Free Beer

Free Beer

The question of what becomes of beer confiscated by the police in raids upon sly grog shops was raised at Burwood Court yesterday. Mr. Williams S.M., said that he thought that the police sold the liquor. Sergeant Saunders said that the present practice was to give to public hospitals for the benefit of the inmates. Mr. Williams:…

Murder at the Parramatta toll gate, 28 May, 1814

This post is about the shocking murder of two innocent men during the botched robbery of the local toll-gate at Parramatta in 1814. In addition to the two deaths another two men were almost executed for a crime they did not commit. On the fateful evening of Saturday 28 May 1814, the Sydney Gazette and New South Wales…

Old George Street – A Chapter in Old Sydney

Old George Street – A Chapter in Old Sydney

Exploring the oldest road in Australia, George Street.  The content is from a frail old book The Story of Old George Street – A Chapter in Old Sydney (1920) by Charles H. Bertie. The book includes the history, the landmarks and buildings plus all the crazy characters that made this Sydney street unique ‘It has been said…

19th Century Fashions, Crinolines and the Call of Nature

19th Century Fashions, Crinolines and the Call of Nature

Before he 19th century, most women just wore nothing beneath their chemises.  The no knickers thing was not as scandalous as you might think, dresses were long and worn with many layers of petticoats and underskirts that varied with fashions but also provided modesty. By the time the huge, mid-19th century crinolines showed up on…