The last stand of Captain Thunderbolt

The morning of 25 May 1870 broke cold and grey over the New England tablelands of New South Wales. Frederick Ward, the man the colonies knew as Captain Thunderbolt, had seen too many such dawns to fear them. For nearly seven years, he had outrun every trooper sent after him, slipping through the ranges like smoke, robbing coaches and stations with a courtesy that made him almost a folk legend. Almost.

Dior opens concept store in Tokyo’s Daikanyama district

Luxury fashion house Dior has unveiled a new concept store in the upscale Tokyo neighbourhood of Daikanyama, blending retail with architecture, art and landscape design.

The boutique is distinguished by a golden façade inspired by bamboo, a motif drawn from traditional Japanese aesthetics. Illuminated at night, the structure creates a striking street presence while referencing natural forms associated with resilience and craftsmanship.

Inside, the space extends beyond a conventional retail environment. A Japanese garden has been incorporated into the design, offering a calm, contemplative setting that contrasts with the surrounding urban streetscape. The layout encourages visitors to move through the store at a slower pace, engaging with both the fashion collections and the curated environment.

The store also features a selection of artworks by Japanese and international artists, reinforcing Dior’s ongoing focus on cultural collaboration and cross-disciplinary design. These elements position the boutique as both a commercial and experiential space.

The opening reflects a broader trend among luxury brands to create immersive retail concepts that integrate local culture and design influences, particularly in key markets such as Japan.

Daikanyama, known for its boutique retail and design-led spaces, has increasingly attracted global fashion houses seeking to establish a more nuanced presence in Tokyo’s competitive luxury sector.

What is Coachella and why do influencers love it?

 The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a large-scale annual music and arts event held in the California desert, near Indio. Since its launch in 1999, it has evolved from an alternative music gathering into a global cultural showcase spanning pop, hip-hop, electronic music, visual art and fashion. Today, Coachella is as much a media and branding phenomenon as it is a music festival.

Furphy: How a Water Cart Became Australia’s Word for a Tall Tale

 

It is one of those peculiarly Australian words that seems to have rolled easily off the tongue for generations. Call something “a furphy” and most Australians will instinctively understand: it is a rumour, a tall story, something not quite to be trusted. But the origins of the term are as solid and practical as cast iron.

Captain Moonlite: The Bushranger Who Died for Love

The end came not in a blaze of outlaw glory, but in the grey light of a cold June morning in 1880, near the lonely outpost of Wantabadgery, in the Riverina district of New South Wales.

Cryptocurrency: Promise, Peril and Prudence

Cryptocurrency is often described as a new kind of money, but it is better understood as a new way of keeping track of value. Instead of notes, coins or bank ledgers, cryptocurrencies exist entirely online and are recorded on a technology called a blockchain. To a school-age reader, a blockchain can be imagined as a giant shared notebook: every transaction is written down, everyone can see it, and no one can secretly erase or change earlier entries.

The Freecard Phenomena: the Rise and Fall of Avant Card

 

Avant Card was an influential Australian advertising company that helped define a generation of print-led, design-driven marketing through its free postcard format. Founded in 1992 by Pat Mackle, the company emerged at a moment when advertisers were searching for alternatives to traditional media and consumers were increasingly resistant to overt advertising.

New hope in search for missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer

Belgian tourist Celine Cremer, aged 31, has been missing in the rugged Tasmanian wilderness since mid-June 2023. Cremer, who had been travelling and working in Tasmania earlier that year, was last seen on 17 June 2023 around the small town of Waratah in north-west Tasmania. She intended to continue her travels by ferry to Victoria but never boarded the vessel, prompting concern from her family when she failed to make contact. 

Olivia "Livvy" Dunne Stuns in Sports Illustrated swimsuit shoot

 Olivia "Livvy" Dunne is absolutely stunning in her latest SI Swimsuit photos. She was featured in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, photographed by Ben Watts in Bermuda. Dunne, a gymnast and content creator, has been a part of the SI Swimsuit model lineup for the third time, showcasing her confidence and athleticism in various swimsuits.

Mass Suicide at Jonestown: Drink the Kool-Aid

With followers of charismatic leaders falling under the spell of their charm still a thing in this supposedly modern era, the events at Jonestown should send a salient message. Was it mass suicide or murder? It was certainly the origin of the phrase "drink the Kool-Aid".

Welcome to the Invisible Realm of Aethoria

Off the west coast of France, hidden from mortal eyes, lay the mystical land of Aethoria. This enigmatic realm was home to a people as transparent as glass, their bodies shimmering with an ethereal glow. The Aethorians lived in harmony with the sea and the wind, their invisible forms blending seamlessly with the misty atmosphere.

Life-Size Lancaster Bomber Sculpture Takes Flight in Nottinghamshire-Lincolnshire Border

A monumental tribute to RAF Bomber Command's legacy has taken shape on the Nottinghamshire-Lincolnshire border. The "On Freedom's Wings" sculpture, a full-scale replica of a Lancaster Bomber, has been erected near Norton Disney, overlooking the A46. This £1 million project, seven years in the making, stands 29 meters tall with a wingspan of 31 meters, weighing approximately 100 tonnes.

1960s Cartoons: Milton the Monster Show

 "Milton the Monster" is a classic cartoon series that aired from 1965 to 1968. The show revolves around Milton, a lovable but clumsy monster created by mad scientist Professor Weirdo and his assistant Count Kook. Due to an excess of "tincture of tenderness" in his creation, Milton turns out to be a kind and gentle monster, much to the dismay of his creators, who try repeatedly to get rid of him or turn him into a fearsome creature.

Eric Bana astonishes as Mark 'Chopper' Reid

Eric Bana's performance as Mark "Chopper" Read in the 2000 Australian crime drama film "Chopper" received widespread critical acclaim. Here are some highlights.

Richard Roxburgh triumphs as Detective Roger Rogerson in Blue Murder

Richard Roxburgh's performance as Roger Rogerson in the TV series "Blue Murder" and "Blue Murder: Killer Cop" received positive reviews from critics. Here's what we know:

Murujuga is Australia's latest UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site

Murujuga, the world’s largest rock art site located on the Burrup Peninsula in West Australia, has officially been confirmed as a Cultural World Heritage Site at the 47th World Heritage Committee (WHC) at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. 

How did a few Japanese planes destroy a British fleet

"The Depths of December offers a concise yet impactful exploration of one of the most significant naval battles in World War II. This 12,000-word account details the confrontation between the British Far East Fleet and the Mitsubishi Bombers from the 22nd Flotilla of the Imperial Japanese Air Service, taking place off the coasts of Singapore and Malaya. The narrative is delivered with vigor and authority by the accomplished author, Stu Lloyd.

Kraken3: New AI naval drone from UK

The Kraken3 Scout Medium is a British-designed, AI-powered unmanned surface vehicle (USV) that can carry various payloads, including drones like Switchblade 600 and 300, and is capable of both autonomous and human-controlled operations, according to the company. It uses a navigation system that relies on sky polarization, celestial tracking, and satellite positioning for accuracy, the company says.

A message from Kerry O'Brien, ABC legend

With your indulgence, I'd like to share a few thoughts as the election grinds on around us against a backdrop of anxiety and consternation

 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

With your indulgence, I'd like to share a few thoughts as the election grinds on around us against a backdrop of anxiety and consternation that's ripping through the democratic world we have known all our lives and largely taken for granted. Here in Australia, our governments have often left us frustrated, even angry, but I think largely we've just always assumed that the fundamental principles underpinning our democracy and protecting our way of life would remain sound. The ABC has always been there for us as a part of that bedrock. We've seen it attacked time and again, particularly since the Howard years, but although it's been knocked around, and suffered savage funding cuts it's always emerged to repair and rebuild. In these crazy times we can't assume that any more. In Trump's America we're watching an unprecedented savage assault on mainstream media including public broadcasting, along with the judicial system and other democratic institutions. In our country, when the role of strong public broadcasting in this age of misinformation and political manipulation is demonstrably more important than at any other time in our history, the ABC is under attack again. We can no longer make any assumptions about its long-term survival. The ABC has never been able to count on bi-partisan political support, and those conservatives who irrationally see the ABC as their enemy are lining up again. There's talk of more "efficiency" inquiries and more funding cuts. Again. And the Murdoch media is also on the attack in lockstep. Again. That's why we're launching our biggest grassroots campaign of support in ABC history, targeting key election battlegrounds, putting the pressure on all political candidates to declare their position on the ABC. The election is now in full swing. The clock is ticking. Your donation today will help protect and preserve Australia's most trusted public institution. I cannot imagine Australia without the ABC. Your practical support right now will help guarantee that the unthinkable doesn't happen here. I've recorded a short video to explain why this fight matters so much - please take a moment to watch it.   In Solidarity Kerry O'Brien Please donate   ABC Friends https://www.abcfriends.net.au/

The capture of German Tiger 131 in Tunisia

The capture of German Tiger tank 131 in North Africa is a fascinating story. In April 1943, during the Tunisian campaign of World War II, the tank was part of the Schwere Panzer-Abteilung 504, a German heavy tank battalion.