Welcome to my blog…
Which topic interests you?
Sydney’s cultural life
We’re coming into the festival season, where our city seems to come alive with a variety of cultural events and activities. Let’s go back to the 1800s and see how culture developed in Sydney, from unruly pastimes to popular sports and theatrical pursuits. Listen to...
Sydney’s ocean pools
It’s summertime and as the temperatures rise, Sydneysiders will no doubt be flocking to the city’s famous beaches. This morning for 2SER Breakfast, I thought I’d talk to Mitch about our love affair with sea bathing and how our ocean pools have played a crucial role in...
Woodford Academy
It’s holidaying season and a good time to venture beyond Sydney. A trip to the Blue Mountains is always a great idea, and the National Trust property, Woodford Academy, is even more reason to explore one of our most picturesque regions. I spoke with Mitch on 2SER...
Bodgies and African American culture in Sydney
Ever heard of the term bodgie? What about widgie? When we think of great social change, people often cite the 1960s as a decade of transformation. But toward the end of World War II in the 1940s, a subculture emerged among Sydney’s youth - they called themselves...
Flashback to Sydney’s old trams
There’s been a lot of talk lately about the new light rail project and the disruption being caused by the closure of George Street in Sydney. In a case of history repeating itself, Sydney’s seen it all happen before from when the first line for horse-drawn trams...
Iris Webber: ‘the most violent woman in Sydney’
When you think of Sydney’s dangerous crime queens of the 1920s-30s, the names Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh might come to mind. But there was another woman who earned a reputation as ‘the most violent woman in Sydney’. Her name was Iris Webber - a petty thief and sly...
History Week 2015: War, Nationalism and Identity
History Week has been going for 18 years and there will be many interesting events being held in Sydney and across NSW with the theme: ‘War, Nationalism and Identity’. One of the key issues being discussed is how Australians commemorate war. For instance, did you know...
Long Bay prison
Long Bay prison was actually opened this month 106 years ago and saw some of Sydney’s most notorious underworld figures incarcerated within its walls. I spoke to Mitch on 2SER Breakfast this morning about its history as detailed in the Dictionary of Sydney. The Long...
Sydney’s ‘pissoirs’ and public lavatories
It’s a thing we all need, take for granted and is perhaps one of the more awkward topics to discuss, but when did Sydney first see public lavatories in its streets? This morning I spoke with Mitch on 2SER Breakfast about Christa Ludlow's fascinating entry in the...
Elizabeth Kata: An Australian in Japan during World War 2
It’s 70 years since the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. As the bombs fell and killed an estimated 250,000 people, Sydney-born author Elizabeth Kata was interned in the mountain resort village of Karuizawa. The Dictionary of Sydney has...
Nicole Cama
Historian
I’m a professional historian who specialises in social and public history, as well as cultural collections and heritage research and interpretation. I have worked on numerous projects for the City of Sydney, Dictionary of Sydney, IP Australia and more.