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The First Summit of Kosciuszko, and the unlikely link with the outback 

I think it’s a safe assumption that most Australians look up to the early explorers and all that they achieved. In what can easily be called a sedentary lifestyle that majority of the population now live where we binge watch Netflix and consider an afternoon walk an enormous feat, it’s crazy to think back to a time where people were traversing desert lands and climbing mountains. I suppose that’s why history is so intriguing; it reminds us of a time where it was the norm for humans to strive endlessly for greatness and conquer struggle. Two characteristics that the early European explorers that took on the challenge of exploring Australia all possessed.   The First Summit of Kosciusko is one of those triumphs remembered fondly by history buffs and everyday Joe’s alike. What one person looked at and said “that’s too steep” another decided to ascend. That of course was Paul Strzelecki.   If the name Strzelecki strikes you as familiar, you’re either remembering the Shane Warne, netball enthusiast from Kath and Kim or you’ve visited the stunning Strzelecki Desert in South Australia where the sunsets over our sunburnt nation are second to none. Unsurprisingly, the desert was not named after Sharon Strezelecki, but instead after Polish explorer Paul Edmund Strzelecki named by Charles Sturt. Paul’s expeditions were crucial in advancing European…

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From truly isolated to tourist destination, how the Old Tele’ Track came to be

The Old Telegraph Track in Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia, holds a rich history that dates back to the early days in the region. This iconic track, formerly known as the Cape York Telegraph Line, played a crucial role in connecting Australia to the rest of the world and served as a lifeline for those living in Cape York. In this yarn, we’ll take a deep dive into the fascinating history of the Old Telegraph Track, exploring its construction, the challenges faced by early pioneers, and the legacy it has left behind.  The construction of the Old Telegraph Track was part of a larger project known as the Overland Telegraph Line, which aimed to connect Brisbane with the northern outposts in the Cape, and then onto the rest of the world. Completed in 1887, the line stretched from Laura at the southern end of the Peninsula to Thursday Island. The northern section of the line, passing through the rugged terrain of Cape York Peninsula, presented significant challenges for the survey and construction teams.  Led by John Bradfield, the initial surveying expedition commenced in 1883, becoming only the fourth overland expedition to Cape York Peninsula. The construction work itself involved clearing a corridor approximately forty meters wide, with galvanized iron poles manufactured specifically to support the telegraph line. These poles, along…

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Bold Ben Hall – Bushranger

From humble farmer to the most brutal takedown in Australia’s history. The story of Ben Hall – legendary Australian bushranger. The notion of a good man turned bad through the harassment by law enforcement agencies is nothing new in early Australian history, but in most cases, it is a notion based on romanticised fiction, rather than fact. Perhaps the most famous tale along these lines is that of old Ned Kelly, however, the harsh truth is that Ned was always a bad apple, right from the start.  Enter Bold Ben Hall, who fell in with the wrong crowd and was targeted by the local Police Chief until the bitter, and brutal end! Ben Hall was said to be born in 1837 in either Breeza or Maitland in NSW to convict parents, Ben Snr and Eliza. They settled in the northern NSW town of Murrurundi and Ben Snr even opened a store selling freshly butchered meat, alongside fruit and vegetables. However, it was around the end of 1850 that Ben Snr packed up the kids and headed off for a fresh start on the Lachlan River, where young Ben would spend his formative years developing his skills as a stockman and bushman – skills would serve him well later in life. Ben Snr eventually returned to Murrurundi, but young Ben stayed behind,…

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The Triumph and Tragedy of William John Wills

William John Wills was the man behind the success of the epic Burke & Wills story. He is an unsung Aussie hero, but you have heard of him? He is an unsung hero, but you have heard of him. Seems like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? You mention the name William John Wills in any outback pub, and there will be a bit of head-scratching, but mention Burke & Wills, and you’ll be met with knowing nods and maybe even a deprecating monologue on how foolish they were.   But to focus on the few bad choices they made is to do the whole story, and in particular, William John Wills, a massive injustice.  Wills was born in Devon, England in 1834 to Dr William Wills, and his wife Sarah. Will’s early life in England saw him attend St Andrews Grammar, and he was also tutored by his father. After school, he worked with his father while undertaking courses at a couple of local hospitals.  Like a lot of folks in the UK at the time, Dr Wills had a keen interest in Australia, in particular, the gold mining that was taking the world by storm. An 18-year-old Wills and his brother Thomas both boarded the Janet Mitchell in Dartmouth and set sail for Australia, arriving in Port Phillip in January…

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