Michael Organ - Home Page 2009
Welcome to my
web site. I am presently employed at the University of Wollongong,
Australia, as Manager, Repository Services. I was the first Australian Greens Federal Member for
Cunningham in the Australian parliament from 19 October 2002 to 9
October 2004. I live in Wollongong, located on the coast approximately
45 miles (80 kilometres) south of Sydney. The Michael Organ MP
web site contains copies of all my parliamentary work - speeches,
motions, questions to the government, etc. - plus media and press
releases during 2002-2004. An archived copy of the web site is located at the National Library of
Australia's Pandora archive web site - entry no. 37942. A Web Archive version of my personal web site compiled between 1996-2002 is also available at the following location: MO Web Archive site. It contains a large number of the images originally stored on that site, but not all. This present Home Page provides links to some of my academic and research interests, specifically in the fields of Australian history, film
studies (Metropolis 1927, movie posters), and Austrian history. The latter focuses on the
round-the-world scientific expedition of the frigate Novara between 1857-9 and
its visit to New South Wales in 1858, along with its role in the sea battle of Lissa 1866. Another ongoing area of interest is in the history of the Illawarra district of New South Wales, Australia, especially
during the initial period of white settlement (1770-1850), and later (1815+)
when a military stockade was in operation and my great-great-grandfather was a
soldier on duty there between 1839-40. The results of previous research work are contained in
the attached copy of Publications and Reports. Broard subject areas accessible from this site include:
1. Australian Studies
2. Film Studies
3. Austrian History & the Frigate Novara
4. Tibet
5. Local and Community
6. Music
1. Australian Studies
- The Scientific Discovery of the Koala 1803. An historical account of the scientific discovery of the Koala at Hat Hill (Mount Kembla), New South Wales, in 1803. A precurser to the 2008 book Koala - A Historical Biography.
- Illawarra Chronology 1770-1855. A chonological listings of events within the Illawarra region during the first half century of European settlement. Arranged according to the following time periods:
1770-1829 | 1830-1835 | 1836-1855.
- Count Paul Edmund de Strzelecki's Illawarra Maps and Fossils. The Polish explorer and scientist P.E. de Strzelecki travelled overland from Sydney to Melbourne during 1839-40. His visit to the Illawarra district is shrouded in mystery, though maps and a collection of fossils record some of the details.
- Allan Cunningham in Illawarra 1818 - 1830. Account of the famous English botanist's numerous visits to the Illawarra region to collect specimens.
- Trooper Frank
Andrews (1880-1900) - An Australian Boer War Casualty. A brief article on
Frank Andrews, an Illawarra resident who volunteered for service against the
Boers of South Africa in 1899, and was subsequently killed in action the
following year. Private Andrews, a member of "A" Company, New South Wales
Imperial Bushmen, was the first Illawarra resident to die in that war.
- Private William "Sonny" Keevil and Joe & Bert Rawnsley. A brief account of the WWI experiences of some relatives, based on contemporary postcards and the reminiscences of Roma Organ.
- The Battle of
Bulli, 1887. An account of the conflict between striking coal miners and
their families, and group of blacklegs and police which took place at Bulli,
New South Wales, Australia, during January 1887. The 'Battle' was noteworthy
for the role played by local women.
- Old Bulli Railway Guest House 1887. Brief account of the history of the guest house and people associated with it. Also includes material relating to the campaign to save the buidling from demolition.
- Hotels of the
Illawarra and Shoalhaven 1828-1999. Preliminary listing of local hotels
and breweries of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven districts of New South Wales.
Compiled by the late A.P.Fleming, Michael Organ, and Mick R. Roberts.
- John Skinner Prout
at Broulee and Illawarra, 1841-44. Brief article plus catalogue of the
works of the artist John Skinner Prout, in connection with his visits to
Broulee and the Illawarra district of New South Wales during the years 1841
and 1843-4. NB: A number of images of individual works have not been loaded,
pending copyright clearances from relevant institutions.
- The Mystery of
Alexander Harris: Incognito in Australia 1826 - 1840. Two-part article
(Chapters 1-4 | Chapters 5+) which attempts to solve the mystery surrounding the English author Alexander
Harris, who resided in Australia between approximately 1826 and 1840 and went
on to write a number of important semi-fictional and autobiographical works
describing life in the Colony at that time. Most famous of these is his
Settlers and Convicts (London, 1847). Harris worked for a number of
years in the Illawarra district of New South Wales, and it is this episode
which may provide the necessary clues to revealing his local identity.
- E.D. Nicolle -
Australian Pioneer of Ice-making and Refrigeration. Article outlining the
life and times of French-born engineer, Eugene Dominique Nicolle, who arrived
in Australia in 1853. Nicolle is famous for his collaboration with T.S. Mort
during the 1860s and 1870s in developing ice-making and refrigeration
techniques for both domestic and export use. Compiled by Michael Organ and
Fred Turnidge.
- The Pioneer
Kerosene Oil Shale Works at American Creek, Mount Kembla, New South Wales,
1865 - 1878. This was Australia's first successful kerosene oil shale
operation. A chronology and bibliography is provided.
- The Story of the
Illawarra Stockade - Stationed Military Regiments & Convict Discipline
1816-44. An account of military stockades and regiments which operated in
the Illawarra district of New South Wales, Australia, between 1816-44.
- Carl Weber -
Pioneering Surveyor and Engineer. Article by Anne Wood on Carl Weber, plus
listings of associated material from the Weber Collection (D174) in the
University Archives and the holdings of the Wollongong City Reference Library.
- Wollongong District
Hospital & Albert Memorial Hospital - Old Photographs 1964-1984.
A collection of photographs, extracted from annual reports and historical publications.
- The Reverend W.B.
Clarke - Bibliography plus Index to Correspondence. W.B. Clarke is often cited as "The father of
Australian Geology", having carried out researches in Australia between
1839-78. The bibliography and correspondence index are arranged chronologically.
- 'The Garden
of New South Wales' - Landscape Art of the Illawarra, NSW. 1770-1980. A
catalogue of works of art pertaining to the Illawarra region of New South
wales, Australia, with an emphasis on the nineteenth century.
- The Life and Times
of Captain Robert Marsh Westmacott. Captain Westmacott, son of the famous
British sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott, served as Aid de Camp to Governor Sir
Richard Bourke during his time in Australia in the 1830s, and later settled in
the Illawarra district.
- C.W. Peck's Australian
Aboriginal Legends.
Information pertaining to C.W. Peck's publication of various Aboriginal
dreaming stories from south-eastern Australia during the period
1922-33. Also includes a bibliography of published Aboriginal dreaming
stories from the time of the arrive of the First Fleet at Sydney in
1788.
- Mickey Johnson - Aboriginal King of Illawarra. A brief biography of Mickey Johnson of Illawarra, including images from various collections and dating from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
- Hill 60 - Eloura, Port Kembla. A chronological account of the fight during 2006 to save this Aboriginal heritage site from development and bring it into public ownership for converstion to a park.
- Ida Rentoul Outhwaite 1888-1960 - A Bibliography. A chronological bibliography of the Australian artist and author famous for her work with fairies and children's books featuring local animals such as koalas.
- Fossil Tree Forest, Fennell Bay, Lake Macquarie, Australia. A collection of historical sources relating to this geological oddity.
- The Owen Gun - Bibliography and Catalogue of Memorabilia. A chronoligical bibliography, adapted by the original compiled by Alan Stein, October 2008.
2. Film Studies
3. Austrian Naval History & the Frigate SMS Novara
- SMS Novara - Home
Page. Introductory page to the Novara web site. Contains links to all
related pages, as listed below.
- SMS Novara -"the
most magnificent vessel". An account of the history of the Austrian
frigate Novara and its role as a flagship of the Habsburg fleet during the
mid' nineteenth century.
- Narrative of the
Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian Frigate Novara. An extract
from Karl Scherzer's published account of the voyage, specifically pertaining
to Australia, and the Sydney visit.
- The Journal of
Karl Scherzer. An English translation by Mrs. Dymphna Clark of the
Australian section of the original manuscript journal of Dr. Karl Scherzer, at
present housed in the Mitchell Library Collection, State Library of New South
Wales, Sydney, Australia.
- 'On Unlocking a
Time-warp': The Novara in Sydney November-December 1858'. Copy of a 1985
article by the late John Fletcher, dealing with the various manuscript and
published materials detailing aspects of the Novara's visit to Sydney during
1858.
- Georg Ritter von
Frauenfeld's 'Notes, collected during my stay in New Holland .... upon the
voyage of His Majesty's frigate Novara [1858]'. A translation from the
German of Frauenfeld's zoological notes taken during a visit to New South
Wales in November 1858. Frauenfeld was official zoologist and collector of
natural history specimens for the Austrian Novara round-the-world scientific
expedition of 1857-9. During his time in Australia he travelled to Illawarra,
Newcastle, and about Sydney, collecting specimens and information on the local
flora and fauna.
- Joseph Selleny -
An Austrian Artist in Australia 1858. Article and catalogue of works
describing the visit to Australia by Austrian artist Joseph Selleny during
November-December 1858 in connection with the Novara expedition.
- The Battle of Lissa 1866. This sea battle was the first such
engagement on the open seas between modern ironclad fleets. It involved the
Austrian and Italian navies, and took place off the Adriatic island of Lissa
on 20 July 1866. The Lissa site includes:
- Bibliography
- this brings together German, Italian, French and English-language material
on the battle and on the various individuals involved, including the
victorious Admiral Tegetthoff (Austrian) and the unfortunate Admiral Persano
(Italian).
- Images - a
listing of images of the sea battle of Lissa, along with related ships,
individuals and localities.
- Ferdinand
Maximillian von Habsburg and Carlotta of Mexico - A Bibliography.
Maximillian was involved in the building up of the Austrian navy during the
1850s and 1860s; in the round-the-world scientific expedition of the frigate
Novara between 1857-59; and in an ill-fated attempt to install a European
monarchy on the throne in Mexico. The latter resulted in his execution by
firing squad during 1867.
4. Tibet
- Freedom for Tibet.
Site with material relating to the independent nation of Tibet, which
was invaded by the Chinese in 1949. The site include a copy of the
policy on Tibet adopted by the Australian Greens during 2004 and
developed in collaboration with the Australian representative of His
Holiness The Dalai Lama. It also includes a comprehensive listing of
feature films and documentaries featuring Tibet. Sections include:
- Tibet on Film. A comprehensive chronological listing of Tibet related film, videos and dvds, covering the period 1921 to 2005. See also the Index to the listing.
- Wollongong Dharma Collective. ARchived web site for a local group formed by Ariane Lewis during 2005 to arrange the Wollongong Tibetfest06 activities of February 2006.
5. Local & Community
6. Music
- Nick
Drake. Discussion on various aspects of the English musician Nick Drake (1948-74).
Includes pages dealing with his death, a chronology of his life,
information on the Interplay One lp of 1972 and a preliminary listing of his recorded output.
Any comments, corrections, or additions to the content of this
site are most welcome. Please e-mail the author at: Michael Organ
[morgan@uow.edu.au].
Site last updated: 5 June 2009.