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 32nd edition of Traces!

Traces

Heritage news

HOBART SAVINGS BANK, Hobart

Kutalayna revived • When stone tools surfaced on the banks of the Jordan River in Tasmania, they revealed more than just an ancient campsite – they brought to light a place of deep cultural significance for the Palawa people. This was Kutalayna, a site that became a powerful symbol of survival, resistance and cultural renewal.

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GHOSTS, GRIFTS AND SPIRITUALISM • Alongside the significant scientific breakthroughs of the Victorian era, a new belief took hold – that the living could speak with the dead.

The mystery on Goold Island • In a neglected slice of Queensland paradise lies the once forgotten grave of an invisible man.

DEATH in harness • An avoidable collision on Sydney Harbour sent five horses to their doom, while driving home the city’s reliance on humble ferries.

IS HONESTY THE BEST POLICY?

Hannah Rigby’s last lark • The remarkable life story of convict Hannah Rigby highlights her resilience and courage in the face of immeasurable hardship.

A PANDORA’S BOX OF LETTERS • What began as a simple family tree project soon uncovered a moving and deeply personal account of war, told through the letters of three Tasmanian brothers.

Your guide to early portrait photography • Identifying the photographic process used to produce antique images can reveal when they were made, allowing you to add valuable detail to your family tree.

THE OLDEST DAGUERREOTYPE

WHAT THE CASE CAN TELL US

What’s that thingamajig?

WOMEN WORTH EMULATING • The 1879 book Women Worth Emulating tells the life stories of 13 remarkable women. The book prompted me to reflect on the remarkable women in my own family tree – along with the countless forgotten others worthy of that title.

TOP TIPS FOR RESEARCHING FEMALE ANCESTORS

‘Dependable’ cooking from 1924 • First published for Perth students in the mid 1920s, The Golden Wattle Cookery Book offered practical recipes ‘for families with moderate incomes’. One hundred years on, Jessica Barratt finds that one humble dish unlocks a fond family memory.

Cheese straws

NARRYNA: a Georgian gem • In the heart of Tasmania’s Battery Point sits Narryna, an exquisitely preserved Georgian townhouse that, while deeply layered in stories of Tasmania’s past, is also a vibrant and evolving place.

Do you have a story to share? • Traces welcomes article submissions and pitches from historians, genealogists, family history researchers, authors and history lovers.