Hello dear readers. Welcome to the Australia Day edition. We celebrate Australia day on 26 January - but in true Aussie tradition - if the day comes on the weekend (like it does on Sunday this year), we declare a public holiday the next work day - ie Monday! Aussies love public holidays!
To celebrate Australia Day I thought I would share with you a few things us Aussies invented. You might be surprised about some of them - I was.
There has even been a song written about some them - written by Matt Scullion. So for the musical version click on the video - the words are below.
We Invented That written by Matt Scullion
Everybody knows we invented Iced VoVos
Lamingtons, Cherry Ripes, and Chiko Rolls
We're famous for the Hill's Hoist and the Speedos
Lamingtons, Cherry Ripes, and Chiko Rolls
We're famous for the Hill's Hoist and the Speedos
We gave the world the ute, but I bet you didn't know -
We came up with the wine cask, I love the way we thinkIt doubles as a pillow when you've had too much to drink
And see that little black box that survives every plant crash
We invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that.
We saved the Mint a fortune with plastic coated money.
From the Esky to the stubby cooler, we don't muck around
We even gave expecting mums an early look with ultrasound.
Yeah, we've been on the front line since we built the armoured tank
From the selfie, to the surf ski, even Google Maps
We invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that
We saved lives with penicillin, with Aerogard we made a killing,
They even put the AC in the power drill.
Mowed the competition over, with the two-stroke Victa mower
You'd think with all our accolades, we might have had our fill
But then we sailed into victory with the winged keel.
And with the Race-Cam put the lounge lizard behind the steering wheel
We were on the cutting edge with the Stay-Sharp knife
It was just a taste of things to come with Vegemite.
We put a battery in a heart, what a great idea!
Even gave the hard of hearing a bionic ear.
From the Ugg boot to electric shears, it's an unknown fact
We invented that.
It all started with the corks hanging from a swaggie's hat
Yeah, we invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that!
And wait there's more:
the boomerang - 10,000 years ago
Splayd - the Australian version of the spork - The splayd was created in 1943 in Sydney by William McArthur and was popular as a 1970's wedding gift.
In my family it is our most used eating utensil - Great for eating one pot stir fries and spaghetti and dessert slices - anything really that doesn't require a knife!
Powerboard - 1972
Prepaid Postage stamps - 1838
Worlds first feature-length film - 1906
Roll-a-door garage door - 1956
The Hills Hoist history is fascinating. It was developed in 1945 by South Australian Lance Hill, though the rotary clothes hoist design was created by another Australian, Gilbert Toyne, way back in 1911, who wanted a way to maximise the amount of clothesline space, but with less of a footprint. Australian seniors - The Hills Hoist
The Australian breakfast table wouldn't be complete without Vegemite. Made in Australia since 1923 - you can read more about Vegemite and it's history here - Vegemite.com My hint to tasters new to Vegemite - only put a thin slather on your toast - especially delicious on fresh crusty bread with butter! And NEVER NEVER spread thick on burnt toast!
The Happy Little Vegemite song which we all grew up with has recently had a remake - evidently Vegemite had over 10,000 audition applications!
For more information and more amazing inventions that Aussies created -
20 Australian inventions that changed the world - Australian Geographic
40 of the best Aussie inventions of all time - Cnet.com
And whilst there is still some discussion about the day we should celebrate Australia Day - 26th January - it doesn't stop me celebrating everything that is wonderful about Australia - and my Australian heritage through my ancestors who came to Australia in the early days of the colony.
This afternoon we went to see a wonderful heart warming true blue Aussie movie - Runt - if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and see it. You'll love it.
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
Until then, enjoy your day...and make it as good as you can...
a very good post. Quite a few things invented by Australians.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to read more about your heritage. Happy Australia Day
ReplyDeletegreat blog post Jill
ReplyDeleteOh Jill, thank you for such a great post. Loved the video. I love everything Australian. I will be coming over to visit my daughter in March. I hope you had a good Australia Day. I love double dipped cherry ripes. Your money is up there in the top ten best inventions. I used to have a genuine Aussie hat and a pair of Ugg boots, I’ve got a couple of lovely boomerangs. On one of my daughters’ visits here we had a party in her honour and some guests wore hats with swinging corks. I don’t like vegemite though but I did enjoy the video. And Runt, oh that made me laugh and bought tears to my eyes as we have just lost our beloved dog. I think Celeste Barber is brilliant, I've seen her in a TV series and on Youtube. I will be on the lookout for the film. Thank you for brightening a chilly wet day here in the UK 😊
ReplyDeleteoh I do hope you are able to see the movie.
DeleteSuch a fun post to read; I had no idea Australians invented more than 1/2 of those. We Americans are the same way though when a holiday lands on a weekend we still like to have either the Friday or the Monday off to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteHappy Australian Day! I just learned about it, commemorating the first Brits to come to that continent. And now I've learned about so many inventions by the descendants of those early peoples.
ReplyDeleteVery cool! Happy Australian Day!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteIt's Monday afternoon to write my comments.
We love holidays too, no question. I had to smile! By the way... we have an additional public holiday in Augsburg: the Peace Festival on August 8th is unique to the Swabian metropolis in Germany. In December 2018, the High Peace Festival, which is celebrated with an interreligious and intercultural program of events, was added to UNESCO's nationwide list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
It's fun to read and very interesting to learn these details about Australians. I didn't know that for the most part. I openly admit that! Wishing A Happy Australian Day.
I'm delighted about another wonderful contribution to MosaicMonday.
Many thanks for your participation, dear blog friend ... very interesting to read!
Greetings from Heidrun
That really is an amazing list. I would love the Ugg boots and hat! This was a fun post and very unexpected!
ReplyDeleteWow- that list is over the top fantastic! I still don't know what vegemite is. Not sure I want to know. but every time I see it in a post I wonder if I would like it.
ReplyDeletemy tip is - only put on a thin slather. Use butter or margarine first, then vegemite over the top. And NEVER NEVER on burnt toast. Delicious on fresh crusty bread with butter.
DeleteThat's quite a list of Aussie inventions! Interesting.
ReplyDeleteWow, what a great collection of Aussie Inventions. I hope you had fun celebrating Australia Day.
ReplyDeleteTake care, enjoy your day! Have a wonderful week!
Congratulations to Australia, you are celebrating in summer, that´s fine. And a good idea to invent a public holiday on the next working day. Many inventions from down-under. I do not know if I ever will go there....it´s such a long way from here.
ReplyDeleteHave a good time and thanks for your kind visit to my blog.
All the best
Violetta
Good post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! I loved reading about all of the things Aussie’s invented. Lots of good ones! The black box, plastic coated money (brilliant!), and of course Wi-fi are the three that stand out the most to me, but it’s all amazing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post
ReplyDeletegreat to know about inventions from Australia... thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWishing A Happy Australian Day
I'm pretty impressed, Jill! That sounds like a lot of inventions. But with penicillin, I was pretty sure that it was a Scotsman - Sir Alexander Fleming - who discovered penicillin by accident. Now I've done some research and learned that during World War II, Australian scientists worked to research and improve the production of penicillin. They played a crucial role in turning Alexander Fleming's discovery into an effective drug that could be produced in large quantities.
ReplyDeleteIt's probably the same with many achievements - the world doesn't know what role Australia played in them. I think it should be publicized much more... You've just contributed to that!
All the best from Austria, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2025/01/4-tage-in-wien-ruckblick-2024-teil-3.htm
So interesting to read this extra history. And my list is only the 'tip of the iceburg' of what Aussies have invented. s I am sure lots of countries have as well over millennium. Thankyou for stopping by!
Delete