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Sydney’s horseracing history
Northern end of Hyde Park 1842. Contributed by City of Sydney Archives SRC9145 It’s that time of the year again where everybody is talking about the Melbourne Cup - 'the race that stops the nation' - but what about Sydney’s connection…
Living with sharks on the Georges River
Beryl Morrin, who lost both arms as a result of a shark attack in the Georges River on New Year's Eve, with a nurse at Canterbury Hospital 10 February 1935. By Sam Hood. From the collection of the State Library…
Happy 50th birthday Gladesville Bridge!
Gladesville Bridge at the time of its official opening, October 1964. By Paul Percival. From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales, d7_17540 / APA 17540, Mitchell Library Tomorrow is a significant birthday for one of Sydney’s bridges.…
Cocky Bennett the Cockatoo
Cocky Bennett, Sea Breeze Hotel, Tom Uglys Point c1914. Image courtesy of the State Library of Victoria, Acc No:H23120 Cocky Bennett was a remarkably long-lived cockatoo who, after sailing the South Seas, became a fixture at the Sea Breeze Hotel at…
Prince Alfred's ill-fated tour
HRH Alfred, the Duke of Edinburgh 1867-8. From the collection of the State Library of New South Wales a4157018 / P1/18, Mitchell Library Last week we talked about the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the Australian Museum and Henry Parkes' mongoose.…
Mr Parkes's mongoose
The Modern St Patrick: or, Parkes's 'Man-Goose' at the Museum, Sydney Punch, 22 February 1868, p 95 (courtesy State Library of NSW) Last year we came across this cartoon from Sydney Punch in 1868 of Henry Parkes titled 'The Modern St…
History Week
This week on 2SER Breakfast, we talked about one of our favourite times of the year here at the Dictionary of Sydney. History Week. And it's just two sleeps to go! History Week happens 6-14 September and all around NSW historians,…
Arthur Phillip
This morning on 2SER, Lisa & Mitch talked about Arthur Phillip, the British naval officer who led the First Fleet and became the first governor of New South Wales as this Sunday, the 31st August, marks 200 years since his…
The nuts and bolts of a Sydney Icon
Sydney Bridge Celebrations, 1932. By Douglas Annand and Arthur James Whitmore. Contributed by State Records New South Wales, SR Document No.65 The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Sydney's best-loved icons. But we can take for granted the enormous engineering feat…
Welcome to Dr Naomi Parry
dictionaryofsydney.org The Dictionary is pleased to welcome Dr Naomi Parry to our small team. Naomi is a graduate of the University of Tasmania, Macquarie University and University of New South Wales, where she completed her PhD on black and white children…