The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
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Ah-chew! (Sniffle, Sniffle) - the pneumonic influenza pandemic of 1919
Today on 2SER Breakfast, Lisa and Tess talked about the pneumonic influenza pandemic of 1919 (aka the Spanish flu) - a world-wide pandemic that hit Sydney 100 years ago in February 1919. More people died from the flu around the…
Chinese New Year
Tuesday was the official day of Chinese New Year, a festival that has been celebrated for generations in Sydney, so today I thought we'd look at the long history of Chinese people in Sydney. Listen to the whole conversation with Lisa…
Street Photography
Today on 2SER Breakfast, Lisa and Tess talked about a fabulous new exhibition at the Museum of Sydney called Street Photography, that looks at the popularity of commercial street photographers in the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Listen to Lisa and Tess…
Grab your partners for the Balmain Polka
Courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (M MUSIC FILE/SPA) November is AusMusic Month and so today I thought we should look back at some early Australian popular music and one of the early music composers in Sydney. Graeme Skinner at…
A day at the races
Northern end of Hyde Park in 1842, several years after the racecourse had closed, by John Rae, courtesy Dixson Galleries, State Library of NSW (DG SV*/Sp Coll/Rae/16) Lisa and Tess are both back this week on 2SER Breakfast and given yesterday's…
The Mitchell Library's new galleries
It's a VERY exciting week to be an historian in Sydney this week with the opening of the new galleries and a learning centre in the historic Mitchell Library wing of the State Library of New South Wales, so today…
Devonshire Street Cemetery
Devonshire Street cemetery prior to demolition, showing the headstone of Joseph Leburn c1905, by Ethel Foster, courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (ON 146/no 401) Last night Lisa gave the Annual History Lecture for History Week 2018, and in keeping…
The Electrical Association for Women
Electrical Association for Women Cookery Book, compiled and published by Mrs FV McKenzie, Director of the Electrical Association for Women (Australia) Sydney, published by The Electrical Association for Women (Australia), Sydney 1936 (private collection) Electricity has been in the news for…
Eora fisherwomen
bara by Aboriginal artist Judy Watson, image courtesy of Judy Watson and UAP MEDIA Yesterday Governor David Hurley and Lord Mayor Clover Moore unveiled plans for a major new artwork overlooking Sydney Harbour on the Tarpeian Precinct Lawn above Dubbagullee (also…
International Day for Monuments and Sites
The Parramatta River with Searle's monument c1915 by GN Wilson, courtesy National Library of Australia (nla.pic-an24616593) Today, April 18, is International Day for Monuments and Sites, a time when people around the world celebrate historical, spiritual , and cultural heritage. It's…