Australian Histories Podcast

Naval men who arrived in NSW in September 1795, Bass & Flinders were both intent on undertaking exploration and charting sections of New Holland, still largely unknown to the British.

They became well known as navigators, explorers and map makers, charting the Australian coasts and enhancing the then limited knowledge of the new colony.

In this Part 1 episode we take a look at the backgrounds of both men to understand what brought them to NSW.

(45 mins)

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Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

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AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

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Rough transcript is available from the episode webpage - AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

Waltzing Matilda is described as 'the people's song'. More well known than the real Australian National Anthem around the world, Banjo Paterson's jaunty little ditty actually contains clues to some turbulent times he witnessed in Australian history. This episode shares a little background about the much loved song.

(40mins)

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Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

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In the 1950s Australia hosted a number of British nuclear weapons tests. The very first one took place on the Montebello Islands, off Australia's north west coast. This episode we will explore 'Operation Hurricane' on the Montebellos.

(75 mins)

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Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

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Maria Island is a UNESCO World Heritage listed Tasmanian convict site, with a long and varied history, and a number of spectacular natural and geological places of interest.

From its original indigenous use, soon after aboriginal people made their way to Tasmania, around 30,000 years ago, through it’s early colonial use as penal outposts and then for agricultural and industrial uses, many historical remnants are visible for visitors to explore.

Since 1971 it was designated as a National Park, with an added calling as a refuge island, helping to protect a number of endangered or ‘of concern’ species. This episode follows it's story through the ages.

(72 mins)

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Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

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From a land with no native domesticated dogs, nearly 230 years after colonists’ brought their first pets & hunting dogs on the first fleet, Australia now has one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the world. 

Almost half of Australian households kept at least one dog in 2022, but lets take a look at the history & development of the uniquely Australian dogs we created along the way. 

(45 mins)

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Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

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Presbyterian Minister John Flynn had a desire to bring "a mantle of safety" to those living in the remote areas of Australia.  WWI Australian fighter pilot John Clifford Peel suggested a blueprint for such a service.  Alf Traeger tested and designed equipment that would allow communication across the outback and Hudson Fysh acquired the planes that could be used by an Aerial Medical Service.  The vision and tenacity of Flynn brought all these ideas & people together to create one of the most outstanding, helpful and appreciated services in Australia.  Something that still serves those in remote & rural Australia since it's beginning in 1928.

(57 Mins)

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Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

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In this final episode on Buckley & the Wathawurrung, we hear about what happened after Buckley made contact with Batman's party from the Port Phillip Association.

Moving back into his original society, he later records his recollections of living amongst the Wathawurrung.

(66 mins)

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Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

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In Part 2 of William Buckley's story, living amongst the Wathawurrung people who adopted him, we hear how he adapted and learned a great many skills.  He was able to record many of the practices that allowed his mob to live so successfully, in country that almost killed him.  And we learn of tragedies that deeply disturbed him. 

(62mins)

Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

William Buckley was an escaped convict who lived amongst the Wathawurrung people for more than 30 years.  Adopted as Murrangurk, he had the opportunity to participate in, witness and later record some of the lifestyle and cultural practices of these First Nations people, at a time before they had substantial contact with colonial newcomers, when their way of life was altered. 

Buckley's story is an exceptional one and we begin in Part 1 by learning how he found himself on this side of the world and living amongst the Wuthawurrung.

(63 mins)

Brilliant stories from Australia’s past

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au

We talk about 'Telegraph Todd' and the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line, built through the largely unsurveyed and vast centre of Australia.  Only one group of British explorers had, to date, survived a trek all the way from the south to the north and returned, but using the information they recorded, Todd was sure he could supervise the construction of a more than 3200km Telegraph Line, that would allow the colonies in Australia to be linked up the the rest of the world.  A huge leap into a more modern communications era.

(105 mins)

Brilliant stories from Australia’s past!

Help support the show with a one-off donation

AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au