Australian History

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George Julius, a WA engineer who invented the world's first cheat-proof mechanical vote counting machine. He sold it to New York State in 1892.

In 1907 he created the first automatic totalisator or "tote" as used by the TAB's.

He then went on to become the first chairman of the CSIRO in 1926.

I confess that the Ditherer himself answered this one, he recalled it as a story that did the rounds again when he was selling computers to TAB's in the 60's
 
Allas D&S,
You have been pipped at the post,
Well done Goldpick,

This fellow scared the crap out of the horses as he toured past. LOL

This was dated 1920.

VEHICLE THAT WAS ON THE ROADS 30 YEARS AGO

Well known in South Australia as a manufacturer of farm implements, Mr. David Shearer, of Mannum, River Murray, can claim to be Australia's first inventor of a motor car. In the early nineties he designed and built a power-

propelled vehicle, which, a few years later, astonished all Adelaide as it chugged its way through the streets at 15 miles an hour. Special permission from the Mayor had to be obtained before the car could be driven through the streets.

Designed 10 years before Henry Ford's first models, little is known today of the South Australian's invention, but farmers, who lived a quarter of a century ago in and around Mannum remember how Mr. Shearer worked day and night on his "automobile,'' and they relate today to the younger generation, how Mannum might have been the De- troit of Australia. England's first car, which made its appearance two years after Mr. Shearer's, had a speed of 10 to 12 miles an hour, while the South Australian car actually traveled at 15 miles an hour. In 1900, several years after the car had been running in and around Mannum,etc, etc,

Goldpick said:
David Shearer, steam car?
 
What Federal Government Agency received nearly $470 million dollars for patent infringements by global firms, and what was the patent for?
 
CSIRO - 069 patent.
LAN technology. A team of CSIRO scientists used radio-astronomy to crack the problem of radio waves bouncing off surfaces indoors, causing an echo that distorts the signal. They built a fast chip that could transmit a signal while reducing the echo.

CSIRO now licence 23 companies to produce LAN equipment.
 
Thanks Goldpick.

Built in England in 1925. I spent time in New Zealand and Australia before being called upon to help out during WW2. Lost to enemy fire in 1943 (within Australia's borders), with loss of 2 lives.
My 'exact' location was unknown until 2013.

What am I?
 
Correct Mr Boring.

AN enduring World War II maritime mystery has been solved with the discovery of the wreck of a merchant ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off NSW in 1943.

The 8700-tonne New Zealand owned freighter MV Limerick was sunk off Australia's most easterly point, Cape Byron, on the NSW north coast by the Japanese submarine I-177.

The hulk was identified late last year by fishermen in 100m of water about 18km east of Ballina.

Two crewmen, the third and fourth engineers, went down with the ship and 70 more were rescued by the navy minesweeper escorts HMAS Colac and HMAS Ballarat.

The largest ship in the convoy, the Limerick became separated from the other vessels due to engine trouble before the submarine pounced.

The Limerick was travelling in a convoy of five merchant ships bound for Brisbane from Sydney and at 1am on April 26 a Japanese torpedo slammed into the port side of the ship. She slipped beneath the waves at 6.30am. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...an-grave-off-nsw/story-e6frg6n6-1226571184867

I have fished the wrecked site several times including before it was identified but I didn't find it, other locals did, nearly always a good catch ;)
Interestingly, when in the vicinity of the wreck, a strong oily smell permeates the air and on calm days, oil drops can be seen rising to the surface and spreading out quickly, as oil does.
 
ok, Born in Ireland. My father's intention was that I join the priesthood, but instead, I studied to be a engineer in London, I moved with my family to New Zealand in the early 1860`s with the intention of finding gold. I ended up fighting at the battle of Orakue where i was wounded. In the late 1860`s in Victoria I was appointed "lay reader" at an anglican church with the intention of entering Priesthood. Although, history will prove me to be one of the most notorious outlaws in Australias History! who am I?
 
Captain Moonlight

Andrew George Scott, alias Captain Moonlite, and Thomas Rogan were hanged on 20 January 1880.
The two other surviving members of the gang, Bennett and Williams, had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
 
The point is you learn something in the process of searching for the answer. I wouldn't have known half the things in these questions if I hadn't bothered to research them. ;)
 

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