Traces

Traces magazine delves deep into Australia’s history, from ancient Indigenous heritage to colonial times,convicts, local history, antiques and artefacts, family genealogy and more!

Welcome to the 36th edition of Traces!

Traces

Heritage news

GENERAL POST OFFICE, Launceston • Completed in 1889, Launceston’s General Post Office is one of the city’s most impressive buildings, and has played an important role in civic life.

Echoes of exploration Colonel Light’s Rapid Bay camp rediscovered? • A lifelong fascination with metal detecting and history led Taylor Lupp to an extraordinary discovery at Rapid Bay, South Australia. What began as a search for lost coins unearthed a remarkable collection of artefacts that may reveal the location of Colonel William Light’s 1836 camp.

Waiting for the White Angel • In the early 1870s, a small religious sect gathered near Moyston, Victoria, expecting angels to carry them to heaven. What began as a curious tale of failed prophecy soon became a darker story of devotion and control.

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What’s that thingamajig? • Answer: Vacuum cleaner (Success model), circa 1909–1918

Between two rivers The enduring heritage of Guildford Mandoon • At the meeting place of the Swan and Helena rivers lies Guildford Mandoon, one of Western Australia’s earliest colonial settlements and a place of continuing significance for Whadjuk Noongar people. Its history is written across its waterways, streetscapes, buildings and landscapes – from ancient cultural connections to Country, through to colonial settlement, convict history, transport and military service.

The life and legacy of Lieutenant Langlands • Lieutenant Edward Robert Langlands was one of thousands of Australians who gave their lives during World War II. John Dekhane pays tribute to his remarkable life, service and sacrifice.

Musquito Legendary colonial warrior • Branded an outlaw and a resistance leader, Musquito has long been one of the most contested figures in Australia’s frontier history. Naomi Parry Duncan explores the events that led to his capture near Parramatta in 1805, and reflects on her own unexpected connection to Musquito’s story.

Please, mind Baby • In July 1917, a baby was left at a boarding house in Elizabeth Street, Sydney. The identity of her mother remained a mystery that I was determined to solve.

AI as your research companion • When used carefully, artificial intelligence can serve as a valuable research companion for the family historian, offering powerful tools to support, assist and streamline your work.

Mutiny on theBounty in real time • Unforgettable stories, both brutal and inspiring, have come to light on Norfolk Island in handwriting that is centuries old. The Pitcairn Register, with entries dating from 1790 to 1854, was delivered to the Norfolk Island Museum from England, just in time to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the Pitcairn Islanders’ arrival on Norfolk Island on 8 June 1856.

LIFE IN THE LIMELIGHT • Jo Buchanan grew up in a family shaped by the fading world of Australian vaudeville and travelling picture shows. It wasn’t until after her father’s death, at age 86, that she discovered the painful details of his past.

The Hankey Panorama A rare view of Port Adelaide • A newly acquired watercolour panorama at the State Library of South Australia offers an extraordinary glimpse of Port Adelaide at a pivotal moment in the colony’s history. The library’s Curatorial and Content Lead, Mark Gilbert, explains why this rare work is such a significant addition to South Australia’s historical record.

Yurunga Homestead A window into Rainbow’s pioneering past • Yurunga Homestead is a remarkable reminder of the people who once resided here, and of those...