Daniel (38) and Winifred O’Brien arrived in Queensland on board the Florentia on 29 April 1853. Accompanying them on the voyage were their children Mary 18, Ellen 16, Denis 13, Sarah 12, Hanora 9 and Daniel 2. The family came from Tipperary and on the immigration lists Daniel stated his parents were Denis and Mary … More Sepia Saturday: shops and genealogy mazes
The 2013 Australia Day challenge was initiated by Helen of the blog From Helen V Smith’s Keyboard. The challenge is to talk about our first ancestors to arrive in Australia, male or female, or perhaps both. My initial reaction hovered around my “swimmers” George Kunkel and his wife Mary O’Brien. While George may have been … More Australia Day 2013: The Kents from Sandon, Herts
It’s funny how even a cryptic image like this Sepia Saturday prompt can stir one’s memories. After a brief “hmmm” moment my sub-conscious brought forth the connection. For me this image was a straight path back some fifty odd years. My image today has been chosen from Australia’s wonderful Trove site. While it dates to 1929, a … More Sepia Saturday 160: The Gabba
A year or so ago I wrote how ice skating was one of my teenage pleasures. At the time I could find little about the origins of an ice rink that existed at Mowbray Park, South Brisbane in the 1960s. Those searches had left me unsatisfied so with today being Trove Tuesday it seemed only … More Trove Tuesday: Let’s go ice skating
While we were visiting Samarai in the Milne Bay District (PNG) a couple of months ago we saw the memorial which appears on Tropical Territory today. Apparently there was quite a lot of conflict over it when it was erected, and couldn’t be placed anywhere else so it was eventually placed on Samarai even though there … More Trove Tuesday: Christopher Robinson
Most of you know that we recently revisited Papua New Guinea. I’ve decided to add some photos on my Tropical Territory blog as a change of scenery from its focus on the Northern Territory. If you’d like a change why not drop in and have a look. The blog was originally intended to be photos only…..but you … More Tropical Territory – PNG Photos
This week we’re up to Week 51 in my Beyond the Internet series in which I explore the sources of information beyond our computer screens. This week’s topic is Oral History. Oral History can be an invaluable asset in our suite of offline research resources. Again and again we read others say that they wish they’d listened to … More Beyond the Internet: Week 51 Oral History
This week I’m writing Week 47 in my Beyond the Internet series in which I explore the sources of information beyond our computer screens and this week’s topic is Police and Railway Staff records. Archives can be a rich source of occupational records, ranging from publicans to police, railways or business, mariners or teachers. As always which … More Beyond the Internet: Week 47 Police and Railway Staff records
One of our priority activities in Alotau was to hire a taxi driver to take us around the town to see our old familiar places. Eddie was educated as a health worker with a degree from the Divine Word University and his English was excellent (as well as probably being his third language) so we … More Milne Bay: Our Heritage Places Tour
Yesterday I spoke about our return to Milne Bay after 41 years. Today I wanted to share some of our personal highlights, and the ensuing memories, with you. Like two excited two-year olds we waited for the plane to take us back to Milne Bay. Despite a flight delay, the excitement and memories didn’t abate … More Milne Bay: The People and Old and New Friends
Family history across the seas 