Aussie History Podcast

Nancy-Bird Walton was one of the great pioneers of flight in Australia. Learn about her remarkable life and achievements. A youtube video aired by the ABC on the day of her funeral can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjfUSjh-muo

 

Direct download: AHP101_Nancy-Bird_Walton_-_211219_2.25_pm.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:30am AEDT

Episode 100! I never dreamed I would still be going after 100 episodes and 6 years.  In this episode we cover Australia becoming a nation. When the six colonies of Australia decided to federate and become a nation in its own right.

Thank you to all my listeners for your support and encouragement since I started this little podcast. A big shout out to Laszlo Montgomery from the China History Podcast who started me in this podcasting caper.

Direct download: AHP100_Federation_-_301119_10.37_am.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:00am AEDT

In this episode we cover the history of the Sydney Harbour Bridge – or as local Sydney-siders call it, the coat hanger. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is an iconic bridge that joins the north of Sydney Harbour to the south. At the time of its completion in 1932 it was considered the epitome of modern bridge design and engineering ingenuity

Direct download: AHP_99_Coat_Hanger_-_161119_12.08_pm.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:00am AEDT

In this episode we finish our look at Ben Chifley. Chifley spends many years in the political wilderness before being re-elected to Parliament. After the death of John Curtin he becomes Prime Minister. 

email me at jamesdampier.awp@gmail.com 

I answer every email.

Direct download: AWP_98_Chifley_Part_3_-_201019_8.01_pm.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:30am AEDT

We continue our look at Ben Chifley. Chifley finally gets elected to Federal Parliament and enters the Minsitry as Minister for Defence. But disunity in the Labor Party costs Labor government, and Chifley his seat, all at the hands of Jack Lang. Chifley and Lang become bitter enemies.  

I was struggling with a sore throat and I bit my tongue (ouch). So bear with my poor delivery in this episode.

Email me at jamesdampier.awp@gmail.com  

 

 

Direct download: AWP97_Ben_Chifley_Part_2_-_30919_7.20_pm.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:30am AEDT

In this and the next few episodes we are going to take a look at Ben Chifley. Chifley was born in Bathurst, New South Wales and worked on the NSW Railways for 25 years as an engine driver.

Chifley was Australia’s 16th Prime Minister who came to the Prime Ministership in July 1945 following the death of John Curtin. Chifley is an icon in Labor Party history. He is most famously remembered for his ‘light on the hill’ speech.

Email me at jamesdampier.awp@gmail.com 

 

Direct download: AWP_96_Ben_Chifley_Part_1_-_8919_7.57_am.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:30am AEDT

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should note that that in this episode I mention the names of people who have or may have passed away.

In this episode we look at the life of Oodgeroo Noonuccal or as you might know her Kath Walker. She was a great poet, writer and activist who played a significant role in the 1967 referendum.

Email me at jamesdampier.awp@gmail.com. I answer every email.

Direct download: AWP_95_Oodgeroo_noonuccal_-_3082019_7.26_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:22am AEDT

I've decided to rename the podcast to the Aussie History Podcast. Thanks to Artistic Visual Design Director Ken Dampier for the new artwork

In this episode my good friend Kate joins me to talk cricket and the infamous Bodyline series of the 1930s. Check out Six and Out's cricketing song 'Can't bowl, Can't Throw'. The band was made up of Australian Test and First Class cricketers, including Brett Lee. As a band they made good cricketers.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcH-unNO7L0

 

Direct download: AHP94_Bodyline_-_21072019_7.47_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 10:05am AEDT

Would you believe that on the banks of Kati Thanda or Lake Eyre, South Australia, lies the world’s second-largest geoglyph? Did you know that from the 1940s until the 1970s cats lived in the Sydney Harbour Bridge. And finally, were you aware that at the end of WWI a French orphan was smuggled to Australia in a sack by Australian troops?

Direct download: AWP_93_Weird_Hstory_-_6072019_11.41_AM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:00am AEDT

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this episode mentions the names of people who have passed away.

At school we learned that the the settlement of New South Wales was a pretty peaceful affair and that the local Aboriginal people accepted the colonists. Also that, where there was conflict, it was very much small scale and out of the ordinary. But was it really like that?

Direct download: Sydney_Wars_1788_to_1789_-_1062019_7.56_AM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:30am AEDT

Bushrangers!!  This time it's Captain Moonlite and Jackey Jackey.

And we say farewell to the Hon. James Robert Lee Hawke MP, one of Australia's best Prime Ministers who died several days before this episode was recorded. Vale Bob Hawke. Australia is a better place because of you.

Direct download: AHP_92_More_Bushrangers_-_18052019_1.10_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:30am AEDT

It's election day today in Australia.  As we head to the polls learn about the first woman who is known to have cast a vote in an Australian election - Frances Finch.  Would you believe it actually happened in 1856, some 46 years before universal suffrage was introduced in Australia.

 

Direct download: AWP_90_Fanny_Finch_-_6042019_12.30_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 9:00am AEDT

It's ANZAC Day. Marion Leane Smith is the only known Indigenous Australian woman to service in WWI.  Let's learn about her story.

Direct download: AWP89_Marion_Smith_-_23032019_1.05_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 5:30am AEDT

We wrap up our series of episodes into the murder of Donald Mackay.  The inquest into the death of Donald Mackay gets underway, Bob Trimbole is finally found and Detective Inspector Ellis goes before the courts. Finally three men are charged over conspiracy to murder Donald Mackay.

 

Direct download: AWP_88_Giffith_Drug_Wars_and_Donald_Mackay_Pt_3_-_23032019_11.55_AM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 7:30am AEDT

In this episode we follow the Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking in NSW. The findings from the Royal Commission were explosive and the identities of those responsible for Donald Mackay's murder are revealed at the Inquest into Donald Mackay's murder.  

Direct download: AEP_87_Griffith_Drug_Wars_Part_2_-_16032019_4.58_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 5:17pm AEDT

On 15 July 1977, local Griffith businessman Donald Mackay disappeared from the car park of a local hotel. Blood was found on and around his mini-van. And there were three spent .22 bullet casings lying on the ground. This incident led to a Royal Commissioning the illegal drug trade in New South Wales. 

Direct download: AWP_54_Griffith_Drug_Wars_-_17022019_12.33_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:12pm AEDT

In this episode we complete our look at Edward Eyre, focusing on 'The Great Northern Expedition' where he overlanded from Adelaide to Albany. We also cover his later career, particularly his time as Governor of Jamaica and his role in suppressing the Mount Bay Rebellion. How is it that the 'friend of the Aborigine' became known as the 'monster of Jamaica'?

Direct download: AWP85_Eyre_Part_2_-_28012019_12.05_PM.mp3
Category:History -- posted at: 12:22pm AEDT

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