Night of hell for one young family
It was an oppressively hot day on the 5th April, 1887 in the small Northern Queensland gulf town of Burketown situated on the banks of...
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Tales from the Grave
Uncovering family history from down under
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Samantha Elley
- Jun 11
- 2 min
From shipping office to outback squatter
When you have been a big part of the establishment of the cattle industry in a burgeoning outback economy, it seems a cruel fate to be...
280 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Mar 18
- 3 min
He kick started the gold rush in Northern Queensland
He was credited with finding the first gold-bearing stone as a child which established the town of Charters Towers.
629 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Mar 5
- 2 min
He built the first hotel on an iconic resort island
Sheep farming, gold-mining, hotel owning were just some of the jobs Robert Hayles took on.
580 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Jan 22
- 2 min
Boy dies from soft drink bottle
A Christmas treat turns fatal
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Samantha Elley
- Jan 15
- 3 min
Remembering the Devastating Clermont Flood of 1916
Over 60 people lost their lives to one of Australia's most devastating floods.
453 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Nov 13, 2023
- 3 min
He had no regard for his personal safety
'He would always carry out his duty regardless of his safety'.
484 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Nov 6, 2023
- 2 min
Trapped by ferocious bushfires
She died just before her brother came back from the war.
481 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Oct 17, 2023
- 2 min
Was he the last remaining Crimean War veteran?
The facts of Charles' life don't match the claims.
123 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Oct 2, 2023
- 2 min
Plane disappearance creates reluctant hero
The mystery of the Stinson mail plane disappearance was solved by Bernard O'Reilly
550 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- May 30, 2023
- 2 min
The explorer and the writer: A love story
Their marriage was short-lived but their achievements were great.
360 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- May 23, 2023
- 2 min
They became Empire scapegoats
His fellow officers were executed to hide a 'no prisoners' policy.
309 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Apr 11, 2023
- 2 min
Police sergeant's mysterious suicide
He was 38 years in the police force.
390 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Jan 16, 2023
- 2 min
His landholdings were bigger than England
Australia's own cow boy was a generous man.
628 views2 comments
Samantha Elley
- Nov 14, 2022
- 2 min
Domestic violence leads to hanging
Two lives cut short in lovers tragedy.
304 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Sep 20, 2022
- 2 min
He made mango wine that could "kill at a hundred yards"
Magnetic Island's pioneer knew his fruit.
263 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Feb 21, 2022
- 3 min
80 year mystery sees sailor come home
The mystery body washed up on the shores of Christmas Island after the sinking of the HMAS Sydney.
1,206 views2 comments
Samantha Elley
- Jan 24, 2022
- 2 min
The forgotten Australian actress
She had high hopes in Hollywood but never truly made it.
815 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Oct 11, 2021
- 3 min
First Italian to step foot on present day Mackay
His name has disappeared from the gravestone, but his legacy is large.
362 views0 comments
Samantha Elley
- Aug 24, 2021
- 5 min
Spanish flu shows how history repeats
It's not the first time Aussies have had to mask up.
2,138 views2 comments
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