Since European settlement, Sydney has faced frequent water crises due to unreliable water supplies.
The first water supply for Sydney was Tank Stream, named for the “tanks” or reservoirs cut into its sides to save water. The stream, which wound through the early settlement, eventually degenerated into an open sewer and was abandoned in 1826.
More than a mountain of concrete – building Warragamba Dam Read More »
At the start of WWII, Australia was unprepared for a prolonged conflict, processing just enough petrol reserves for three months and limited storage capacity.
Though fuel rationing wasn’t immediately imposed, the government urged citizens to conserve petrol, hoping to avoid drastic measures.
While the motor industry strongly petitioned against any fuel rationing, by 1 October 1940, however, fuel rationing became a necessity.
The unsung timber product during war time Read More »
The Queensland government funded Beerburrum Soldier Settlement Scheme was a disaster. The aim was to provide repatriated servicemen from World War I with farms where “swords could be transformed into ploughshares” for a tranquil existence in a rural climate.
The high enlistment numbers and enormous physical and mental casualties from the war, forced Australian authorities to develop a repatriation policy.
“Bellingen continues to attract younger people with what they perceive as Bellingen’s ‘hippy’ and ‘alternative’ reputation, with love and peace in their hearts and wellness and wokeness in their souls. Paul Hemphill
The Bellinger Valley has a long history of dairy farming and timber harvesting.
The devastating floods of the 1950s played a major role in the eventual decline of the dairy industry.
Reflections on working in a hippy valley Read More »
I have spent decades in our wonderful forests, witnessing their cycles of destruction and regeneration, and in all that time, I’ve seen one constant: public perception remains stubbornly fixed on a false image of forestry. Headlines scream of devastation. Activists show photos of freshly logged areas, convincing the public that this is a permanent state.
The joy of being a tour guide Read More »
When the railways of Queensland and New South Wales met in 1888, the border towns of Wallangarra and Jennings were created. It was the only rail link between Brisbane and Sydney, leading to a new era in transport. As a consequence, both states introduced the Intercolonial Express train service.
However, the two governments could not resolve the differences in the railway gauges between each state.
Queensland’s border response to the 1919 Spanish Flu Read More »
“Science requires open debate. It does not advance by consensus or political pressure”.
“The scientific method requires scientists to test all theories. Science progresses not by claiming a theory is true but by proving a theory is false”.
I will start this essay by clarifying what science is not.
Is too much pounding the table the problem with science today? Read More »
Rabaul, a town of striking beauty nestled on the north-eastern tip of New Britain in Papua New Guinea, boasts magnificent deep-water harbour encircled by a stunning volcanic flooded caldera three kilometres wide. This natural fortification, combined with its strategic location, made Rabaul a coveted prize for colonial powers and, eventually, a significant battleground in the Pacific theatre of World War II.
Hostages to fortune – soldiers and civilians lost and forgotten in the fog of war Read More »
During our trip through western New South Wales in March 2022, we saw significant numbers of feral goats. These goats were everywhere, spanning from Broken Hill east through Wilcannia and Cobar onto Nyngan, covering over 600 kilometres in mulga country.
We had an overnight stop on the Barrier Highway at the Meadow Glen Rest Area, about 60 kilometres west of Cobar.
Can rangeland pastoralists survive by riding on the goat’s back? Read More »
With the help of several people who have generously contributed, the monthly blogs or stories about Surrey Hills have reached their conclusion after four years.
All good things must eventually come to a natural end.
In finishing my Surrey Hills stories this month, I thought it worthwhile to sign off by reflecting on the varied views on what makes Surrey Hills so special and unique.
What makes Surrey Hills so special? Read More »
