The Mechanical Turk
by The Mechanical Turk was one of the wonders of the 18th century: a chess playing robot that defeated chess masters across Europe.
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl is Africa’s largest owl species: a formidable predator with striking pink eyelids.
The First Australian Music Act to Top the US Charts
In 1966 The Seekers released ‘Georgy Girl’, and became the first Australian music act to top the US charts.
Who Is Melbourne Named After?
Who is Melbourne named after? Viscount Melbourne: a two-time British Prime Minister and political centrist who was never far from scandal.
Marshalite Clocks and the First Melbourne Traffic Lights
Melbourne’s first traffic lights were manually operated and confusing, the city then turned to a unique signal system: the Marshalite Clock.
The Tank Stream
The location of Sydney was determined by the Tank Stream: a rivulet that was the colony’s first water source, that now exists underground.
Aurukun Camp Dogs
The Aurukun Camp Dogs are wooden sculptures from far north Queensland, charismatic manifestations of a long-standing artistic tradition.
Ethleen Palmer: Australia’s Hokusai
Ethleen Palmer was a pioneering artist and designer, sometimes called ‘Australia’s Hokusai’.
Rakali: The Golden Water Mouse
Commonly known as the ‘Water Rat’, the Rakali is the lesser known of Australia’s two amphibious mammals.
Cocky Marr
Between the wars, Cocky Marr was the Carlton Football Club’s unofficial mascot: a crested cockatoo who loved the Blues, and despised bad umpiring.