Author Archives: dgm

While researching something else entirely I came across the story of the Agapemone, a nineteenth century quasi christian cult in England. I came across the cult due to the misuse of the laws governing lunacy in England in the mid … Continue reading →

Down at Lake View yesterday, one of the items I documented was an 1867 Britannia sewing machine made in Colchester in England Britannia machines were extensively advertised at the time and at a cost of GBP 9 – which works … Continue reading →

In Victoria, there are still quite a few  nineteenth century post boxes around. There’s two common types a cylindrical model with a metal crown on on top and a square design which sometimes has a separate slot for posting newspapers. … Continue reading →

J had come across some pictures of Lake Tyrell, a salt lake out in Mallee in the west of the state, and thought the landscapes might make a suitable subject for a painting or two. At the same time I’d … Continue reading →

(digitised 1880’s map from The National Library of Scotland) When I went down an internet rabbit hole about crime and nineteenth century railway carriages, I mentioned that I had come across a report of an incident on the Montrose to … Continue reading →

Train travel revolutionised life for Victorians. Suddenly it became possible for people on modest incomes to travel more than they could comfortably walk in a day, and in a shorter time, be it for a school teacher to visit friends … Continue reading →

A lot of people tend to assume I have some sort of a degree in computing, life sciences, archaeology or archival studies, history even, and while it’s true to say I’ve spent time working in jobs associated with these fields, … Continue reading →

Actually there were no dead Egyptians, coffins yes, but no dead Egyptians. The National Gallery of Victoria had partnered with the British Museum to bring a collection of ancient Egyptian monumental sculpture and some other artefacts to its winter exhibition … Continue reading →