Discovering Australia’s Historical Milemarkers and Boundary Stones

Discovering Australia’s Historical Milemarkers and Boundary Stones
Author: Robert and Sandra Crofts
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 178
Release: 2013-05-31
Genre: History
ISBN: 1483636917

The best way to understand and enjoy the richness of Australia’s historic heritage is to go out and experience it. This firsthand experience provides families with a sense of continuity to Australia’s colonial past and to experience nostalgic feelings of belonginess by following the footsteps left by earlier generations (Johnson 1980). This book was written to inform interested community members of the silent Australian history, inherent in the milestones, that still exists around us. The book catalogues many of the sandstone and concrete milestones that line the five major roads leading out of Sydney. Some milestones in rural NSW, Victoria and Tasmania are added to inform others of these precious historical monuments who are unable to view the stones in the Sydney metropolitan area. Later chapters identify the location of the remaining boundary stones in Sydney and Parramatta as well as old road alignment markers in the City of Ryde. The final chapter describes milestones that have a commemorative function. This information may be seen as only relevant to a specialist market but with the increased popularity of Australian colonial history, this book will have appeal to many Australians. The book has been written in an academic format, however the language is aimed towards families who can use each chapter to locate the remaining milestones in sequence on family outings. Other attractions near the milestone are identified which families may choose to enjoy at the same time as visiting the selected milestone. Pieces of our history are being lost but by considering these monuments, in the midst of our hectic lives, we can imagine the type of life the colonial settlers experienced. As well, visiting the milestones raises community awareness of the priceless value of these historic monuments so that important remnants of our colonial past can be preserved for our future generations. As new roads were being constructed in the colony, milestones were originally at one mile intervals. In rural areas, milestones were not usually placed for the entire distance between towns. They were usually placed a few miles on the approach and then again for a few miles after the stagecoaches left the town. Due to the loss of many original milestones, the distance between each remaining milestone can be more than one mile. An attempt has been made to make an as accurate as possible catalogue where these milestones were originally positioned with a description and photograph of those that still remain either in their original or new locations. The survey taken for this book has attempted to be thorough but we acknowledge that our survey is not complete. There are still milestones and milemarkers to be discovered. Although the milestones indicate two directions, for ease of cataloguing, the milemarkers in this book are identified by the location that they lead to away from Sydney and incorporates sandstone, concrete and timber milestones along the major roads leading out of Sydney. Photographs in this book are taken on one face only. Mileages on those remaining in their original locations have been checked for accuracy to the final destination and are still correct. The GPS for some milestones has been recorded for those who are familiar with this technology. Unless otherwise indicated, all the milestones can be found on the left hand side of the road leading towards the destination inscribed on the milestone. Safe community access to the milestones is not always possible as many existing milestones remain in their original locations on major arterial roads with limited or no safe car parking nearby. Milestones that do not have safe community access are identified. Although the milestones have been retained for community enjoyment and many have safe footpath access, extreme vigilance and caution should be exercised as there is a high risk of injury to children or pets near major arterial roads with

Discovering Australia’s Historical Post Offices and Red Pillar Post Boxes

Discovering Australia’s Historical Post Offices and Red Pillar Post Boxes
Author: Robert Crofts
Publisher: Xlibris Corporation
Total Pages: 623
Release: 2023-01-18
Genre: History
ISBN: 1669830772

The purpose of this book is to allow interested community members to gain an understanding of the historically important role postal services made to contemporary Australia. Specific attention is given to the appreciation of the beautiful architectural styles of the historically significant postal buildings and red pillar post boxes that are still available to be viewed. In a similar format to our first book ‘Discovering Australia’s historical milemarkers and boundary stones’, this book begins with a brief history of Australia’s postal services dating from the establishment of the first post office in 1809 up to the present day. Information on significant communication strategies such as the Cobb & Co. mail service and the Overland Telegraph Line (OTL) are included. Information is provided on the biographies of some important contributors to the Australian postal services. The following chapters, organised state by state from Queensland to the Northern Territory, describe a sample of post offices and red pillar post boxes. Finally, some interesting postal items are described with references providing links for further reading.

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 64
Release: 1973-10
Genre:
ISBN:

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is the premier public resource on scientific and technological developments that impact global security. Founded by Manhattan Project Scientists, the Bulletin's iconic "Doomsday Clock" stimulates solutions for a safer world.

Shipwrecks, 1656-1942

Shipwrecks, 1656-1942
Author: Sarah Kenderdine
Publisher:
Total Pages: 232
Release: 1995
Genre: Historic ships
ISBN: 9780730969747

Presents the wealth of history to be discovered under the sea in the Perth region, in the form of historic shipwrecks.

A Record in Stone

A Record in Stone
Author: Simon Holdaway
Publisher: ISBS
Total Pages: 408
Release: 2004
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780855754600

Book & CD-ROM. This is a comprehensive investigation into the different ways in which archaeologists use flaked stone artefacts as a basis for reconstructing the distant human past. The authors not only describe the range of flaked stone artefact forms recovered from Australian archaeological sites, but also place Australian studies alongside the major international theories surrounding the description of stone artefacts. The book features: extensive analysis, clear and succinct definitions of technical terms and extensive use of illustrations; worked examples illustrating how collections of flakes, cores and rolls are analysed and interpreted; over 130 black-and-white labelled images of actual artefacts; an accompanying CD-ROM featuring over 450 colour images of artefacts; an up-to-date review of key theoretical approaches to flaked stone artefact analysis; an assessment of this historical development of Australian stone artefact studies; Australian perspective on the major international theoretical debates in the often controversial area of stone artefact studies.

Along the River Road

Along the River Road
Author: Mary Ann Sternberg
Publisher: LSU Press
Total Pages: 361
Release: 2013-04-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 0807150630

Few thoroughfares offer as rich a history as Louisiana's River Road between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. This book provides a revised introduction, images, and information on sites and attractions as well as tales and local lore about favorite and overlooked destinations. Featuring background information about the area and a detailed guided tour - upriver on the east bank and downriver along the west - the book gives an overview of the River Road.

Spinning Tops & Gumdrops

Spinning Tops & Gumdrops
Author: Edwin Barnard
Publisher: National Library of Australia
Total Pages: 196
Release: 2018-03-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 0642279187

Spinning Tops and Gumdrops takes us back to childhood in colonial Australia. The delight of children at play is universal, but the pleasure these children experience as depicted through the book's photographs is through their 'imagination, skill and daring' rather than through possessions. Children play quoits and jacks, hide and seek, cricket with a kerosene tin for a wicket, dress ups and charades. They climb trees, run races, and build rafts to sail on the local waterhole. The photographs show children happily absorbed in the play of their own making. Being a child in colonial Australia was also tough. It was a time when school yard disagreements were sorted out with fists and 'the loss of a little claret'. A time when children could view public hangings and premature death was frequent, especially taking the very young and vulnerable though dysentery, whooping cough or diphtheria. The lasting impression left by the contemporary accounts, photographs, etchings and paintings of colonial children in Spinning Tops and Gumdrops is their possession of qualities of resilience, self-sufficiency and acceptance of their lot. Perhaps it was through lack of choice, or of knowing no other. Nevertheless, these were qualities that put them in good stead for the challenges many faced in their adulthood. Interestingly, these are qualities on which contemporary society still places a high value, but which today seem a little more elusive.