The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
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Australia’s First Bank Robbery
'Our first and gayest bank robbery', The Sun, 29 March 1948, p7 via Trove Did you know Australia’s first bank robbery occurred in Sydney in 1828 and most of the £14,000 was never recovered? This week we'll look at the crime that…
Women commemorated by Sydney's suburbs
Elizabeth Macquarie c1819, courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW (MIN 237) As an historian, I'm always interested in how we shape our cities and how we get the names we get. Earlier this week I was looking at the city's…
21st Biennale of Sydney
Ai Weiwei, Law of the Journey, 2017 reinforced PVC with aluminium frame, 312 figures 60 x 6 x 3 m Installation view (2018) at Cockatoo Island for the 21st Biennale of Sydney Courtesy the artist and neugerriemschneider, Berlin Presentation at the…
‘The murderous outrage’: Prince Alfred’s visit to Sydney
Attempted assassination of HRH Duke of Edinburgh at Clontarf, by Samuel Calvert , courtesy National Library of Australia (nla.pic-an9542884) It’s been 150 years since Prince Alfred’s tour of Sydney came to an abrupt halt on 12 March 1868 when an attempt…
International Women's Day 2018
Louisa Lawson, aged 50 c1898 courtesy Dixson Library, State Library of NSW (DL PX 158, 24) March 8 is International Women's Day and today Lisa and Nic looked at three very different women who have shaped Sydney's history, culture and society. Listen…
Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, 40 years on
It takes balls to be a fairy, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras 1983, photograph by William Yang, courtesy National Library of Australia (nla.pic-vn3097593) This year is the 40th anniversary of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and it has…
Mugshots 1920s style
A few weeks ago I talked about the Registry of Flashmen which was compiled by William Miles, a police commissioner who used the latest surveillance techniques of the 1840s to understand the local criminal class. Fast forward 80 years to…
Heroism in the surf
Front page of The Sun, 7 February 1938 Yesterday it was 80 years since the Black Sunday surf rescue at Bondi Beach, which was commemorated on the weekend with a re-enactment featuring 150 lifesavers, complete with period costume and equipment. You can…
Flash coves, deep rogues and rascals
Painting by ST Gill, courtesy National Library of Australia (nla.obj-134655773) Sydney thrives on crime stories and today on 2SER Lisa thought she'd share a unique dossier held in the State Archives that gives a special insider’s view of law and order…
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…