The Founder of the Archibald Prize
by The Archibald Prize is Australia’s richest art prize. It was founded by a self-made miner turned journalist, who liked to pretend he was French.
Melbourne’s Lost Buildings
Melbourne was founded in 1835. Like most modern cities it has been rebuilt, and re-designed, in an endless cycle, ever since. Here is a list of Melbourne’s lost buildings.
Who Killed Alma Tirtschke?
In December 1921, a shocking crime stunned Melbourne. A hundred years later the question remains: who killed Alma Tirtschke?
Impressionists At The Beach
In the 1880s, Impressionism was at the cutting edge of the art world. And in Australia, local Impressionists headed to the beach.
Surprising Backstories of 1970s Hit Songs
Disco, punk, hard rock and funk; the 1970’s were a great decade for music. These are the strange backstories of 1970s hit songs.
The First Night Aussie Rules Game
The first night aussie rules game was held at the MCG in 1879, the same year that electric lights arrived in Melbourne.
The Original Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger is a popular plot device, to build excitement about the next episode in a series. They first appear in a thousand-year old book of folk tales.
The Origins of Potato Chips
The origins of potato chips can be traced to Thomas Jefferson, by way of an irascible, short-tempered chef in upstate New York.
The Paris End of Melbourne
The east end of Collins Street is often called, The Paris End of Melbourne. The label can be traced to a long demolished café, and its cosmopolitan owner.
The First Metre
It is hard to imagine, but at some point in history, someone sat down and invented the metre. And its origin story, is surprisingly lively.