It amazes me in the early day's of Canberra just how much emphasis was placed on alcohol with beer being the point in question. A search of the newspaper archives comes up short when it comes to new years eve.

This comes from the year prohibition was lifted in Canberra. Yes, thanks to King O'Malley our tea-total Minister for home affairs of the day Canberra was once a dry town 1913- 1929. If you wanted a beer you went to Queanbeyan. Simple. Well this clipping is a testament to Canberra's festivities with the train load of empties that left for Sydney after Christmas/ New years 1929...




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I seldom have a drink, although I've propped a few barstools around Canberra in my time. Apologies for any past indiscretions and yes I do know the cells at the city watch house from many years ago.. After 50 years I must have annoyed a few. I can only imagine today 250 men being arrested for drunkenness though. I didn't realise this was a poem when I started reading it... I like it.

Canberra Community News - Tuesday 11 January 1927


National Library of Australia

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Just a quick one. An amazing pictorial depicting Mount Tennent in southern Canberra. I suggest you click the image to enlarge.



National Library of Australia

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Lots of reports about this issue but this one is fairly representative I think. The article starts with some advocacy for establishing large population centres above the Tropic of Capricorn and apparent staunchness for the White Australia Policy. Apart from pointing out some sort of geographical gripe about Canberra the author gets down to some pretty fine 'Canberra bashing'. I'll leave you to read it. I'm off for a walk around the lake...





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These reports usually don't interest me but in this case I'll make an exception. A clipping from the old days when divorces became really messy...

Sometimes I have a wicked sense of humour and I found this amusing. Apparently divorce was a very public matter. Anyway... Mr Read goes to extreme lengths to catch his philandering wife and lover, employs some spy tactics to read love letters, threatens murder and eventually has the wife's lover pay the court costs... The 50's version of reality TV. Priceless...




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We all know this of course but it is interesting to me that the decision wasn't made until 14 years after the naming of the new city of Canberra. In 1927 it was announced that Canberra's street names would be named after Australian explorers, statesman, pioneers and discoverers. Streets already named would be re-named in accordance with the new policy. Another interesting point is that all these Australians honoured with a street sign must already be dead...





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A little hard to read at first this article describes the southern mountainous regions of the ACT in particular the Gudgenby, Nass and Ororral Rivers. A nice description of the old-time hardships of travelling into a region that is today about a half hours drive out of suburban Canberra. A tale of river crossings, horseflesh and pioneers. The suggestion is the Territory's appropriateness as a tourist resort. A lovely description I think...




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Just a quick one...

I had an interesting encounter in Namadgi on nightfall yesterday. Stopped to eat and after a whistle got a visit from a young red fox. He/she was fearless and obviously very hungry, It didn't look to be in very good condition. Entry to the area has been signposted as being baited with 1080 poison yet here was this young fox and dogs could be heard barking in the distance as the night wore on.

This fox was determined though and warily stalked around the camp within meters. Around and around looking for some opportunity. Anyway... dogs are my only annoying fear out there at night. I have had experiences with them in the past and 1080 obviously isn't removing that worry. I don't like to feel like I've entered the food chain when I bushwalk.

Yes I am getting soft, and hang me TAMS, it got a couple of sausages.

A quick observation...

Apart from this being a nice description of Canberra's flowering trees I found it interesting when read in conjunction with another clipping from 13 years later that saw a time requiring the killing of 2000 possums from within a mile of the Canberra city centre. (post here). Now it all makes sense.

I couldn't fathom why 1945 saw the breaking point of a massive possum infestation until I read this article waxing lyrically to the joys of fruit tree blossoms from 50,000 almond, peach and plum trees planted in Canberra a decade before. I know the new city wanted quick growth and colour to enhance its garden city image, and the native wattle was probably a good choice, but as far as possums go it wasn't thought through very well at all.




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