History & heritage

Hidden in sheds, under tarps and out of sight in Maldon, are some amazing things. This is a 1925 Oldsmobile Tourer, which obviously means it’s now 100 years old. Here’s a fun fact: it was Oldsmobile that pioneered the production line, not Henry Ford, although he certainly picked up the idea and ran with it with his Model T.

In 1900 Australia was still a number of individual colonies, the Boer War was still taking place, and in China the Boxer Rebellion was drawing nations across the world into that conflict. In Charlton ten members of the community from different walks of life met in a small room behind a shop, and with the taking of minutes, banking and a constitution the Charlton Club was born on May 21st...

As soon as I uncovered tangible evidence of the organised gangs of terrorists running rampant in Kenya, I immediately concluded that the formerly placid and highly relaxed tribespeople must have been politically stimulated by some unidentified outside forces.

Anthony Bennett. Could a small south-western settlement have ties to a conflict 16,000 kilometres away? This is exactly how Hay, formerly Langs Crossing, connects to what some called 'The First Modern War' ... Hay was half a world away from the fighting. It had a modest population of just 172 citizens.

This first in a series of articles from Robert Onfray on the history of Fraser Island, ranging from the timber days to tourism booms, shipwrecks to settlement struggles. This week's tells the story of the Fraser Island Fishing Expo, first held in 1984.

Exhibition Curator Ozan Fikri said he recently had the pleasure of meeting with fellow Narrandera resident Mark Wilkie and their conversation took an unexpected turn when he mentioned his roots in Cyprus ... Mark is set to share his work with the community in a special exhibition featuring 14 of his voyeur pictures.

A fete, with all the trimmings, reflecting on 150 years of education is an event worthy of celebrating but it is also the ideal venue for a school reunion. Emu Creek State School invites all students past and present to turn up any time after 10am on Saturday 31st May for what should be a wonderful day ...

On Monday 31st May 1875 a large group of Greenmount District locals gathered for the opening of the new Emu Creek State School and waited patiently for the official opening by well known politician Mr W. H. Groom ... It is very doubtful if Mr Groom, the first Head Teacher, Cornelius O'Brien or anyone gathered there that day, would have guessed that one of the 40 students enrolled would go on to be one of Australia's most loved writers.

God looked down upon the small country town of Murrabit and decreed that the seventh day shall be filled with polished chrome, flat top pistons, and lumpy cam ... car clubs from Deniliquin, Echuca, Swan Hill, and Kerang gathered for the National Motoring Day at the iconic Murrabit Market site.

One of the Riverland's most recognisable distillers has marked its 100th season by releasing a new piece of Australian spirit "history". Renmark's St Agnes Distillery – operated by Angove Family winemakers – last week unveiled the St Agnes XXO 50 Year Old Exceptional Reserve brandy, the oldest bottled spirit ever produced in Australia.

Joanna Tucker. Work is continuing towards the Australian Cornish Mining Sites: Burra and Moonta World Heritage bid, with the possibility heritage status may be achieved as soon as next year ... an opportunity to skip the preliminary assessment, so World Heritage consultant Barry Gamble has decided to endorse the parallel preparation of a full World Heritage nomination.

Joanna Tucker. Kernewek Lowender Copper Coast Cornish Festival was once again a major success, with visitors travelling to the region from far and wide. The 2025 edition of the biennial event was held last week ... An estimated 30,000 people attended the seven-day festival...

Jeni Kendell. Each May, the Nimbin Aquarius Foundation is planning to put on an event to celebrate the original Aquarius Festival in 1973 which helped reawaken and renew our wonderful town of Nimbin and ripple out in so many ways to far corners of this country. This annual event will resemble the ‘Festival of Dangerous Ideas’ that has become a landmark for people thinking outside the square.

Jacki Baker. The 51st Naracoorte Horse Trials will be held this weekend ... Sylvia Williams-Roberts will design the course, helped by her right-hand man, husband Roger as builder ... She gained FEI level 3 course design accreditation in 2013 and is one of only two women in the world to attain this level.

The Toganmain Woolshed Precinct is preparing to celebrate a momentous milestone - its 150th anniversary in June 2025. Located near Darlington Point in the Riverina, this iconic woolshed has stood as a testament to the craftsmanship and resilience of Australia's pastoral history since its completion in 1875.

Encouraged by the interest and support shown over previous years, the Upper Murray Historical Society recently held a walk through the old Corryong Pioneer Cemetery ... Choc Thompson spoke of his own family's interesting history and the events that brought them to settle in Corryong. The Thompsons, headed by Lewis Thompson, were noted saddlers ...

Sarah Martin. A project documenting Barkandji knowledge of the Baaka river and floodplains has been ongoing for about 6 months. It has included a large oral history project which collected knowledge from Barkandji and kin about fish traps, fishing, the floodplains, and how they have changed so much over the last few decades.

On Friday, October 6, 1972, the unthinkable happened when two men kidnapped seven pupils and their 20-year-old teacher from a little isolated country school in rural Victoria. This school was a little granite building known as Faraday State School 797.

Now that the dust has settled and the amazing Maldon Easter weekend is behind us, I am thinking back to one of the larger vehicles that you may have noticed in the parade. It's a 1909 John Fowler Power Traction Engine, made in Leeds England.

The Maldon Athenaeum Library (MAL) is set to celebrate the online publication of a series of written vignettes about its history, which includes the building on High Street and the organisations that have called it home.

Hundreds gathered at the Victorian Emergency Services Memorial in Treasury Gardens on May 4, to honour firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Each year, CFA holds a memorial service to remember those firefighters who gave their lives to protect others and to honour the personal sacrifices and commitment our firefighters make each and every day.

Former cattle drafter Barry Coonan from Wellcamp reflects on his history with the Toowoomba Saleyards at Harristown following the announcement of their indefinite closure. "I worked at the Saleyards for 58 years and retired in 2015, at the age of 75.