Table of contents for Edition 16, 2021 in Traces

Hello and welcome to edition 16 of Traces, created in the midst of much trauma, both at home and overseas. 2021 has dealt the world a heavy blow, and there’s no doubt that we are all living in momentous times. I hope that you are all persevering as best you can, knowing that future generations will be studying these times, and reflecting on our strength and resilience. Positive changes, too, are sure to come of current adversities, just as they did during the 20th-century tuberculosis outbreak. On page 10, Kate Follington takes a look at this dreaded ‘white plague’ and how it impacted architecture. And there is plenty to give you a bit of respite from the pandemic; we’ve compiled a fantastic collection of stories to intrigue, inspire and investigate.…

In 1877, 12 commissioners were given responsibility over managing, developing and improving the Port of Melbourne. The Harbour Trust Commissioners represented various interests along the Yarra River (Birrarung) and Port Melbourne, and ultimately oversaw the extraordinary modifications that led to it today being Australia’s largest cargo port, managing almost 40 per cent of all trade. A newly digitised collection of images has been published online from a series called ‘Photographic Collection 1880–1976’, created by the Melbourne Harbour Trust Commissioners. It is the largest of several photographic series from this agency in the care of the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV), the state government archive. More than 5500 images were digitised by volunteers and are now free to download from the PROV catalogue. There are over 5000 images, many of great…

It was 2 o’clock in the morning on Sunday 9 February 1879 when Isabella McPhee called for Henry to help her. She had felt unwell for days but didn’t want any fuss or anyone to call the doctor. Henry came to the room quickly to see how he could help. Isabella asked him to bring a light. As he entered the room with the candlelight, he saw how faint she looked; pale, unwell. She asked him to help make her a bit more comfortable, and in her weakened state she ran out of energy and fell asleep again. Henry sat with her through the night, and in the morning he brought her some tea, lifting her head to help her drink. Henry had only been lodging with her for a…

MyHeritage Austria • Austria–Hungary, Roman Catholic Indexes, 1612–1966: 6,800,000 indexed records added to a new collection• Austria, Vienna Catholic Church Records Index, 1585–1918: 3,800,000 indexed records added to a new collection New Zealand • New Zealand, Birth Index, 1840–1901: 2,000,000 indexed records added to a new collection• New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840–1901: indexed records added to a new collection• New Zealand, Death Index, 1840–2021: 2,400,000 indexed records added to a new collection Visit www.myheritage.com. FamilySearch Australia • Australia, Victoria, Wills, Probate and Administration Files, 1841–1926: 2800 indexed records added to an existing collection Brazil • Brazil, Bahia, Civil Registration, 1877–1976: 31,400 indexed records added to an existing collection• Brazil, Cemetery Records, 1850–2021: 24,800 indexed records added to an existing collection• Brazil, Minas Gerais, Civil Registration, 1987–1949: 4200 indexed records added…

New archaeology at Port Arthur A collaborative project between the Port Arthur Historic Site Management Authority and Dr Richard Tuffin, Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the University of New England, has uncovered archaeological evidence of the multiphase convict workshops at Hobart’s Port Arthur. Integral to the operation of the penal settlement between 1830 and 1877, the workshops offer archaeological and historical evidence that reveals how the landscape affected convicts’ labour experience. Evidence of a huge variety of labour roles has been uncovered at Port Arthur, including basket maker, bone crusher, broom maker, engine cleaner, engineer, locksmith, harness maker, miller, nailer, shoemaker, soapmaker, tanner and wheelwright. The project ran until May 2021, with archaeologists now working on interpreting their findings. Looted art returns home The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) is preparing…

Not all nautical namesakes are easy to navigate. Investigations are simpler if the vessel bore a distinctive name, like Samuel Plimsoll’s sister ship, Smyrna. This clipper also boasted three children born aboard who carried its name throughout their lives. Sadly, one of them, Smyrna Jane Hollow, survived for just 18 days. Her brief existence at sea is therefore not recorded in any Australian register of births, deaths and marriages (BDM). Finding the full story of any ship’s namesakes requires devoted searching in genealogy websites and BDM catalogues around Australia. But beware – some births were registered on arrival, rather than recording the actual date that they occurred at sea. Be sure to check the register of marine births and deaths for 1835–1965, maintained by Britain’s General Register Office. Other archival…

My mother, Cecily Rose Moloney, passed away on 21 June 2016. As I sifted through her belongings, I began to unravel years of her life that she rarely spoke about. The questions I have for her now are many. In an old suitcase, I found her enlistment details, as well as photos of a beautiful woman whose story I had now lost forever. I began to think of the few small snippets she had told both my brothers and me over the years. Cecily Rose Morris enlisted on 2 May 1942. She was 18 years old. Her number was 97605, and her Trade Qualification was listed as a typist with a speed of 55 words per minute. In those days, I am sure that included correct spelling and no backspacing!…

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this artcle may contain the names and images of people who are now deceased. The first European to discover lutruwita was Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, who named it Van Diemen’s Land in 1642. Observing notches cut into trees at five-foot intervals, Tasman surmised that this new-found land was inhabited by giants. English sailor Tobias Furneaux was the next European to chart part of the island after his ship Adventure became separated from James Cook’s Resolution in 1773. Finding safe anchorage at the place he named Adventure Bay after his ship, Furneaux spent five days there and observed signs of habitation. Cook’s Resolution and Discovery visited Adventure Bay in 1777, as did William Bligh’s Bounty in 1788. Unlike Furneaux, Cook briefly…

The Real Face of White Australia is an online project that highlights the records and stories of Australians whose lives were affected by the White Australia policy over the first half of the 20th century. It draws on many thousands of identification documents – called certificates of domicile and CEDTs – created in the administration of the Immigration Restriction Act, now held by the National Archives of Australia. The project is run by Tim Sherratt and Kate Bagnall. You can join in the Real Face of White Australia project by exploring the interactive wall of faces, following the Twitter bot – @InvisibleAus – or helping to transcribe the records. For more information, visit https://www.realfaceofwhiteaustralia.net. The Victorian CEDT Index is an online searchable index to three Victorian registers of CEDT issued…