After the Japanese commenced bombing the North of Australia on the 19th February 1942, it suddenly dawned on the Australian Government that there was no early warning system to alert them of the impending arrival of enemy forces into our country, particularly through the very sparsely populated Northern coastline. Establishing the Nackeroos Fortunately, at the […]
A Man Called Possum
They called him “Possum”, but his name was really David James Jones. But those who knew him well, called him, “Jimmy”. He was born on 19 April, 1901, in tiny town of Ruapuna, approx. 110kms WSW of Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand. He was the second of six children, three boys and […]
LIFE ON THE TINFIELD OF MARANBOY
It is believed that the origin of the Maranboy is Aboriginal, but the exact meaning is not known. The first official survey of the area was carried-out by Mott and Lindsay in 1914, they used the name “Marranboy” on their plans, however, official reports of the time use the “Maranboy” spelling. This is still used […]
Do Kookaburras only live in Australia?
Do kookaburras live in other parts of the world? Did the first kookaburras migrate to Australia from other parts of the world? Lets explore these questions. Kookaburras are part of a very large family of birds called kingfishers, or Alcedinidae. They are very widely distributed on all continents, except Antarctica, and in every environment, except […]
Donnybrook
Donnybrook is a suburb of Dublin in Ireland. It is thought that St. Broc established a convent or monastery in the area in the eighth or ninth century. This was destroyed in the late ninth century by Viking invaders, but the area continued to be known as “Domnagh Broc” or the “Church of St. Broc”. […]
The Tea and Sugar Train
Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Whilst the Trans Australia Railway was being constructed, the Tea and Sugar Train was established to supply food and other staples to the men at the various work camps along the line. Also, along the line, settlements were established at 30km intervals to maintain the line after it had officially opened. […]
The Lennie Gwyther Story
Compiled for Westprint by Barry Ridding. The Plucky Boy’s Ride The boy from Gippsland Charles James Lenard (Lennie) Gwyther was the eldest of three sons born to Leo Tennyson Gwyther and Clara Amelia Simon[2]. He was a “plucky”[a] young lad, just like his father who was a lieutenant in the Australian Army in the Great […]
Operation Mosaic – Australian History
British Atomic Tests in Australia On May 16, 1956, the first of a series of two atomic tests, Operation Mosaic, detonated in Australian Territory at the Monte Bello Islands. The British Government and the Royal Air Force exploded two devices code-named Mosaic G1 and Mosaic G2 in the Monte Bello Islands, off the coast near […]
Australian General Knowledge Quiz
Westprint Outback Maps General Knowledge Quiz. How’s your Australian general knowledge? Something different in the blog this week – an Australian fun quiz. I’ve done a bit of research about what people want to see in the blog. The top answers were , trips and hints, tracks, history and trivia quizzes. Try your hand at […]
Witchelina Nature Reserve, South Australia
Places to Visit – Witchelina. Witchelina Nature Reserve, purchased in 2010 by Nature Foundation SA (NFSA) a not-for-profit environmental organisation, is working to Save, Protect, Restore and sustainably manage South Australia’s natural heritage. (They also own Hiltaba Station in the Gawler Ranges). The Westprint Oodnadatta Map will help you get there. Witchelina’s Traditional owners Witchelina […]