Bulletin 2
1910 The Bulletin Magazine

Between 1880 and 1918 The Bulletin cruelly lampooned colonial governors, business leaders, the bourgeoisie, the church, feminists and prohibitionists. It supported the labour movement, Australian independence, liberal democracy and White Australia. Continue reading

Canberra design competition submission by Walter Burley Griffin drawn on the Commonwealth contour map, c.1911. Courtesy National Archives of Australia
1911 Walter Burley Griffin’s design for Australia’s Capital

In 1911 Prime Minister Andrew Fischer launched a competition for a design of Australia’s capital city. One hundred and thirty seven entries came from all over the world. The prize was awarded to an American couple from Chicago, Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin. The Griffins had not been to Australia but based their design on maps and topographic and weather information of the site. Continue reading

icon-225
1901 Immigration Restriction Act

This document has historic value because it has direct links with Federation and the drafting of the first Australian Constitution that put in place the law that was the cornerstone of Australia’s ‘White Australia’ policy. Continue reading

icon
1904 Fairfield Von Heiden Upright Piano

The piano is historically significant as evidence of piano manufacturing in Australia prior to the World War I through to 1936, as it is possibly one of the last upright pianos, made by Carl von Heiden in his Sydney factory between 1904 and 1914. Continue reading