Stories From Sydney

• A Sirius Supply Issue

  In this episode, we explore the very earliest years of the colony in Sydney Cove by following the fates of two ships: Sirius and Supply. Join us as we learn about a struggling outpost on the brink of starvation, and the extreme lengths they would go to fetch some flour. This episode is full of quotations from First Fleet diaries, which were found in the excellent Buried Alive: Eyewitness Accounts of the Making of a Nation by Jack Egan

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• The Definitive History of Sydney's Water Sources

  In this particularly lengthy episode the boys chart the history of Sydney's drinking water from the well-known Tank Stream to the well-known Desal plant, with stop-offs at several obscure systems along the way. Jed's enthusiasm for the minutae of water volumes is only surpassed by Alistair's pure joy at finally learning where the water he's been swilling for most of his life has travelled from. To get the most out of this episode you'll want to arm yourself with a map of Sydney's drinking water catchments. We recommend this one from Sydney water: https://www.waternsw.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/55975/Fact-sheet-and-map-Sydney-drinking-water-catchments.pdf or this slightly altered version from the Welcome Reef Dam astroturfing campaign: https://welcomereef.com/sydney-water-catchments/ Sources for this episode include: - wikipedia - Sydney History youtube channel - UNSW ARTS3242 Course playlist on youtube - Sydney's Water Sewerage and Drainage System by Donald Hector. Originally published in the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of NSW, Vol. 144, p. 3-25, 2011

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• Surfing at Freshwater

  We discuss the life of father of surfing Duke Kahanamoku and his trip to Australia in 1914, where he gave a surfing demonstration at Freshwater beach which popularised surfing in this country. Intertwined with the story of this legendary Hawaiian is that of early Australian female swimming pioneers, and the explosion of beach culture in the early 20th Century. Sources: David Davis: Waterman, The life and times of Duke Kahanamoku - A thorough biography of Duke Waterman - A high quality documentary about Duke Kahanamoku with lots of primary footage Phil Jarratt: That Summer at Boomerang - Duke's trip to Freshwater from an Australian perspective We'd also recommend this gallery of wonderful images of Duke 

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• Thomas West of Barcom Glen

  This episode Jed digs up a history book that tells the story of one of colonial Sydney's early families. Like so many others, Thomas West found himself in Sydney in 1801 as a guest of the crown. From inauspicious beginnings, West quickly established himself as a capable man, right as the colony was beginning to boom. Having what appears to be a personal relationship with Governor Macquarie, within 10 years of arriving in chains West managed to secure himself an unofficial land grant on the South Head Road, beyond the edge of Sydney town, to establish Sydney's first water mill. West's story brings 19th century Sydney to life as he crosses paths with familiar characters and navigates the political, economic, social and ecological changes of his day.

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• Whale Tales

  In this episode, we discuss the significance of the whaling industry in the early history of Sydney, jumping from familiar Sydney locations like Liverpool, Mosman, and Neutral Bay, all the way down the coast to Eden, and even the foundation of Hobart.  Whales celebrate the drilling of oil wells - A Vanity Fair cartoon depicting whales celebrating the Pennsylvania oil rush The whale ghosts - A short story set in Mosman which uses its whaling past as a motif - appeared in Overland in 2021 Whaling in Eden - An ABC podcast episode on the killer whales in Eden A short history of lighting - A great ten minute listen which emphasises the importance of whale oil for lighting 

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