The Subiaco Columns at the Uni of NSW Sydney
Standing in a garden at the University of NSW are several sandstone columns known as the Subiaco Columns, precious fragments of our colonial past holding up the sky. They have no signage and no obvious…
Articles by Diane Challenor
Fragments of History, Not Lost, Just Forgotten
In 1911 tradesmen arrived in Kent Street near Sydney’s Town Hall. They had instructions from the church leaders to dismantle St Andrew’s Scots Presbyterian Church which included the removal of several memorial plaques, stained glass windows, a stone font, the timber rafters and cedar pews … Everything was transported to Rose Bay and installed in the new Scots church a few kilometers from Sydney Harbour’s southern headland. …
Searching for Allan Cunningham’s Parramatta home
For a long time The Allan Cunningham research team has searched for the actual street number in Macquarie Street where Mr Cunningham lived. To date we have not been successful, however, if you read the 1827 newspaper article quoted below you can come close to pinpointing his address on a street map, of the CBD of Parramatta.…
A quest is a search for something important . . .
One of the joys of writing non-fiction is the research, the serendipity of discovery. It would have been nice to report that I found a specimen of Polypodium dictyopteris (Loxogramme dictyopteris) collected by Allan Cunningham in 1838 only months before his death and it would have been nice to say he discovered the plant on such and such a day in such and such a place.…
The tomb of Phillip Parker King (1791-1856)
Years ago Phillip Parker King stood on a hill near his property Dunheved. I imagine he felt very pleased with himself, his success and the building project that was about to take place. A small church was about to be built on the hill, a church that would fulfill the wish of his mother, Anna Josepha King. The land had been set aside some time ago and now, at long last, building had commenced. The resulting church was named, Church of St Mary Magdalene, consecrated in April 1840. It still stands today in a suburb of Sydney, St Marys, on South Creek near Parramatta.…
A time line that “sings”
More than a chronological list of his achievements, geographical arrivals and departures: The Allan Cunningham Time Line Journal has developed over a long period of time and as each piece is written, I continue to expand the story line and wax lyrical. My haphazard research over the last few years has given me a knowledge of this man’s story, the detail of which surprises me sometimes and I marvel at the resilience and tenacity of the people involved.…
A blog post about Araucaria cunninghamii
A photo taken . . . holding a moment in time, suspended . . . contemplating a tree. The two of us just sat in the mid-morning sunshine, on a bench in the Sydney Botanic Gardens, a coffee comfortably nestled in our hands, contemplating a tree. Simple things can be so good. It wasn’t just any tree. We knew its botanical name. Did someone once say that until something has a name it doesn’t exist. The tree was an Araucaria cunninghamii better known as a Hoop Pine. Let me explain . . .…
In the Footsteps of Allan Cunningham
As part of the Allan Cunningham Project we are following in the footsteps of our tenacious Botanist. Our first adventure outside of the Sydney metropolitan area took place some time ago. We visited the Glenroy Camping Ground, just a little way from Hartley, west of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.…
A Writer’s Journal – a series of articles
This series of articles is a recording of my journey as I get to know a botanist, Allan Cunningham, who dedicated his life to science in the early 1800s. After coming across his grave site in the middle of the Sydney Botanic Gardens, I was inspired to get to know him. The moss covered plaque on the memorial obelisk drew me in. I’d never heard of him and my curiosity twinkled like a bright light. The plaque simply explained that the body of Allan Cunningham, Botanist Explorer 1791-1839 was buried within the obelisk.…
At aged 48, our Botanist breathes his last breath
27th June 1839 On this day, 27th June 1839, Allan Cunningham died. His life had been cut short. He was only 48. In the words of his friend Robert Heward, it was the “termination of…
A frail Botanist returns from New Zealand
On this day, 13th October 1838, Allan Cunningham returned to Port Jackson from the Bay of Islands New Zealand, he was very ill.…
Sydney News: The Bingara Massacre
On this day, 10th June 1838, while Allan Cunningham was in New Zealand there was a massacre of aboriginals at Myall Creek near Bingara. 27 to 30 Indigenous Australians died.…
Headed for New Zealand on L’Heroine”
On this day, 15th April 1838, Allan Cunningham departed from Port Jackson and a sailed to New Zealand aboard the French corvette L’Heroine…
No longer working at Sydney’s Botanic Garden
Sometime in December 1837 Allan Cunningham resigned from his position as Colonial Botanist of New South Wales.…
Starting work at Sydney’s Botanic Garden
On this day, 1st March 1837, Allan Cunningham took up his position as Colonial Botanist in New South Wales.…
The “Norfolk” arrives in Port Jackson
On this day, 12th February 1837, Allan Cunningham arrived in Port Jackson aboard the “Norfolk” to take up his post as Colonial Botanist. …
Aboard the “Norfolk” headed for Australia
On this day, 30th October 1836, Allan Cunningham departed England on the “Norfolk”…
Sydney News: Charles Darwin leaves the Colony
While Allan Cunningham is in England, Charles Darwin ends his visit to Sydney and departs aboard “The Beagle” 30th January 1836.…
Sydney News: Charles Darwin arrives in Colony
While Allan Cunningham is in England, Charles Darwin arrived in Sydney aboard “The Beagle” on 12th January 1836
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Sydney News: Richard Cunningham disappears in the Australian Bush
Sometime in April 1835 Allan Cunningham’s brother Richard disappeared in the Australian bush…