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Tales from the Grave
Uncovering family history from down under
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“Here’s to ‘ee”: Raising a glass to the Toohey Brothers
Two Irish brothers who had been running pubs in Melbourne, travel to Sydney to make their own beer, and create an Australian icon. It is...

Samantha Elley
Mar 20, 20215 min read


12 children, a widow and a passion for women's issues
When Enid Lyons made her maiden speech in Parliament in 1943, it was an historic moment.

Samantha Elley
Mar 13, 20215 min read


Gumnut baby creator seen as ‘New Woman’ in early 20th century
Bringing the beauty of the Australian bush alive, not only to children, but also to adults, was the special skill of May Gibbs. Born to...

Samantha Elley
Mar 6, 20214 min read


Tales from the Grave enters Genealogy list
It's been 15 months now since I established my newspaper column Tales from the Grave as a website. It's been only 3 months since I...

Samantha Elley
Feb 27, 20211 min read


Dickens' son a station agent and bushranger catcher
His name alone carried the weight of British literature.

Samantha Elley
Feb 20, 20214 min read


Sheep industry thrives under a woman’s touch
Elizabeth’s expert ability to manage the sheep ensured their competitive place in the British wool market.

Samantha Elley
Feb 13, 20214 min read


Police Commissioner has finger on the police force pulse
He nearly died on the job and introduced finger printing as a way of catching criminals.

Samantha Elley
Feb 8, 20214 min read


The mystery of the Fraser Island girls
Two young white girls are rescued from an Aboriginal tribe on Fraser Island, three years after their boat is ship-wrecked and all crew is lo

Samantha Elley
Jan 30, 20213 min read


Bundaberg brewer died on his honeymoon
Only a few weeks after his marriage Gustav Steindl died.

Samantha Elley
Jan 23, 20212 min read


Young author brings 'Never Never' to the literary world
Jeannie Taylor stood at only 5 foot (153cm) as an adult, but her strength, energy and determination were her greatest legacies.

Samantha Elley
Jan 11, 20214 min read


First Australian soldier to be awarded American Purple Heart
An Australian pilot who flew 201 missions in the Korean War but couldn’t drive a car. He was, however, the first from his country to be...

Samantha Elley
Dec 11, 20204 min read


Olley surrounded herself in still life art
She worked in a chaotic maze of colour and clutter, creating her beautiful artworks. Her surroundings were not for the minimalists among...

Samantha Elley
Dec 8, 20204 min read


Fridge king establishes Taronga Park Zoo
When Edward John Lees Hallstrom had a passion for something, he threw everything at it.

Samantha Elley
Dec 4, 20204 min read


Previous tragedy spurs father on to be a hero
An unbearable tragedy may have been the catalyst for a daring, heroic act by John Christian Erichs, where he would eventually pay the...

Samantha Elley
Dec 1, 20203 min read


Ipswich hero praised for his bravery in the face of death
When 2nd Lieutenant Samuel John Morgan signed up to fight in the Great War, he would receive his promotion to Captain, but his...

Samantha Elley
Nov 11, 20203 min read


A shooting night of terror for Emily
It started as a night out of enjoyment for Emily Salisbury and her friend Adeline Steed, along with Adeline's children

Samantha Elley
Nov 3, 20204 min read


War orphan smuggled to Australia in a sack
He was only 5 years old when his French soldier father was killed during the Great War. Not too long after that his mother died.

Samantha Elley
Aug 22, 20202 min read


More coverage for Tales from the Grave
Tales from the Grave is gaining a wider audience. Find out here where we are going.

Samantha Elley
Aug 8, 20201 min read


Who was the true Man from Snowy River?
Was it a myth or was he a real man? Who truly was the ' stripling on a small and weedy beast'? Was Jack Riley really the Man From Snow River

Samantha Elley
Jul 18, 20203 min read


He was the founder behind a 144 year old newspaper
People complained about this "new-fangled idea of a newspaper" in their town, but William Kelleway went on to establish a newspaper that...

Samantha Elley
Jul 5, 20202 min read
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