Night of hell for one young family
It was an oppressively hot day on the 5th April, 1887 in the small Northern Queensland gulf town of Burketown situated on the banks of...
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Tales from the Grave
Uncovering family history from down under
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Samantha Elley
Jun 112 min read
From shipping office to outback squatter
When you have been a big part of the establishment of the cattle industry in a burgeoning outback economy, it seems a cruel fate to be...
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Samantha Elley
Mar 183 min read
He kick started the gold rush in Northern Queensland
He was credited with finding the first gold-bearing stone as a child which established the town of Charters Towers.
664 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Mar 52 min read
He built the first hotel on an iconic resort island
Sheep farming, gold-mining, hotel owning were just some of the jobs Robert Hayles took on.
595 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Jan 222 min read
Boy dies from soft drink bottle
A Christmas treat turns fatal
972 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Jan 153 min read
Remembering the Devastating Clermont Flood of 1916
Over 60 people lost their lives to one of Australia's most devastating floods.
522 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Nov 13, 20233 min read
He had no regard for his personal safety
'He would always carry out his duty regardless of his safety'.
487 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Nov 6, 20232 min read
Trapped by ferocious bushfires
She died just before her brother came back from the war.
482 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Oct 17, 20232 min read
Was he the last remaining Crimean War veteran?
The facts of Charles' life don't match the claims.
127 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Oct 2, 20232 min read
Plane disappearance creates reluctant hero
The mystery of the Stinson mail plane disappearance was solved by Bernard O'Reilly
592 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
May 30, 20232 min read
The explorer and the writer: A love story
Their marriage was short-lived but their achievements were great.
365 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
May 23, 20232 min read
They became Empire scapegoats
His fellow officers were executed to hide a 'no prisoners' policy.
322 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Apr 11, 20232 min read
Police sergeant's mysterious suicide
He was 38 years in the police force.
390 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Jan 16, 20232 min read
His landholdings were bigger than England
Australia's own cow boy was a generous man.
633 views2 comments
Samantha Elley
Nov 14, 20222 min read
Domestic violence leads to hanging
Two lives cut short in lovers tragedy.
308 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Sep 20, 20222 min read
He made mango wine that could "kill at a hundred yards"
Magnetic Island's pioneer knew his fruit.
266 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Feb 21, 20223 min read
80 year mystery sees sailor come home
The mystery body washed up on the shores of Christmas Island after the sinking of the HMAS Sydney.
1,210 views2 comments
Samantha Elley
Jan 24, 20222 min read
The forgotten Australian actress
She had high hopes in Hollywood but never truly made it.
824 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Oct 11, 20213 min read
First Italian to step foot on present day Mackay
His name has disappeared from the gravestone, but his legacy is large.
363 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
Aug 24, 20215 min read
Spanish flu shows how history repeats
It's not the first time Aussies have had to mask up.
2,139 views2 comments
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