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 18th edition of Traces!

Traces

Heritage News

What’s that thingamajig? • Answer: The Seven-Ring Puzzle

ARGYLE CUT, SYDNEY • The Argyle Cut, located in the heart of Sydney’s The Rocks, is a heritage-listed, deep-rock road cutting that is significant for historical, technological and scientific reasons, and has ties to the industrial and labour development of Sydney.

The riddle of Freemans Reach

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SEARCHING FOR A MYSTERY MAN • Two years ago, while holidaying in Kiama, New South Wales, I visited a local jumble sale. There, in a box of old photographs, was an image that fascinated me. It featured an enigmatic figure who has so far thwarted all my attempts at identification.

A history of food in Australia • The history of the food of any nation or culture provides a lens through which to look not just at what was eaten, but by whom and when.

CELEBRATING DAME MERLYN

‘The captain was drunk’ • Navigating wrecks and reputations

The Story of the Kelly Gang • Few people know that an Australian film holds the title of the world’s first ever feature-length film. Amanda Wong dives into this important part of not only Australia’s history, but that of the entire world.

‘A woman’s understanding’ • Australian female undertakers

CIVILISING BRISBANE

THE PRICE OF HONOUR • When in 1921 the Queensland War Trophy Committee ruled that Boonah was ineligible to receive a captured field gun, the town’s citizenry resolved to try to independently secure one of these trophies by whatever means.

A token of love • Convict love tokens provide a glimpse in to the heartache of convicts and their families, and allow historians to gain a uniquely personal insight into the lives of those sentenced to transportation to the colonies.

National Museum of Australia collection • The National Museum of Australia is home to the largest collection of convict love tokens in the world. Currently, the museum has more than 300 tokens in its collection. Here are a few examples.

Rollicking adventures in Esperance • Amanda Wong uncovers the intrepid story of Australia’s only recorded male pirate.

Remembering Boorong • Boorong was an extraordinary woman who lived during extraordinary times, being integral to communications between the Indigenous population and the British.

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

Monte Cristo Homestead • From glamorous social events to tragic deaths, Monte Cristo Homestead is a Victorian-era manor and museum full of mystery, history, and paranormal activity.