2025: What Happened 20, 50 and 100 Years Ago
by As 2025 begins, its time for our annual look back at the top stories and events of 20, 50 and 100 years ago.
Did the Nazis Invent Fanta?
The world’s most popular orange drink has its unlikely origin in World War II Germany: did the Nazi’s invent Fanta?
AFL Teams That Changed Their Name
The VFL/AFL has seen many changes in the last 120 years; here are the AFL teams that have changed their name.
History’s Greatest Coincidences
Unsinkable predictions, perfect eclipses, and a prophetic license plate: here are history’s greatest coincidences.
Melbourne’s Oldest Buildings
Melbourne is a young city; only a handful of structures remain from before 1850, here is a list of Melbourne’s oldest buildings.
Australia’s First Photographer
George Goodman was Australia’s first photographer: in the 1840s, the only man licensed to take photos in the colonies.
The Hidden History of Weeds
Maligned as a pest and otherwise ignored, weedy plants often have fascinating backstories. This is, the hidden history of weeds.
Cliveden: Melbourne’s Largest House
Near the MCG, where the Pullman Hotel is today, used to stand ‘Cliveden’, Melbourne’s largest and most opulent house.
The Longest Winning Streak in VFL/AFL History
In 1953, Geelong set an Australian football record that still stands today: the longest winning streak in VFL/AFL history.
The First Recorded Solar Eclipse
The first recorded solar eclipse occurred in the ancient city of Ugarit, captured on a clay tablet 3 000 years ago.