Capital history in the news
200th year anniversary of Governor Macquarie’s journey
Scouting lakes in the New Country | Robert Wilson writes about the exploring parties of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and Surveyor General John Oxley who met at and inspected Lake Bathurst and Lake George 200 years ago in October 1820. An event that marked the start of Europeans moving into the region to live.
Goulburn 2020 | Local historian Jennifer Lamb has marked the 200th year anniversary of Governor Lachlan Macquarie’s journey to Goulburn by exploring at Goulburn 2020 in detail his journey through the Goulburn Plains.
National Archives and Museum news
National Archives to invest $3 million to save at-risk audio-visual records | Priceless audio and video recordings documenting Australian history will be preserved for future generations through a $3 million investment by the National Archives of Australia.
National Archives signs contracts worth $4.4m to digitise Second World War service records | The National Archives of Australia (NAA) has signed contracts totalling $4.4 million for the bulk digitisation of more than 650,000 Second World War service records. These records are among the most popular in the NAA’s collection and this project will ensure Australians can access almost one million of these records digitally by 2023.
National Museum's 1878 paddle steamer to return soon to the lake | The National Museum of Australia hopes to have its historic paddle steamer churning through the waters of Lake Burley Griffin again. They are also keen to attract more volunteers to ensure the paddle steamer can continue to be used into the future.
Celebrating art
Artists project 'best of both worlds' on National Carillon as Indigenous Art Market goes online for NAIDOC Week | A painting inspired by shut borders will light the Australian capital's skyline as one of the works projected on the National Carillon to celebrate NAIDOC Week. It's part of the annual Indigenous Art Market, which has been forced online by coronavirus restrictions.
The National Gallery of Australia is celebrating Australian female artists in Know My Name, a major two-part exhibition | The National Gallery of Australia is celebrating the work of Australian female artists in a major exhibition. Co-curators Deborah Hart and Elspeth Pitt explain the factors and choices that have shaped the exhibition. Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now opens November 14 and runs until July 4, 2021. A conference will also be held November 10-13.
A very local mystery
The curious case of the concrete block | Tim the Yowie Man writes about the curious concrete block of Ainslie, located in parkland on Suttor Street in Ainslie, which has been the subject of much community speculation. Another Ainslie mystery mentioned is the room contained in the historic bus stop located near the corner of Cowper and Cox streets.
National Museum's 1878 paddle steamer to return soon to the lake | The National Museum of Australia hopes to have its historic paddle steamer churning through the waters of Lake Burley Griffin again. They are also keen to attract more volunteers to ensure the paddle steamer can continue to be used into the future.
Golden wattle $100 note
Golden Wattle finally fits the bill, the national floral emblem featuring on an Australian banknote for the first time | Members of the Wattle Day Association lined up at the Canberra Branch of the Reserve Bank of Australia to secure a piece of monetary history, the new $100 note featuring golden wattle, Sir John Monash and Dame Nellie Melba.
Acknowledgement: Inspired by the 200th year anniversary of Governor Macquarie’s journey to and naming of Lake George (Weereewa) the image above is a view of the Lake in 1825 by J. Lycett. It comes from the State Library Victoria. Full details here.
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