On our open days we are often asked what is the meaning of the latin on the Walker crest – “Per Varios Casus”.
An approximate translation would be “Through diverse (or various) opportunities”, which would appear to be an indication of how his wealth was acquired. It’s not known if this was an old crest or whether it came about with our Thomas Walker.
In 1918-1919, when the Spanish influenza pandemic swept the globe, Australians – with their peculiar sense of humour – devised unique ways of dealing with the apparatus and cures popular at the time. For example, hideous faces were painted onto the face mask, or kewpie dolls and huge wire spiders hung from the sides. However,…
(The following article, found on Trove Newspapers site, was printed in the Sydney Morning Herald, Mon. 29 Jan 1934.) Actor’s Reminiscences Amusing reminiscences of the early days of Australian films were given to members of the Sydney Movie Makers’ Club in a lecture by Mr. Eric Howell, a former actor. Mr. Howell said that as…
Gas was first produced at Mortlake on 23rd May, 1886 – gas was supplied to the public on 28th May, 1886. The last electric train ran in Sydney on 25th February, 1961, ending 100 years of tram service. It ran from Hunter Street in the city to La Perouse. The original Palace Hotel in Mortlake…
As many of the readers of The Past Present will be aware, most postcards in their extensive collection focus on a place, be it a building, a beach or a park. Yet there have, over time, been many postcards created which focus instead on monuments, just as this postcard does. The intriguing thing about this…
The Hordern business was originally established by a free immigrant from England, Anthony Hordern, in 1823, as a drapery shop. A further large menswear store was later opened in upper George Street. It went on to become Anthony Hordern & Sons with a famous department store in Sydney. One of its advertising slogans was that…
Gertrude Moberly was born in Rockhampton, Queensland on New Year’s Day 1880 and grew up in Walcha, NSW, where her father was rector. She moved to Sydney in 1894 where her sister, Nora Moberly, was matron of Dulce Domum Private Hospital in Hardie Street, Neutral Bay. Moberly trained as a nurse at Royal Prince Alfred…
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