The changing Colour of Tradition

In Japan maroon cars are reserved for the Royal family, in New York the yellow cab is seen as often on the streets as it is on film and in London the black cab is a reassuring sight for both tourists and locals as it guarantees a driver who knows his or her way around […]

Adelaide – Rising to new heights

In a city which is famously flat, an international design contest has generated some innovative ideas for being able to view it from new heights, literally. With the Royal Adelaide hospital moving to a new home, ideas were needed for its old site and they showed no shortage of imagination. Possibly the most innovative was […]

The new Red Dog

While Lassie may be a creature of Hollywood legend (and always played by a male dog), Australia has its own true life canine hero immortalized in the film Red Dog. The real-life Red Dog also has three books about him, all referring to him by that name, although during his lifetime he was known by […]

Building Business in Australia

Australians on their overseas experiences have a reputation for being hard workers who can turn their hand to anything. Maybe it’s because Australia is a country built on the determination and creativity of people who had no choice but to make a success of living there. More recently Australia has been making a name for […]

Marvellous Melbourne

For years, Sydney and Melbourne have done battle for the title of Australia’s first city. They had to call it a draw with regards to capital status, which is why Canberra was created, but otherwise, they continually attempt to attract inhabitants and visitors and generally out-do each other. Melbourne has always prided itself on its […]

Australia – where blue meets green

While the U.S. may be the home of the blues, there are plenty of Australians appreciate the spirit of the music and plenty of them with be heading to the Byron Bay Bluesfest this coming Easter. This year is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary of the festival and the 5th anniversary of its move […]

A Decision Made with Conviction

On this day, August 18th, in 1786, the British government took the decision to reduce the notorious overcrowding in British jails by shipping convicts safely away from British soil, to Australia on the other side of the world. The decision was a reflection of the turbulent times in Europe and specifically in the UK. Industrialization […]

Bringing back the Titanic

Australian billionaire Clive Palmer has commissioned a replica of the ill-fated Titanic, although there will be some noticeable differences between the modern version and its predecessor, starting with a far greater number of lifeboats. There will be nods to changes in lifestyles too, on the original 20 passengers had to share a bathroom, it’s unlikely […]

Digging up Australian History

One person’s unwanted clutter can be another person’s treasure. Sometimes it can be a society’s treasure. A case in point is the recently-discovered photos taken by digger Private George (Eric) Cherry with a basic Kodak vest camera during his spell in Gallipoli in 1915. His images of day-to-day life during the campaign contrast sharply with […]

Australia – The Land of Splendour

Australians know how to throw a party and Sydney in particular manages to have it’s two biggest parties nicely spaced apart. New Year’s Eve, is, of course at the end of December, while Splendour in the Grass is at the end of July. Although billed as a music festival, the joy of Splendour (or Splendour […]