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Two great examples of colonial Georgian house architecture have made the news this month. Above: Tasmania's historic Clarendon House, red room interior. (ABC News) Historic homestead makeover Source: ABC News online Friday Dec 4, 2009 9:55am AEDT Video: Historic homestead gets revamp (7pm TV News TAS) Evandale 7212 The National Trust in Tasmania has welcomed funding to restore what is reputedly one of Australia's greatest colonial homes. The State Government has announced it will provide $120,000 to restore Clarendon House, built in northern Tasmania in 1838. That is on top of $800,000 from the Federal Government. The Trust's managing director, Chris Tassell, says the funding will be used to repaint and repair crumbling stairs on the historic property. "I think it's generally recognised that this is perhaps one of the greatest, arguably the greatest, early pre-1850s colonial houses in Australia," he said. "I mean it is of a scale and magnitude that is literally unmatched and it gives some idea of the wealth that was generated from northern Tasmania." Above: Campania House (ABC) Historic house stays in Tasmanian hands Source: ABC News online 13 December 2009 One of southern Tasmania's oldest homes has sold at auction to a local farmer. Campania House and 22 hectares of farmland went for $1.54 million. About 1000 people attended the sale and bidding was strong but the eight bedroom sandstone house was snapped up by grazier Robert Downie. The house contents are also being sold, with proceeds going to the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. Mr Downie plans to live in the Georgian property, which was built for Lieutenant George Weston Gunning who arrived in Van Dieman's Land circa 1810. Lt Gunning was made Inspector of Public Works and officiated at the laying of the foundation stone of Richmond Bridge in 1823.

AURORA AUSTRALIS: Southern Lights The Aurora Australis was visible from Hobart, Tasmania, on at least one occasion during the mid 1950s, and possibly because of this event the people of Tasmania were often referred to as "Taswegians" by mainland Australians, a moniker not heard so much these days. The perception then was that Taswegians lived far enough south to be the counterparts of the Norwegians who live far enough north to witness the Aurora Borealis. AURORA AUSTRALIS: Video by Anthony Powell taken in Antarctica. It was a major event in the lives of Tasmanian schoolchildren of the decade, and its mysteries were the subject of junior fiction such as Ponny The Penguin (Veronica Basser, illustrations by Edwina Bell. Sydney, Australasian 1948). JOANNA LUMLEY seeks out the AURORA BOREALIS As a child growing up in steamy Malaysia, Joanna Lumley (British actor) read this Australian children's book, Ponny the Penguin, with illustrations by Edwina Bell depicting a penguin watching the hanging curtains of the Aurora Australis. The little book inspired Lumley to make the journey to the Arctic Circle to see the Northern Lights: the trip became the subject of the BBC documentary Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights (broadcast ABC TV1 30 Nov 2009): TV snapshots from the live ABC TV broadcast (Australia 29 November 2009) of the BBC documentary "Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights." Below: Lumley: "Look at THAT!!!!" YouTube EXTRACT from Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights

Richard Flanagan in interview with Ramona Koval on the ABC's Book ShowSource: ABC Radio National12 November 2008Wanting: Richard Flanagan listen now download audio Richard Flanagan's novel Wanting is set in Tasmania and uses the parallel lives of 19th century governor and polar explorer John Franklin, Charles Dickens and Mathinna, an Aboriginal girl, to explore desire and the costs of trying to use reason to control it.PresenterRamona KovalArtist: Thomas BockWarwickshire, England 1790/93 - Hobart, Tasmania 1855"Mathinna", 1842, watercolour, Tasmanian Museum and Art GalleryAUDIO On YouTube: From the publisher RANDOM HOUSE:In this, the first in a six-part series, Richard Flanagan discusses the inspiration behind new book, WANTING. WANTING is a powerful and haunting meditation on love, loss and wanting, by best-selling Australian Author, Richard Flanagan.REVIEW:Source: The Age onlineFlanagan's book of desireNovember 1, 2008Richard Flanagan has no qualms about using historical characters but that doesn't make his new book a historical novel, he tells Jason Steger.RICHARD FLANAGAN knows that some people will read his new novel, Wanting, as a historical novel and pillory him for that. But he has been a historian in another life and knows it is not for him."History, like journalism, is ever a journey outwards and you must report back what you find and no more. But a novel is a journey into your own soul and you seek there to discover those things that you share with all others. In reading you sense the divine, the things that are larger and greater and more mysterious than yourself."Wanting is 19th century in location and characters: polar explorer and governor of Van Diemen's Land, Sir John Franklin, and his wife, Lady Jane; Mathinna, the Aboriginal girl they adopt and later abandon; and the great literary voice of the time, Charles Dickens.But Flanagan is adamant it is not a historical novel. What's wrong, he asks, with writers using history; they have been doing it fore

In this week of the release of the maxi epic movie AUSTRALIA, little Tasmania has produced a very funny spoof of the genre, in the interests of tourism, of course.WEBSHOT only: Visit the site: TASMANIA - BIGGER THAN AUSTRALIA http://www.tasmaniathemovie.com/trailers/STOP!!! You will breach copyright restrictions by using this feed.

more about "The Right Hand Man", posted with vodpod Studio: New World VideoGenre: DramaMPAA Rating: RDirector: Di DrewTheatrical Release: N/AHome Video Release: N/ACast: Arthur Dignam, Catherine McClements, Hugo Weaving, Jennifer Claire, Rupert EverettPublished ID: 2348UPC: N/A Plot: Harry Ironmaster (Rupert Everett) is an aristocratic and wealthy young man, which in his time and place should put him pretty much on top of the world. However, he is responsible for a horse-drawn coach accident in which his father is killed and he himself loses an arm. Not only that, but his favored pastime of horse-riding is no longer possible for him. His girlfriend, the doctor's daughter, wants to draw him out of his depression, but nothing seems to help. Harry's low state begins to lift when he makes friends with Ned, the very capable driver of a local express coach to Sydney. They are both aware that trains will soon replace these huge wagons, and Ned agrees to work for Harry. This costume drama boasts some beautiful cinematography, and is based on a best-selling novel by Kathleen Peyton. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

Photographer Don Stephens worked for the Hobart newspaper The Mercury for more than thirty years. His choice of camera was a Mamiya RB6x7. Don's images of the devastating Hobart bushfires were published in The Mercury, 7-9 February 1967. Many are held in the National Library of Australia's collections. Another tragedy in the Hobart area which cost lives was the collision of the bulk ore carrier, the Lake Illawarra into the Tasman Bridge on January 5th, 1975. Don Stephens took this photograph at night as the rescue operation continued: Image copyright 2006 © Don Stephens & Leatherwood Online These are some of the Australia Department of Defence photographs of salvage operations in 1975: NAVY REPORT: Bridging troubled waters by Brett Mitchell On the evening of January 5, 1975 the Australian National Line bulk carrier MV Lake Illawarra, laden with a cargo of zinc concentrate, collided with the Tasman Bridge, which spanned the Derwent River in Hobart. The ship sank, killing seven of the crew, and collapsing two pylons and 127 metres of bridge decking into water 110 feet deep. Four motor vehicles fell into the river, killing five occupants. At 4.30am on January 6, a 14-man detachment from Australian Clearance Diving Team Two (AUSCDTTWO), commanded by LEUT Alexander Donald, flew to Hobart for search and recovery operations. Following preliminary dives later that day, AUSCDTTWO was tasked to locate and assist Hobart Water Police recover the motor vehicles. Two additional divers from AUSCDTONE arrived from Sydney, with a one-person recompression chamber. Two vehicles were identified on January 7; one was salvaged that day and the second three days later. Another vehicle was found buried under rubble on January 8. Three team members assisted Tasmanian Police divers comprehensively survey the wreck of the Lake Illawarra between January 9–13. Operations ceased on January 16. The Navy divers operated in hazardous conditions with minimal visibility and s

Photos © KLW & Echo's Pond 2008 ARRSTOP!!! You will breach copyright restrictions by using this feed.