Paraguay was the destination to an Australian diaspora that began 120 years ago. New Australia and Cosme were socialist utopian colonies established in Paraguay in 1893 and 1894 by a group of Australians migrants led by William Lane. Continue reading
Objects Through Time: settlement
This hand axe was found in 1931 by Louis Leakey in the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, and is dated to about 1.2 million years ago. Continue reading
The High Court Mabo Case Decision No. 2 is evidence of the connection between land, identity and continuity of family and community felt by indigenous people in Australia and around the world. Continue reading
A collection of telegraphy equipment used by the Postmaster General’s Department of between 1901 and 1937. Continue reading
White painted Bakelite hard hat, Snowy Mountains Authority, Australia, c 1953-1954. Standard issue protective clothing for use on the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric scheme. Continue reading
Holey dollar, silver, Charles IV, Mexico Mint, 1806. Restruck in, New South Wales, 1813. Currency by Governor Macquarie’s Proclamation, 1 July 1813. Continue reading
Watercolour on ivory miniature in oval gilt frame. The miniature shows William Bligh in uniform of an Admiral. Continue reading
The Broken Hill Ottoman Flag is rare being unique and one a few items from the New Years Day attack at Broken Hill in 1915. Continue reading
Former mosque relocated from the Afghan Camp and later the cemetery in Broken Hill. Continue reading
The Greg Ritchie Negative Collection is a collection of over 3000 negatives featuring buildings and other sites in the City of Canterbury. Between 1990 and 1998 Canterbury City Council staff documented their day-to-day duties through photographs. Continue reading
Discover the history behind the City of Sydney’s headstone, in memory of Eliz Steel who died in 1795. It was uncovered at Sydney Town Hall during excavations. Continue reading
This document has historic value because it has direct links with Federation and the drafting of the first Australian Constitution that put in place the law that was the cornerstone of Australia’s ‘White Australia’ policy. Continue reading
The piano is historically significant as evidence of piano manufacturing in Australia prior to the World War I through to 1936, as it is possibly one of the last upright pianos, made by Carl von Heiden in his Sydney factory between 1904 and 1914. Continue reading
The textiles machines are of historic significance as evidence of the transfer of haberdashery and tailoring of clothing from the Italian village to Fairfield in the Australia suburbs. Continue reading
The pincers are historically significant as they were made by Carl Konemann. The Konemanns’ are regarded as one of the early pioneering families in Fairfield, providing the essential services of horse shoeing, tool making and repairs and coach building. Continue reading
The Bier stein and eisstock game piece are social and culturally significant. The German-Austrian Society of Australia Club was formed to assist Post World War II migrants to resettle into suburban Fairfield community life between 1945 and 1960, and fulfil an important social and cultural role in an alienating culture. Continue reading
The shield holds considerable historic value of the first contact between Europeans and Aboriginal people on the east coast of Australia. Continue reading
The cape has historical significance as evidence of the experience of women in middle class families in the nineteenth century and of colonial millinery and clothing retail practices. Continue reading
The cane knife is historically significant as evidence of the manual labour of the many South Sea Islanders, Indians and migrants from Europe who were the backbone of the sugar industry in northern NSW. Continue reading
Discover the Jirin and Medaha that was handmade by Joseph John Isaac in 1938. The Jirin and Medaha were used to make ‘Kibee’ a traditional Lebanese dish. Continue reading
The dollhouse has historic significance as evidence of post World War 2 refugee migration to Australia and the traumatic experience of dislocation and separation from family.
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The banner has historical value as a rare fabric banner from convict era Parramatta. Continue reading
Discover the letter from Joseph Dagelet, astronomer from 1788 Lapérouse Expedition, to William Dawes, astronomer to the First Fleet and British Settlement at Port Jackson, that provides advice on building the colony’s first observatory. Continue reading
The letter from Frenchman Francis Barrallier to Governor King in 1802 during an expedition seeking a route across the Great Dividing Range is historically significant as a rare document describing and interpreting a French view of the pre-1788 Sydney Aboriginal people’s environment and culture. Continue reading
Discover the 1865 painting of the entrance to Port Jackson titled Sydney Heads by German artist Eugene von Guérard. Continue reading
Discover the collection of objects from the German and Austrian refugees who transported to Australia on the SS Dunera and were later interred at Hay internment camp during World War II. Continue reading
Discover the Dutch Vergulde Draeck Collection excavated from the VOC ship Vergulde Draeck that was wrecked on the Western Australian coast in 1656. Continue reading
Discover a collection of late nineteenth century personal effects and shop stock owned by the Wong’s – an Anglo-Chinese family from Bolong, Australia. Continue reading
The harrow is part of a series of regional collection of objects integral to the story of the Chinese on the goldfields, agriculture and the establishment of regional Chinese communities. Continue reading
Discover the medal presented as a mark of esteem to Charles De Boos, Gold Fields Warden, from Chinese Miners in the Braidwood district in 1881. Continue reading