Aussie History Podcast

In this episode we follow the Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking in NSW. The findings from the Royal Commission were explosive and the identities of those responsible for Donald Mackay's murder are revealed at the Inquest into Donald Mackay's murder.

On 15 July 1977, local Griffith businessman Donald Mackay disappeared from the car park of a local hotel. Blood was found on and around his mini-van. And there were three spent .22 bullet casings lying on the ground. This incident led to a Royal Commissioning the illegal drug trade in New South Wales.

In this episode we complete our look at Edward Eyre, focusing on 'The Great Northern Expedition' where he overlanded from Adelaide to Albany. We also cover his later career, particularly his time as Governor of Jamaica and his role in suppressing the Mount Bay Rebellion. How is it that the 'friend of the Aborigine' became known as the 'monster of Jamaica'?

We finally start our look at Edward John Eyre one of the great explorers of colonial history. Despite his exploits he is largely forgotten these days. In Australia Eyre is often known as the friend and protector of Aborigines. But after his time in Australia he became Governor of Jamaica. Here he brutally put down a local revolt and became known as the 'monster of Jamaica'.

A key source for this episode is Ivan Rudolph's book 'Eyre, The Forgotten Explorer'. Thank you to listener Gary for suggesting this topic.

So long to my dear friend Glen, a friend of nearly 35 years, who died this week.

On 5March 1804, 233 Irish Nationalist convicts led by Phillip Cunningham staged an uprising at Castle Hill in the penal colony of New South Wales. Their plan was to steal a ship and head back to Ireland to rejoin the fight for Irish independence against the British.

On 21 June 1966 an assassination attempt was made on Arthur Calwell the leader of the Australian Labor Party and Opposition Leader. It was only the second political assassination attempt in Australian history

In this episode we are going to review the life of Arthur Calwell, including the events of June 1966 when an attempt was made on his life by a 19 year old factory worker called Peter Kocan.

The common view of Calwell is that he was a racist old style Labor politician. He once said "two Wongs don't make a White". Calwell was a staunch defender of the White Australia policy, but he also implemented the era of mass migration to Australia in the post-war era.

In this episode we are looking at the Battle of One Tree Hill. This was a battle fought by the Jagera people led by the warrior Multuggerrah in 1843. While Multuggerah and his forces defeated the white settlers it did not end well for a people who had inhabited the Darling Downs region of South East Queensland for some 30-40,000 years.

In the early to mid-1970s the NSW Builders Labourers' Federation imposed 'Green Bans' in Sydney. These bans were imposed by the builders labourers employed to construct t office-block skyscrapers, shopping centres and luxury apartments

The builder's labourers refused to work on projects that were environmentally or socially undesirable.

The Green Bans movement was the first of its type in the world.

Advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: this episode refers to people who have or may have passed away.

It's Reconciliation Day and we look at the Mabo Case which overturned the concept of Terra Nullius - which was that before white settlement the land was empty and belonged to no one. In its decision, the High Court ruled that native title had existed on Murray Island and throughout Australia since time immemorial and that native title continued to exist where it had not been extinguished. Join me as learn about the Mabo Case and the man behind it all - Eddie Koiki Mabo.

In this episode we wrap up our take on Ned Kelly. Was he really a larrikin hero? Or should he be more properly remembered as a common criminal and murderer?