L. Kettlewell)

Recent Posts

  • Australia Day [26 January 1953]
  • Australia Day [24 January 1953]
  • Australia Day [29 January 1951]
  • Australia Day [28 January 1950]
  • Danger-signals from Australia [2 January 1942]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Poetry and songs, 1786-1900
  • Dollars or rum: Early Australian currency [by J. H. M. Abbott, 1 April 1931]
  • Australian slang
  • The Man from Snowy River [poem by Banjo Paterson]
  • The Bastard from the Bush [poem, circa 1900]

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Posts of note

The Bastard from the Bush [poem, circa 1900]
A Book for Kids [by C. J. Dennis, 1921]
Click Go the Shears [traditional Australian song, 1890s]
Core of My Heart [“My Country”, poem by Dorothea Mackellar, 24 October 1908]
Freedom on the Wallaby [poem by Henry Lawson, 16 May 1891]
The Man from Ironbark [poem by Banjo Paterson]
Nationality [poem by Mary Gilmore, 12 May 1942]
The Newcastle song [music video, sung by Bob Hudson]
No Foe Shall Gather Our Harvest [poem by Mary Gilmore, 29 June 1940]
Our pipes [short story by Henry Lawson]
Rommel’s comments on Australian soldiers [1941-1942]
Shooting the moon [short story by Henry Lawson]

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  • Carol on Poetry and songs, 1786-1900
  • Annie Crestani on Under the Southern Cross I Stand [the Australian cricket team’s victory song]
  • Peter Pearsall on The Clarence [poem by Jack Moses]
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