After a quick resupply in Port Jackson Flinders again heads out to undertake the second leg of his circumnavigation.  This time they began by traveling north, through the Great Barrier Reef and into the tropical north.  This journey would prove to be much more challenging for Flinders and his crew. (56 mins)    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Australia’s past  Enjoying the podcast?  Help support the show with a one-off donation AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au    ..read more

This episode we see Bass undertake his speculative business ventures, no longer in the company of Flinders, but his timing meant his returns were not as lucrative as he'd hoped. Flinders set off on the mammoth task of circumnavigating the New Holland-New South Wales.  This first leg of his mission was very rewarding and successful, and Flinders had the experience of meeting one of the ships involved in the French scientific expedition while charting the south coast. (60 mins) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Austral ..read more

George Bass and Matthew Flinders undertake an important mapping journey to confirm the existence of what will soon afterwards become known as Bass Strait, a body of water between the mainland of 'New South Wales' and the newly recognized island of Van Diemens Land. But afterwards their future aspirations diverge, and we follow them as they prepare for the next phases of their lives, Bass undertaking trading and Flinders consolidating his career as an explorer and navigator. (75 mins) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Aust ..read more

George Bass and Matthew Flinders arrived in New South Wales in September of 1795, with grand plans to "explore more of the country than any of [our] predecessors in the colony".  In part 2 we look at how their plans progressed. As naval men, they had work to do when they arrived in the young colony, but to their delight, they soon began doing some of the discovery and exploration they desired, around the coast and inland.  (65 mins) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Australia’s past  Enjoying the podcast?&n ..read more

Naval men who arrived in NSW in September 1795, Bass & Flinders were both intent on undertaking exploration and charting sections of New Holland, still largely unknown to the British.  They became well known as navigators, explorers and map makers, charting the Australian coasts and enhancing the then limited knowledge of the new colony.  In this Part 1 episode we take a look at the backgrounds of both men to understand what brought them to NSW. (45 mins) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Australia’s past  Enjoying the po ..read more

Waltzing Matilda is described as 'the people's song'.  More well known than the real Australian National Anthem around the world, Banjo Paterson's jaunty little ditty actually contains clues to some turbulent times he witnessed in Australian history.  This episode shares a little background about the much loved song. (40mins) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Australia’s past  Enjoying the podcast?  Help support the show with a one-off donation AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au ..read more

In the 1950s Australia hosted a number of British nuclear weapons tests.  The very first one took place on the Montebello Islands, off Australia's north west coast.  This episode we will explore 'Operation Hurricane' on the Montebellos. (75 mins) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Australia’s past  Enjoying the podcast?  Help support the show with a one-off donation AustralianHistoriesPodcast.com.au -----------------------------------------------------------------   ..read more

Maria Island is a UNESCO World Heritage listed Tasmanian convict site, with a long and varied history, and a number of spectacular natural and geological places of interest.  From its original indigenous use, soon after aboriginal people made their way to Tasmania, around 30,000 years ago, through it’s early colonial use as penal outposts and then for agricultural and industrial uses, many historical remnants are visible for visitors to explore.  Since 1971 it was designated as a National Park, with an added calling as a refuge island, helping to protect a number of endangered or ‘of ..read more

From a land with no native domesticated dogs, nearly 230 years after colonists’ brought their first pets & hunting dogs on the first fleet, Australia now has one of the highest rates of dog ownership in the world.  Almost half of Australian households kept at least one dog in 2022, but lets take a look at the history & development of the uniquely Australian dogs we created along the way.  (45 mins) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brilliant stories from Australia’s past  Enjoying the podcast?  Help support the s ..read more

Presbyterian Minister John Flynn had a desire to bring "a mantle of safety" to those living in the remote areas of Australia.  WWI Australian fighter pilot John Clifford Peel suggested a blueprint for such a service.  Alf Traeger tested and designed equipment that would allow communication across the outback and Hudson Fysh acquired the planes that could be used by an Aerial Medical Service.  The vision and tenacity of Flynn brought all these ideas & people together to create one of the most outstanding, helpful and appreciated services in Australia.  Something that sti ..read more