The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

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A matter of life and death – the coroner in New South Wales

17 June 2021 The role of the coroner in New South Wales has existed for 234 years – longer, in fact, than the state itself. On 2 April 1787, Governor Arthur Phillip was granted the powers ‘to constitute and appoint justices…

An excellent establishment

Australian Medical Journal Vol 1 No 4, 2 November 1846, p46, via Trove City living in Sydney in the early part of the 19th century could be dangerous and insalubrious, especially for the poor. Adult hospitalisations were dominated by the complaints…

Temperance and the ‘evils of tight lacing’: Susan Beckett

Diagram of  Susan Beckett's Bust and Shoulder Supporter in her application to the United States Patent Office, April 1896 (Patent No: US557945) With International Women’s Day and the All About Women festival in the past week, there have been some great…

Ruth L Lee,  Woman War Doctor: The Life of Mary De Garis

Ruth L Lee,  Woman War Doctor: The Life of Mary De Garis  Australian Scholarly Publishing, 2014, x + 197pp, ISBN: 9781925003420 (p/b), RRP: AUS$39.95 Pioneering Australian woman doctor Mary de Garis comes to life in this stimulating biography by Australian author and academic Dr Ruth…

Treating Sydney's sick

Detail showing the Sydney Infirmary from 'Bird's eye view of Sydney Harbour' by FC Terry, c 1856 courtesy National Library of Australia ( PIC Drawer 2407 #S1997) This week on 2ser Breakfast, Nic and our Dictionary of Sydney special guest Dr…

The​ ​Lucy​ ​Osburn-Nightingale​ ​Museum

Sydney Living Museums’ wonderful event Sydney Open is coming up on 4 and 5 November, where the doors of more than 60 of the city’s most important and intriguing buildings and spaces will be open to the public for one weekend. One…