History & Culture Archives

Gallery: Sydney Harbour Bridge opens, 1932

On Saturday, March 19, 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge officially opened.

Gallery: Dick Smith’s record breaking balloon flight

Australian Geographic’s founder Dick Smith and fellow balloonist John Wallington went down in history on 18 June 1993 – beating odds that seven other attempts failed to overcome – and became the first people to fly a hot air balloon across the Australian continent. The Australian crossing had been tried by many with no luck. In the end, however, their epic adventure was a little over 40 hours.

History & Culture

Indigenous Protected Areas

In 51 Indigenous Protected Areas across the nation, traditional owners are managing their land for a better future.

History & Culture

Gallery: Australia in the sixties

Aussies mixed protests with mini-skirts during this swirling melting-pot of an era. Whether you remember it or not most people declare that the sixties began in the US and Britain in 1963 and died in 1974. It was an era characterised by huge changes to daily life as technology penetrated homes and our the social fabric was torn apart and sewn back together as a mini-skirt. Ron and Elizabeth Morrison where some of the first ’60s freelance news photographers in Australia, and here are some images from their book Those Were the Days: Australia in the sixties.

History & Culture

Songlines of the Lurujarri Heritage Trail

The Lurujarri Heritage Trail is an opportunity to experience Aboriginal connection to country.

History & Culture

Culture shared on the Lurujarri Heritage Trail

Walk alongside the Goolarabooloo community on a journey that traces their 82km songline north of Broome, WA.

History & Culture

Gallery: Australia’s iconic postage stamps

Since the first postage stamp was used in Australia in 1850 philately has grown to become one of Australia’s favourite hobbies. Read more in #120 of Australian Geographic magazine.

History & Culture

Fighting for the Franklin: archive footage

SEVEN YEARS OF campaigning to save the Franklin River from a similar fate to that of Lake Pedder culminated in the 1982 -blockade at Warner’s Landing, in which 1300 people were arrested. Domestic and international focus on the campaign grew as popular celebrities including Sir Yehudi Menuhin, -Barry Humphries, Eartha Kitt, Claudio and Lesley Alcorso,… View Article

History & Culture

Gallery: Celebrating PNG’s first conservation area

An AGS-funded team is collaborating with locals to protect the wildlife of PNG’s first major conservation area. Read the full story in Australian Geographic magazine #120.