Archive
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The Haunted Cell: A Tale from Launceston’s Old Gaol
“Not many people believe in ghosts these days.” So was told the reporter given the assignment of spending the night in the haunted cell of Launceston’s old gaol in Tasmania. But who is reputed to haunt the cell? And did they make their presence known to the reporter? Read more
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‘A.H. 1804’ – The Search for 19th Century Graffiti at the Supply River, Tasmania
There’s a carving in the basalt at the Supply River. Two initials and a year, cut deep with a hammer and chisel in 1804. Finding it took two attempts. Working out who made it took a little longer. Read more
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Shocking Catastrophe! The Explosion of the Little Nell
On a crisp and cloudless Wednesday, the 18th of February 1874, the steamer Little Nell embarked on her routine voyage from George Town to Launceston. Little did her passengers know that this day’s journey would be etched into history as a day of catastrophe. Read more
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Mole Hill Fantasy, Tasmania
In a small town called Mole Creek, an English couple spent fifteen months building an underground village – 130 moles going about their daily business in a pre-industrial world the size of a dream. Mole Hill Fantasy opened at Easter 1982 and became one of northern Tasmania’s most beloved attractions. Read more
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Looking Back, Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 Tour of Tasmania
Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 visit to Tasmania, the first by a reigning monarch, was a meticulously planned milestone. Despite her youth and an exhausting Commonwealth tour, she left a lasting impression on the state, emphasising the strong bond that existed between the monarchy and Tasmania at the time. Read more
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Charlotte Badger, Australia’s Female Pirate: Folklore or Fact?
Charlotte Badger is often called Australia’s first female pirate. But how much of her story is fact and how much is folklore? This is a tale of a stolen ship, a vanished crew, and a woman whose legend has grown beyond the surviving records. Here’s what the evidence really shows. Read more