Traces

This magazine is for people passionate about Australia and New Zealand's genealogy, history and heritage. Whether you want to explore convict history, find your Anzac, identify photographs or trace your family tree, our trusted expert advice will help you discover your past.

Welcome to the 13th edition of Traces!

Letters to the editor • What you thought of Traces edition 12

Traces

Heritage News

What’s that thingamajig? • Answer: the Baird ‘Tin box’ televisor

PERTH TOWN HALL • Steeped in 150 years of history, Perth Town Hall is Australia’s only Gothic-style town hall–and the only town hall built by convict hands.

The sacred directions trees • A sacred directions tree, a vital part of Djab Wurrung culture and Australian heritage, has been destroyed. Amanda Wong investigates.

THE GREAT FIRE OF MELBOURNE • We all know about the Great Fire of London in September 1666, but very few people recall that a large part of Melbourne went up in flames in 1897, destroying a substantial part of the city.

Red Lead and the naval superstition • Australia’s naval history is full of tales of bravery and comradeship. One tale in particular shows the strength of the bonds created at sea – even across species.

Flesh-bags, lushy coves and knucklers • Amanda Wong dives into the world of ‘flash’ – the enigmatic convict slang that sparked Australia’s first dictionary.

A taste of ‘flash’

TRACES UNCOVERING AUSTRALIA’S PAST

The true facts of Colonel John George Nathaniel Gibbes • Sometimes it is pure chance that unravels a genealogical mystery. And such is the case with the parentage of Colonel John George Nathaniel Gibbes (1787–1873), the colonial administrator in New South Wales.

MARION MAHONY GRIFFIN and the unfinished story of women in architecture • The name Walter Burley Griffin is imprinted on Australia’s history through the story of our national capital, Canberra. Less well-known for much of the 20th century has been the name of his wife and architectural partner, Marion Mahony Griffin (1871–1961).

A family of storytellers • ‘For that is the use of all learning: to make us wiser and better.’ – Charlotte Waring Atkinson

Healthy curiosity Deciphering pharmacy registers • There are stories in these old registers. Stories about suffering and healing. Stories about families and communities. Stories about changing neighbourhoods and our rising expectations for long and robust lives.

Finding your convict ancestor • With so many people sent to Australian shores over the course of 80 years, it can be a daunting task trying to locate your ancestor among the masses.

Understanding colonial maps • Colonial surveyors charted Australia in spite of heatwaves, torrential rain, faulty equipment and dangerous wildlife. With a little knowledge, the beautiful maps produced from their efforts are valuable resources for the family historian.

What’s new online? • The latest updates and additions to historical collections available online.

STAND WHERE THEY STOOD • There is no doubt that Port Arthur Historic Site is a beautiful place, which sits at odds with the harshness of its history.