Australia On This Day

On this day in 1930, Sydney folk crossed their fingers in the hope that the southern and northern arms of the Harbour Bridge would meet — rather than collapse in a disaster that might further ruin Australia's Depression-wracked economy.

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On this day in 1950, Australians were on tenterhooks as they awaited news from Bellingen, NSW, where British war bride Betty Sara was giving birth to quads. Quads had never before survived in Australia. The story would be front-page news for days — and a staple of the Australian Women's Weekly for the next quarter of a century.

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On this day in 1889, Tom Roberts and fellow Heidelberg School painters opened their 9 x 5 Impressionist Exhibition, a controversial event that led to much derision but one that forever changed Australian art. If you'd spent a couple of pounds that day, how much would your investment be worth to your descendants today?

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On this day in 1928, Constable George William Murray led a punitive raid against Aboriginal people in Central Australia in response to the murder of dingo trapper Fred Brooks. Five Aboriginal people were shot dead in the attack — and what followed was a series of mass killings that'd last two months and claim 31 lives, though modern historians put the toll at around 170. In this episode, I talk to historian Dr Robyn Smith, who has worked to map this and other mass killings of Aboriginal people in the NT for the University of Newcastle’s Massacre Map project.

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75 years ago today, Australian cities erupted in riotous celebrations because the Second World War was over. Here's how the day unfolded.

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On this day 64 years ago Sydney police learned the truth about the horrific car-bombing double murder that had rocked and shocked the city overnight.

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80 years ago today a Hudson bomber crashed in Canberra, killing four of Australia's top wartime leaders — along with six other men. It was a tragedy that'd lead to the downfall of one Prime Minister and set two politicians on their paths to that top job. But what — or who — caused the crash?

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Having lost the First Test and with the Second Test in the balance, Australians tune in to their wireless sets to hear if Don Bradman can save the day. What they'll hear is cricket history being made. (And later that year Don Bradman will make different types of records — with a piano in recording studios.)

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Coming soon - your new daily history podcast, from the creator of Forgotten Australia.

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