A colonial Christmas

19 December 2013 The Curator 1 Comment

Christmas in the South - egg-nog party, W.L. Sheppard, 1870. Library of Congress: LC-USZ62-109127

Diaries and journals are a wonderful source of detail in reconstructing past lives. Writing in the 1830s and 40s, the young Annabella Boswell recorded Christmas at Lake Innes. In her diaries we read of puddings and roast beef, cakes and shortbread, decorations – and of a drink that was the precursor to egg-nog, itself a drink that we may never have tried but have all heard of at Christmas time. Continue reading →

Flavour savers!

28 November 2013 The Curator 2 Comments

Moustache detail from A day’s picnic on Clark Island, Sydney Harbour, Montagu Scott, 1870. State Library of New South Wales: ML3

A day’s picnic on Clark Island, Sydney Harbour (detail), Montagu Scott, 1870. State Library of New South Wales: ML3

With Movember nearly over for another year here’s a post in honour of the flavour saver, in praise of moustache cups, and some unexpected inspiration from Eat your history: a shared table exhibition for owners of fledgling facial hair wondering where they go to from here. Gentlemen, step away from the razor! Continue reading →

Mmmmmacaroni!

21 November 2013 The Curator 1 Comment

Macaroni covered in a radiocative-yellow cheese.

Fondest food memories - macaroni and cheese.

As part of the Eat your History exhibition we’ve been inviting visitors to share their own own treasured food memories and recipes. Particularly popular has been that pasta favourite – macaroni and cheese! Continue reading →

The most useful and most noble animal

31 October 2013 The Curator 1 Comment

Skeleton. / The Celebrated entire Irish race horse .... / (detail), I.W. Dean, 1832. State Library of New South Wales: DL Pe 239

As we reach the end of October the racing season looms. So in honor of the nation’s hardworking milliners here’s a look at the start of Sydney’s annual horse races and its first track, and a drink to cheer on the horses – Huzzah!

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A curious cookbook

17 October 2013 The Cook Leave a comment

1832 cookbook manuscript, author unknown (detail). Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Sydney Living Museums

A mystery manuscript

For some time now I’ve been following Westminster City Archives’ The Cookbook of Unknown Ladies blog. It explores a manuscript cookery book of unknown origin, thought to have been written between 1760 and the 1820s. A team of volunteers have been experimenting with the recipes and researching their relevance in the Georgian and Regency England. It is an interesting project in itself, and I’m very excited by it, as we too, have a ‘mystery’ manuscript cookbook from the 1830s in our collection. Continue reading →

Peach-pickled pigs

26 September 2013 The Cook 7 Comments

Young Henry's special Eat Your History brew: Porky's peach prescription

Local artisan brewer, Young Henry’s have concocted a special brew to celebrate our exhibition Eat your history: a shared table which opens this weekend at the Museum of Sydney. Its novel name, Porky’s Peach Prescription, hints at its historical connections with early colonial Sydney. Continue reading →

The dining room

21 September 2013 timgb Leave a comment

Watch Scott Hill (the Curator) and academic Dr Judith O’Callaghan as they talk on the topic of the Dining Room: changing social norms and fashions, part of the 2013 Sydney open talk series presented by Sydney Living Museums. For more information about talks in this series visit sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/rooms

Ye scurvy dogs! It be “Talk like a pirate day”!

19 September 2013 The Curator 1 Comment

British sailors boarding a Greek pirate ship

British sailors boarding a Greek pirate (detail), J.L. Marks. The Mariner's Museum Collection

So blow me down ye son of a biscuit eater! Here be a tale of pirates at that den of infamy, Parramatta! – and a curious recipe for ‘Pirate’s delight‘! Arrrr!

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A behind the scenes peek

29 August 2013 The Curator 1 Comment

The Governor's table with 'actors' ready to begin.

Looking for all the world like the annual dinner of the ‘Byron Appreciation Society’, this week we filmed new video content for the upcoming Eat Your History exhibition. Here’s a behind the scenes peek. Continue reading →

I dined this day with relish

27 June 2013 The Cook and the Curator 3 Comments

Oil painting of Tarmons in a landscape with blue and pink sky.

Tarmons, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, Residence of Sir Maurice O'Connell (detail), George Edwards Peacock, 1845. Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW: ML 148

June 29, 1846
I dined this day with my respected chief, Lieutenant-General Sir Maurice O’Connell, at his beautiful villa, Tarmons… there were brisk coal fires burning in both dining and drawing-room, and the general appliances of the household, the dress of the guests and the servants, were as entirely English as they could have been in London… Continue reading →