Issue 27: March-April 2015

5 201 PR R-A MA

FIRST FLEET FARMS

HOW DID OUR ANCESTORS SURVIVE?

WIN!

9 771838 504008

Printed on responsibly sourced paper

NOV–DEC MAR-APR 2015 2014 $9.95 NZ$10.95

ISSN 1838-5044

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1 OF 5 ANCESTRY MEMBERSHIPS

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DATING PHOTOGRAPHS DISCOVERING MILITARY ARCHIVES INVESTIGATING POLICE RECORDS FINDING VICTORIAN ANCESTORS

THE 10 GENEALOGY TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW

WE REMEMBER GALLIPOLI

FROM THE ANZAC AND TURKISH PERSPECTIVE

The beginning of the Anzac legend Centenary of the Gallipoli Landing The Anzac legend was forged on the beaches and hillsides of Gallipoli, where Australians and New Zealanders fought and often died side-by-side.

This limited edition 2015 $5 Silver Proof Coin commemorates their sacrifice.

The poignant design depicts the symbolic Lone Pine tree amongst the tombstones near Lone Pine Memorial. Incorporated are words derived from the memorial, where the names of 5000 Anzacs with no known graves are recorded.

Secure your piece of commemoration today.

Strictly limited gold proof edition also available.

AWM - P02768.007

eshop.ramint.gov.au 1300 652 020

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Contents ISSUE 27, MAR-APRIL 2015

On the cover 16

Ask our experts Inside History’s resident genealogist, Shauna Hicks, helps a reader discover more about her mysterious Scottish ancestors

26 Cops, crooks and convicts

Allo, allo — what’s going on in the police archives then? Read the latest from the Victorian Police Museum

26

32

48

42

28 What’s new online?

Sarah Trevor discovers the latest genealogical and historical collections available online 32 Broken nation, shattered myths

Award-winning author Joan Beaumont looks at the legacies of World War I on Australia, and the parallels in our society today 36

Gallipoli: the other side of the hill What can learning about the Turkish fight for Gallipoli teach us about our Anzacs?

Quite a lot, as Sarah Trevor finds out

42

The food bowl of the First Fleet Horticulturist and heritage lover, Adam Woodhams, explores Norfolk Island’s history from the ground up — literally!

48 Call the valet

Dress historian Jayne Shrimpton explains how men’s fashion can help decode when a family photograph was taken

70

54 Mark my words

Genealogist Kirsty Gray reveals the top 10 terms you need to know when researching old archives 70

Win! One of 5 Ancestry memberships Want to access 15 billion genealogy resources for free? Simply subscribe or renew your subscription for the chance to win one of five Ancestry World Heritage Memberships!

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2015 |

3

Contents your family 40

One link to the Great War Hear about the projects around Australia that are commemorating our nation’s links to World War I

travel

60

Downton Abbey Down Under Melissa Rimac travels to South Australia’s stunning Limestone Coast for a dose of architectural grandeur

regulars 6

Editor’s letter

10

Postie’s here!

Your thoughts, your say

11

Bob’s your uncle Network with other researchers and break down those genealogy brick walls

History now Great events around Australia and New Zealand that you won’t want to miss

25

History apps The latest apps built for historians, from wikis to Sydney’s hungry ghost walk

66

What we’re reading The latest history titles that we’re loving right now

74

One picture…1,000 memories A tale of survival and beating the odds is behind one family’s beautiful wedding image

Special offer 58

13 Platform

Hear from a Queensland playwright about the challenges of writing about the World War I home front; plus the latest news from the genie and history world

66

18

Inside History supports Trove Help to digitise a newspaper on Trove and you’ll be in the running to win some fantastic rewards from the National Library of Australia and Inside History!

18 74

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| www.insidehistory.com.au

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58

our family

PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 Australia EDITOR Cassie Mercer cass@insidehistory.com.au EDITORIAL ASSISTANT AND FEATURES WRITER Sarah Trevor sarah@insidehistory.com.au DESIGNER Alison Williams alison@insidehistory.com.au EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Joan Beaumont Penny Edwell Linda Funnell Kirsty Gray Barbara Hall Shauna Hicks Kathie Rae Melissa Rimac Jayne Shrimpton Kate Spinks Mesut Uyar Adam Woodhams Robyne Young INTERN Madeleine Er PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS See page 71 or subscribe online at www.insidehistory.com.au DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS For iPad, find us on Apple Newsstand For Android and PC, find us at zinio.com

COVER IMAGE

Our portrait of Victor Walter Sinnett is courtesy State Records of South Australia, ID GRG26/5/4/273.

WARNING Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers should be aware that this magazine contains names and images of people who have passed away.

Inside History (ISSN 1838–5044) is published six times a year by Inside History (ABN 13 353 848 961) PO Box 406 Erskineville NSW 2043 Australia.

Views expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of the publisher. Copyright 2015 by Cassie Mercer and Inside History. All rights reserved.

DISTRIBUTED BY Gordon and Gotch Australia PRINTED BY Ligare Pty Ltd 138 Bonds Road Riverwood NSW 2210

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2015 |

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editor’s letter

These days names such as Gallipoli, Fromelles and Bullecourt conjure up thoughts of bloody battles and horrific human loss, but a century ago when thousands of young men signed up to serve the Empire, it was touted as a grand adventure. Historian Joan Beaumont, who won the 2014 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Australian History for her book, Broken Nation, talks to Sarah Trevor about the legacy and lessons of World War I . Read her illuminating comments on page 32.

We also feature stories from ‘the other side of the hill’: from the Turkish perspective .

Discover on page 36 what the Turkish soldiers’ diaries and reports reveal about their experiences fighting the Anzacs.

And if you’d like to know more about military collections and the projects happening around Australia to commemorate the centenary, turn to page 40. Penny Edwell spotlights five worthy initiatives from the World War One Link database .

On a lighter note, dress historian Jayne Shrimpton is back to help you with decoding old photographs, this time looking at men’s

fashions as a way of timelining family images .

Read more on page 48. And on page 54 Britishbased genealogist Kirsty Gray highlights 10 genealogy terms you need to know when researching records from the ‘Old Country’.

Historical horticulturist (say that quickly if you dare!) Adam Woodhams travels to Norfolk Island to discover its heritage from the ground up — literally. On page 42 he looks at how the tiny island became the food bowl for Sydney Town .

Plus on page 60 we travel to the stunning Limestone Coast Coast in South Australia to ogle the architecture of days gone by.

And in very exciting news, our crowdfunding campaign with Trove officially kicks off 5 March and runs to 25 April. With your help we’re hoping to raise at least $10,000 to help digitise a decade of the Hamilton Spectator.

See how you can get involved on page 58.

Happy researching,

Congratulations

to our competition winners from issue 25!

In issue 25 we were giving away 40 copies of Anzac Treasures: The Gallipoli Collection of the Australian War Memorial (Murdoch Books, $69.99). That’s a lot of names to list, so we’ve published who the lucky winners are on our website. Check insidehistory.com.au/category/special-offers to see if your name is there!

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| www.insidehistory.com.au

Image Courtesy State Library of Victoria, ID H16560/26.

This Anzac Day, as thousands gather at memorials and marches around Australia to the haunting call of the “Last Post”, we’ll be remembering those ancestors who sacrificed their lives for the “war to end all wars”.

THE STATE LIBRARY OF NSW PRESENTS A FREE EXHIBITION UNTIL 10 MAY 2015

MURDER AT THE LIBRARY Enjoy our murder mystery cocktail party where you help solve the crime!

Artworks featured in the exhibition are available as archival prints from the Library Shop.

Friday 13 March or Friday 10 April 6.30 pm – 9 pm Cost: $90/$80 (includes refreshments) Bookings essential: (02) 9273 1770 bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au

Macquarie Street Sydney (next to Parliament House) (02) 9273 1414 www.sl.nsw.gov.au Find us on #pulpconfidential

P&D-4399-1/2015

Bring your past to life Discover your family history with a 14 day free trial

@ findmypastAU findmypast

www.findmypast.com.au

platform

A cup of

tea with...

Robert Kronk, playwright

As this year’s centenary of the Gallipoli landing unfolds, playwright Robert Kronk explores the challenges faced by those on the home front.

Your play We That Are Left looks at the war from the viewpoint of those on the home front. Why were you drawn to these stories?

I felt that these were some of the untold stories — and with the centenary of Anzac there are better writers than I, already telling stories from the front.

I also like writing about places I know, so writing about the home front seemed a natural choice. Unfortunately for me the commissioners weren’t interested in paying for me to travel extensively to France and Turkey!

I was inspired by stories of women who kept farms, businesses and families together during the war years. I was struck by one particular story, of a woman who lost her sons and continued to run a farm by herself well into her eighties. I wondered what it must have been like working and living on a farm for so long with so many memories of her lost sons. Finally, there are not many plays with large female casts.

What prompted you to write a play about the impacts of World War I? I’ve always had an interest in Australia’s war history — my father is a bit of an amateur military historian and I grew up in a house with lots of different war histories.

I come from a small farming community where the impacts of the Great War were still tangible.

The names on the honour roll at my primary school were the names of families that still farmed the district. Being a small community where not much changed, there were plenty of sheds, fence-lines, railway sidings that remained unchanged from 1915. It felt like time was still there, in the corner of your eye, inhabiting the present. This play has partly been about me capturing that feeling.

The play focuses on the Toowoomba and South West Queensland region — to what extent are its themes specifically local?

When I started writing I expected the stories to be more specifically local but as the play developed it became clear that while the setting is very particular and local, the themes are universal.

How did you research the play?

I’ve become very good friends with the Australian War Memorial Website (awm.gov.au), I’ve spent a lot of time reading newspapers from the day, I’ve read a lot of histories of First and Second World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and Timor.

I have been very lucky that a number of families have lent me letters home from soldiers and I have lost myself in these people’s lives.

But mostly I’ve spoken to lots of people. For me and for this play it is family histories that are most important. The play is about our family identity and national identity. The way people remember, the way they tell their ancestors’ stories is extremely helpful.

And most interesting is where our family mythology sometimes deviates from actual history (just like our national mythology).

Which stories uncovered during the course of your research most affected you?

The minutiae is often the most interesting, such as letters home that discuss the food and weather or small anecdotes.

What has struck me most is the sacrifices that were made. I thought I understood the ‘ultimate sacrifice’ that the fallen made, but to read letters and diaries from their families was very emotionally affecting. I had also never properly considered the other sacrifices — being away from lives, careers, farms, businesses, family for so long.

What were some of the challenges involved in writing a play inspired by historical events?

Honouring the stories I’ve been told. Trying to get historical detail right.

What’s your best tip for people interested in writing a history-inspired play of their own?

Read a lot but then get started — don’t get bogged down in research.  ✻ We That Are Left will play at the University of Southern Queensland Artsworx Art Theatre in Toowoomba from 25 to 29 April 2015. Visit artsworx.com.au/events/we-that-are-left

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2015 |

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what’s on

History now The best events across Australia and New Zealand COMPILED BY SARAH TREVOR WRITTEN BY MADELEINE ER

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| www.insidehistory.com.au

Clockwise from top left A penny-farthing bicycle belonging to Harry Clarke, 1884. Courtesy National Museum of Australia, ID MA44744663; The South Australian ladies cycling club in 1900. Courtesy State Library of South Australia, ID MA45193746; Cyclists Shirley Duncan (left) and Wendy Law leaving Melbourne in 1946 for a long-distance ride. The duo were the first-ever female cyclists to cross the Nullarbor Plain. Courtesy H Dacre Stubbs, Department of Information, Australia, ID MA46856474; Arthur Richardson, the first person to ride a bicycle around Australia,1897. Courtesy State Library of Western Australia, ID MA45309310.

Until

8

Freewheeling: cycling in Australia

Queensland Museum’s latest exhibition showcases the story of the bicycle and the culture of cycling throughout Australian history. Trace the developments in style and character of bicycles over time, and learn about cycling’s place in Australia’s social, economic, and political realms. Highlights include an 1884 penny farthing bicycle owned by champion racer Harry Clarke, the impact cycling had for the women’s suffrage movement in the 19th century, and Arthur Richardson, the first man to cycle around Australia.

The exhibition is free so catch it before it zips past!

Visit qm.qld.gov.au June

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2015 |

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what’s on

NSW

RAHS Mudgee Regional Seminar Royal Australian Historical Society has joined forces with Mudgee Historical Society March and the Mid-Western Regional Library to run a two-day regional seminar. These seminars aim to give you the skills you need to help with local history and heritage projects. Session topics include land titles, German migration and settlement in the Mudgee region, heritage education, Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s visit to Australia, online and other resources for local history, and how to make the best use of social media. The cost is $20.

Visit rahs.org.au

17–18

Left Group Miners No. 7 Frontage Claim, Paddock, Home Rule Rd, Mudgee c.1875. Courtesy RAHS Manuscript Collection.

20

The Story of Gardening in New South Wales

A garden can say a lot about a person, but it can also show us changes in style over different times in history. This workshop at the State Library of New South Wales looks at how garden designs have developed and changed from as early as the colonial days. There is also the opportunity to find where the best garden-related resources are in the Library’s collection, and check out books, drawings, old seed and plant catalogues, and much more to help bring to life our gardening history.

Visit sl.nsw.gov.au

March

25

The A-Z of Occupation Records

WA

Gail Davis, Senior Archivist for the State Records Authority NSW, will present a lecture on finding records of people who were employed or licensed by the New March South Wales government. This lecture, at Tuggerah Library, will look at the A-Z of occupations and provide tips for finding records of different people, including lesser known or niche occupations.

Visit records.nsw.gov.au

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April

20

26

Until

1

Recollect: Shoes

Recollect: Shoes showcases some of the Powerhouse Museum’s renowned shoe collection, and takes you on a journey to discover how our attitudes and tastes have changed in the realm of footwear. Featuring more than 700 pairs of shoes spanning the 1500s to now — from some worn by Queen Victoria, to boots signed by Sir Donald Bradman — you’ll learn a thing or two about the history of shoemaking!

Visit powerhousemuseum. com/exhibitions/shoes

May

FamilySearch Hands-on Workshop

Want to develop your genealogy skills? This Western Australian Genealogical Society (WAGS) workshop will look at the fantastic resource that is FamilySearch. Ever-growing, and free to access, FamilySearch is a March must-use website for genealogists. At this two-hour session, experienced WAGS volunteers will guide you through the use of computers and other equipment, and help make your life just that little bit easier when delving into your own research. The session costs $5.00 and bookings are required.

Visit wags.org.au

The Legacy of Convict Builders in Western Australia Dr Fiona Bush will deliver a fascinating talk on the impact that convicts sent to Western Australia had on the building industry from 1850–80. Dr Bush will examine the types of houses constructed, and the legacy left behind by the ticket-of-leave men who were greatly instrumental in changing Western Australia’s built environment.

Visit fhsrd.org.au/meetings

| www.insidehistory.com.au

ACT 18–20

Gallipoli 1915: A Century On

The Australian War Memorial and the Australian National University have joined together to host a major international conference to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli campaign. Featuring leading historians from across the globe, the most up-to-date perspectives on the ever-controversial Gallipoli campaign will be discussed. These topics include: the planning and conduct of the campaign on land and sea; the impact of Gallipoli on the societies involved; myth, memory, and nationalism; legacies and heritage of the Gallipoli peninsula; and Gallipoli today.

Visit awm.gov.au

March

26–30

QLD Using One Name and One Place Studies

21

Sometimes all it takes is one word! One Name and One Place studies are when people have compiled a March collection of every reference to one name or place — such a large collection of data is best used when shared, so help further your research and that of others by joining this workshop at the Genealogical Society of Queensland Resource Centre. The cost is $12 for members and $17 for non members.

Visit gsq.org.au

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The Genealogist: What’s the Difference?

The Queensland Family History Society (QFHS) is hosting a workshop on The Genealogist. This April online genealogical resource, based in the United Kingdom, offers records that other subscription websites don’t have, along with certain search options that could help break down your family history brick wall. Learn about the records The Genealogist has and how to utilise the features unique to their site. The cost is $15 for non members of QFHS, and $11 for members. You can attend the morning workshop from 10–11:30am or the afternoon one from 1–2:30pm.

Visit qfhs.org.au

HAGSOC Congress

Over four big days, the Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra (HAGSOC) is hosting Australasia’s premier family history event. Each day features talks, workshops and displays, as well as trade and society tables, a ‘speakers’ corner’ for talks and demonstrations, and plenty of networking opportunities. With over 30 special national and international speakers and 80-plus presentations, this event is a must for all genie enthusiasts.

Visit hagsoc.org.au

March

Above Hollywood star Gloria Swanson in a publicity shot of the film Sunset Boulevard, 1950.

Until

24 May

Costumes from the Golden Age of Hollywood Step into the cinematic world of a bygone era and relive Hollywood’s Golden Age, from the 1920s to 1960s, through an impressive collection of costumes, props and other memorabilia.

Drawn from a private collection, the exhibition features costumes worn by screen legends such as Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Gloria Swanson, and lesser-known stars alike.

Visit museumofbrisbane.com.au

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2015 |

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what’s on

VIC

TAS The Suspense is Awful: Tasmania and the Great War

25

March

2018

WWI: Love and Sorrow takes you on a journey, following the stories and experiences of the war through the eyes of eight different people. Featuring over 300 objects and photographs, stories of love and sorrow unfold, each of their voices adding to the greater narrative of the World War I conflict. You can download the interactive app and witness one particular individual’s story unravel as you make your way through the exhibition.

Visit museumvictoria.com.au

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| www.insidehistory.com.au

18-19

History Comes Alive — Gallipoli, Before and Beyond

As part of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli Landing, step into the past and witness the Geelong Military Re-Enactment Group as they bring World War I to life through their live action performance. These two big days will also feature activities and displays of weapons, uniforms, equipment and common war artefacts in a specially dug trench system. Check out various encampments of soldiers from different conflicts, ranging from the Napoleonic Wars to the Vietnam conflict. Also on display and in on the live action will be restored military vehicles including armored cars and tanks.

A great idea for a day out, all on the beautiful grounds of the National Trust’s Barwon Park Mansion.

Visit nationaltrust.org.au/vic

April

Gallipoli’s Kapunda Associations

10 April

Peter Donovan will deliver a free talk on Gallipoli’s Kapunda Associations. Having published Storm: An Australian Country Town and World War I, Donovan’s knowledge of the roles and impact that men and women from Kapunda had in World War I will prove to be an informative talk from the Historical Society of South Australia. It will be held at Burnside Community Centre at 7:30pm.

Visit hssa.org.au

SA 20

Keep the Home Fires Burning

This workshop will examine the impacts that World War I had on women and other civilians, day-to-day life, government bureaucracy, and private industries. Run by the Workers’ Education Association, this three-hour session will help you learn more about World War I in its centenary year.

Visit wea-sa.com.au

April

Image Central Register for Male Prisoners 35894-36323 (1921-1922). Courtesy Public Records Office Victoria.

Until

WWI: Love and Sorrow, Museum Victoria

17

To commemorate the role Tasmanians April played in World War I and the impact it had on Tasmanian society, the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has put together an exhibition that highlights the untold stories from the war. Drawing from multi-disciplinary collections, the war memories of the thousands of Tasmanian men and women who enlisted to serve are revealed. Highlights from the exhibition include features on Tasmanian Aboriginal servicemen and the hard work of the men and women who provided medical support on the front line. A must-see exhibition on Tasmanians in the Great War. Visit tmag.tas.gov.au

Crime, Law and Punishment This one-hour Public Records Office Victoria (PROV) session will take you through three different areas: inquest records, prison records, and criminal trial briefs. There is a lot to be learnt from these records. They can offer fascinating information not just on how our ancestors died, but also how they lived. Learn more about the history on Victoria’s prison systems, and develop your skills in using the UHL index to help you find criminal trial briefs. A great free session for those wanting to take advantage of PROV’s vast collection.

Visit prov.vic.gov.au

Opens

Until

17

William Buelow Gould

William Buelow Gould may not have started out as your typical artist. In his youth he spent his time drinking, gambling, and committing petty crimes. After being charged with stealing and sent to Van Diemen’s Land, his life started to change — charged with forgery whilst in Hobart, Gould suppressed a mutinous uprising during his voyage to Macquarie Harbour and was then promoted to be an assistant of Dr James Scott, amateur botanist and colonial surgeon. He was later the assistant of Dr William de Little and was encouraged to ‘paint from nature’. This exhibition at Launceston’s QVMAG showcases Gould’s artworks of the islands, inlets and rivers around Tasmania’s scenic Macquarie Harbour.

Visit qvmag.tas.gov.au

May

NZ 18

Tracing Your Huguenot Ancestors with Marion Heap

Between 1550 and 1750, a large number of Huguenots escaped from France and the Low Countries and fled to England, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, America and South Africa, bringing with them a wide range of professional and creative skills. It is therefore not uncommon for New Zealanders to find they have a Huguenot ancestor. This one-hour talk at Central City Library in Auckland will provide a brief introduction to the Huguenots, and will also describe the research resources that are available in Auckland.

Visit aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

March

Blogging Your Family History with Kelly Bold

29

Join Auckland Libraries’ Social Media Coordinator Kelly Bold as she presents a beginner’s guide to April starting a family history blog. This one-hour session at Central City Library in Auckland will cover choosing the blogging platform that’s best for you, tips and tricks for setting up your own blog, and ideas for content. You will also discover how to spread the word about your new blog and some common mistakes to avoid. Kelly will be available after the session to answer questions and provide one-on-one support.

Visit aucklandlibraries.govt.nz

Postgraduate opportunity

Uncover Scotland’s culture, past and present, from your own home Join our new online Postgraduate Certificate in Scottish Culture and Heritage, offered by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with the Gaelic college, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.

This programme, the first of its kind to be fully delivered via an online format, offers the unique opportunity to engage with the culture and traditions of Scotland through access to the digital audio archive website, Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches, which currently holds almost 33,000 recordings in Scots, English and Gaelic covering music, song, folklore, social history and a wide range of cultural traditions.

Study full time over 1 year or part time over 2 years with one of the world’s top 20 universities* and be taught by leading researchers and practitioners in the culture and heritage of Scotland.

To learn more and join us in September 2015, visit www.celtscot.ed.ac.uk/online-learning *QS World University Ranking (2013/2014). The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

6

historically great reasons to go digital with Inside History

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PR

201

5

Finding it a bit difficult to take all your issues of Inside History with you every time you visit the library or archives?

FIRST FLEET FARMS

HOW DID OUR ANCESTORS SURVIVE?

MAR–APR 2015

WIN!

1 OF 5 ANCESTRY MEMBERSHIPS

GET EXPERT ADVICE ON

DATING PHOTOGRAPHS DISCOVERING MILITARY ARCHIVES INVESTIGATING POLICE RECORDS FINDING VICTORIAN ANCESTORS

THE 10 GENEALOGY TERMS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Enjoy Inside History magazine whenever and wherever through our digital versions for your iPad, Android and desktop device!

1 It’s interactive:

2 It’s portable:

03

Printed on responsibly sourced paper

9 771838 504008

NOV–DEC MAR-APR 2015 2014 $9.95 NZ$10.95

ISSN 1838-5044

WE REMEMBER GALLIPOLI

Bring your digital Inside History library along to the archives, society meeting or wherever else your research takes you

3 4 It’s adjustable:

It’s searchable: Ideal for when you need to find that article in a hurry

FROM THE ANZAC AND TURKISH PERSPECTIVE

Digital versions are full of clickable links to websites, emails and resources

There’s a choice of viewing mode to zoom in on text and make reading as easy as possible

5 It’s subscribable:

Subscribe for six or 12 months and save 36% on the printed version

6 It’s instant:

You receive each issue as soon as it’s released — no waiting for the postie!

On iPad Download the app for free, then buy each issue inside the app or subscribe and start building your family history library.

On Android and desktop devices Simply visit http://au.zinio.com and search for Inside History.

mobile genie

HISTORYapps Though hardly hallowed by the passing of time, these apps harness the latest technology to help you link with the past in informative and interesting ways.

Madeleine Er roadtests four of the latest to see how they fare.

ISLAMIC MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA

SHOEBOX

The Islamic Museum of Australia is located in Melbourne, but through this app you are able to read about different aspects of Islamic faith and check out some of the current exhibitions the museum is hosting, no matter where you are.

There are five main ‘galleries’ with brief summaries of information on each topic. The one on Islamic art is particularly interesting, with links to artists’ work (although some links were not working). There is also a pretty handy audio option for you to listen to the information while looking at the images.

This app is a good starting point for anyone interested in learning more about Islam in the Australian context.

This is a really great app for storing all of the photos you come across in researching your family history, particularly handy for Ancestry members.

Simply take a photo of the image you want to keep, and the app will crop and rotate the image as needed. From there you can tag people, add the date, location, and a description of the image. It will then be added to the right spot in your family tree (as recorded on your account on ancestry.com.au).

This is such a simple and easy way to document your family history as you go along, finding images and preserving them in digital format. A must-have app for all genealogy enthusiasts.

Free; iOS and Android

Free; iOS and Android

WIKIPANION Free; iOS

Wikipanion is the mobile version of Wikipedia. It functions in the same way as the website: simply search a topic to find the page you want to read.

The design is simple and similar to the online version too, but easier to read and use — you can zoom in on the text, and there is a side menu for you to click on the section you most want to read about, rather than scrolling all the way through.

The side menu also lets you look at related categories, and has the ability to bookmark a page if you want to read it again later.

THE HUNGRY GHOST WALK

Free; iOS and Android This app is a sensory adventure, combining art, history and interaction with a place: the innercity Sydney suburb of Surry Hills. There are 17 stops with accompanying recordings, and as you walk through the streets of Surry Hills you follow the theatrical narrative of Eddie. He is a sleepdeprived third generation Australian-Chinese man, haunted by the ghost of his great grandmother and struggling to come to terms with his identity as an Australian man and a Chinese man.

This is a great app for local explorers, but is also an interesting listen if you aren’t able to make your way to Surry Hills.

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2015 |

25

your family

Cops,

convicts crooks and

Curious about your ancestor’s dealings in the Victorian underworld? Kate Spinks explains how to uncover your ancestor among the bushrangers, police officers and crims lurking within the Victoria Police Museum’s collections.

F

The museum holds a large collection of mug shots.

photographs from the early 20th century. While ROM THE Kelly gang outbreak of the these photographs contain some confronting images, 1870s to the 1986 bombing of the old the majority capture ordinary street scenes around Russell Street Police Headquarters, the Melbourne in the 1920s and ’30s and are an unusual, Victoria Police Museum explores the history and almost accidental documentation of the city. development of policing in Victoria, along with I also love the early mug shot books from the significant crimes and events in the state.

1930s and ’40s. Because the written documentation Victoria Police was formed in 1853, yet the oldest relating to these people has become separated or items in the Museum’s collection are in fact convict lost over time, all we have now are photographs. registers from the 1830s. There are also a number Sometimes the person’s crime is written on the of Victoria Police documents from the early 1850s, photograph, but in many cases there is only a date including an 1853 register that details the first police and name. It is fascinating to search historical employed, such as foot police and detectives. newspapers to try and learn more about these people The social history of crime and policing in and their criminal history. Occasionally, you have Victoria is fascinating. Throughout the decades, success and can piece together a snapshot of what there have been many unsung police officers happened. One of my favourites was a mug shot of who have put their lives on the line to protect the a woman who was arrested for being a fortune-teller community, risking great personal loss for their — a crime in the 1930s! Examples such as this dedication to what is a difficult and sometimes dangerous job. One recent example I uncovered was Frank Milne, a detective in the 1930s. In a devastating turn of events, his wife was murdered when his home was bombed by a person whom police believed Milne had been investigating. Detective Milne and his two children survived the attack but their lives would never be the same. Despite this tragedy, Milne’s commitment to Victoria Police was unwavering and he continued his job as a detective for another 13 years.

Many of the Victoria Police Museum’s artefacts relate to the day-to-day work of police officers, such as the collection of crime scene Above A crime scene photograph from the ‘Gun Alley murder’ of 1921.

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illustrate changing attitudes and social norms and their impact on policing and the law.

Some items in the collection are more quirky; the 19th-century vampire slaying kit, complete with pistol, wooden stake and holy water bottle, is probably the best example of this! Another unusual piece of forensic evidence among our collection is a packet of potato chips that was recovered from a crime scene and used for gathering fingerprints.

Finding prisoners and police

More than 100 records and photographs from the Museum’s collection were recently uploaded onto the Victorian Collections website along with detailed descriptions (victoriancollections.net.au/ organisations/victoria-police-museum), for anyone to access online.

This includes many of our Prisoner Records dating from the late 19th century to the early 20th century.

They are a fascinating read, listing personal details about each prisoner, distinguishing features such as tattoos or scars and previous convictions. The fact that they include mug shots adds another level of interest and intrigue, and overall these records provide a compelling snapshot of crime and punishments during this period.

For those whose ancestors were on the other side of the law, the Museum’s records of Victoria Police members are also detailed. They include information

on the person’s career trajectory, where they were stationed, what rank they reached during their career, comments about their conduct and sometimes details of cases for which they were commended.

The Museum’s digitised collection Constable Thomas McIntyre, of Victoria Police survivor of the Kelly Gang siege.

Records of Conduct and Service, dating back to 1855, can only be accessed by making a written request (policemuseum.vic.gov.au).

Throughout 2015 more of the Museum’s collection will be made available online via the Victorian Collections website. Visitors to the Museum can also look forward to new exhibitions, including one focusing on policing during wartime.  Kate Spinks is public program curator at the Victoria Police Museum and Historical Unit.

To request information from the archives, email policemuseum-mgr@police.vic.gov.au

k

THE KELLY GANG COLLECTION The Victoria Police Museum’s collection provides an interesting perspective on the history of the Kelly Gang, including the crimes they committed and the broader context of policing and community dynamics during the 1870s.

These are documents created by people directly involved in events and reflect how both police and the community in the north east of Victoria were dealing with the actions of the Kelly Gang and related crime networks.

Highlights include the largest collection of Kelly Gang armour in Australia, including two sets of original armour (pictured, above) made and worn by the

gang at the Glenrowan siege; the blood-stained cartridge bag Ned Kelly was wearing when he was shot and apprehended; photographs of people, places and items associated with the Kelly case, and an archive of police correspondence relating to the case from the 1870s to 1880s.

Constable Thomas McIntyre was the only person, aside from Ned Kelly, who survived to provide a detailed eyewitness account of the Kelly Gang’s actions at Stringybark Creek. In 1878, the Gang ambushed four police, including McIntyre, shooting dead his three colleagues. McIntyre miraculously escaped after being held hostage by the Gang. The only other surviving account is in Kelly’s Jerilderie and Cameron Letters so, in a sense, McIntyre’s words provide a counterpoint to Kelly’s. The Museum also holds three scrapbooks filled with newspaper clippings McIntyre meticulously kept about the Kelly case from 1878 to 1880. These provide valuable insights into how the media and community were reacting to the events as they unfolded.

Inside History | Mar-Apr 2015 |

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helping Trove

Inside History supports

Trove

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It’s time. Help support Trove through the joint Inside History and the National Library of Australia crowd-funding campaign — and receive some fantastic history rewards!

Image Courtesy State Library Victoria, ID H2002.198/17.

L

ADIES AND gentlemen, the time has come. Last year, nearly 32,000 of you voted in our poll to select a historic Australian newspaper to digitise on Trove through the power of crowd-funding. Over 18,900 voted for the winner, the Hamilton Spectator. The people have well and truly spoken. Now, the most important part of the campaign has come — and we need your help.

From 5 March to 25 April this year, Inside History and the National Library of Australia are running a Pozible campaign.

The aim is to raise at least $10,000, enough to digitise 10 years, between 1860 and 1913, of the Hamilton Spectator to Trove.

The more we raise, the more years the Library can digitise!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to help us reach this target and digitise

this much-loved community paper. But, besides the joy of bringing history to life, just what’s in it for you?

That’s the fun part. Inside History and the National Library are pooling together a range of exciting rewards for donors.

Every person who pledges $50 or more receives a free six-month digital subscription to Inside History magazine for your iPad, Android or desktop device. Not a bad trade-off when you consider that $25 is the rough cost of digitising one week of a newspaper’s coverage — so for just $50, you help digitise two weeks’ worth of the Hamilton Spectator for the community and receive a six-month digital subscription to Inside History * for yourself.

Other rewards include Trove merchandise, bookshop vouchers, and even a behind-the-scenes tour of Trove!

Wondering how the funds will be used?

Here’s a rough break-down: n $25 will digitise approximately one week of the Hamilton Spectator n $100 will digitise approximately one month of the Hamilton Spectator n $1,000 will digitise approximately one year of the Hamilton Spectator.

What’s the next step?

Visit http://pozi.be/insidehistorytrove to learn more and pledge your support.  Terms and conditions * Digital subscription commences with issue 28 and is not available to existing digital subscribers to Inside History. The offer is non transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash or another purchase from Inside History magazine. Some National Library of Australia rewards may be valid for Australian residents only. Offer is valid from 12am, 05.03.15 to 11:59pm, 25.04.15.

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