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About

My name is Pauline Wilson. I have been exploring my Family History since approximately 2010. I completed the Diploma of Family History at University of Tasmania and graduated in December 2019. I have published two historical fiction novels inspired by stories of my ancestors. I also published a family book…Continue reading “About”

25Mar 202325 Mar 2023

Three Bowen Brothers at War

Henry William Bowen When Britain declared war on Germany on 4th August 1914 the Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Cook…

12Feb 202212 Feb 2022

Clara’s Story

Mania caused by Religious Excitement. That was the diagnosis when Clara Chambers was brought to the Kew Asylum in Melbourne…

13Apr 202025 Apr 2020

10,000 Words

Well once again my blog has not been updated for a long time. But this weekend I past a milestone…

The Boughyards and Beyond

20 Jul 201913 Oct 2019

Thousands of Irish people immigrated to Australia in the 1800’s to escape poverty and repression in Ireland. In the case of my branch of the McCarthy family, they came hoping…

My First Creative Non-fiction

13 Jul 201911 Aug 2019

So... This is my first attempt at creative non-fiction. I found it really difficult to write as I have only ever written factual pieces before. Sure, I have made some…

The Loss of a Son

12 Jul 201913 Oct 2019

The Mother, as she was known by her extended family, sat in the candlelight and reflected on what had brought her to this point. She could see the stars shining…

Bowen

A Story from the Bowen Branch

3 Oct 201825 Apr 2020

My latest story is about a member of the very colourful Bowen Family. They came to Australia in the late 1840's and took up four farms in the Newham area. …

Bowen

Cr Richard Bowen JP, Alderman, City of Melbourne

3 Oct 201827 Jul 2019

Melbourne in the late 1850’s was a bustling city which had grown explosively due mainly to the Victorian gold rush. Most of the main streets were paved and a bridge…

Waters

A Photo Essay

26 Jul 201813 Jul 2019

Convict in Van Diemen’s Land – or was he?

8 Jun 201825 Apr 2020

Richard Austin Stronnell is my great, great, great grandfather. It was rumoured that he was a convict. But I needed to find out for sure if the convict Richard was…

Richard Austin Stronnell – A Convict Story

8 Jun 201813 Jul 2019

Richard Austin Stronnell stood in the Aylesbury court on 10th March 1845, convicted of housebreaking and facing transportation for 10 years to one of the most brutal penal settlements at…

My ANZAC Ancestors

25 Apr 201813 Jul 2019

Recently I discovered that two of my ancestors, 1st cousins twice removed, died in the ANZAC campaign. It was the first active service they both saw. They were my Grandmothers…

HUBERT RANDALL CHAMBERS – WORLD WAR I VETERAN

25 Apr 201813 Jul 2019

By 1916 the world was deep in the throes of World War I. Thousands of young Australian men had died on the battlefields. Heavy early losses meant that the AIF…