Look at the gorgeous, gorgeous venue we’ve been able to secure…

The decor has been described as “Old Shanghai opium den meets English drawing room and makes wild passionate love. Think Chesterfields, Klimt prints, carved screens and brocade covered walls.”
There’s an extensive cocktail and tapas menu for your enjoyment.

Places are strictly limited, so don’t tarry, pick up your ticket quick smart! Entry is $25 and this includes a complimentary cocktail or two basic spirit drinks to begin your evening.

You can purchase your ticket using this piece of whizz-bang techgenius right here:

More information can be found at www.steampunkerie.com
There will be tickets available at the door, and you’re encouraged to come along!

Well! A glorious evening was had by everyone from all accounts, I have at this stage still only got photos from my own camera-phonic device, but hoping for some more to come out of the woodwork eventually- but these should give a bit of an idea of the fun we had! Click on an image to see the full sized version!

Our group outside the tram during mid-evening stop.

Robo von Bismark!

Angle view down the aisle

Miss Omega spies us through hard drives!

Cholmondely as we pass Young & Jacksons

Nova and Jo

another aisle view

Steamy gesturing?

Mme Ermyntrude Millais and Mr Cholmondely Featherstonehaugh

Unfortunately quite a few of the photos I took didn’t turn out fantastically due to low light and movement of the tram - if you have any please do let us know, we’d love to see them!

The UK’s Channel 4 website recently featured Kitchen Contraptions from the Past, a fascinating and enlightening slideshow of some beautiful and terrible examples of the Victorian (and pre-Victorian) homemaker’s mechanical assistant, including the “Raisin Cleaner” pictured here.

Title: Steampunkerie
Location: Chi Lounge, 195 Little Bourke St Melbourne
Link out: Click here
Description: An evening of cocktails and conversation to delight the senses. Melbourne’s Steampunk Night-Club welcomes you!
Start Time: 21:00
Date: 2009-06-20

Look at the gorgeous, gorgeous venue we’ve been able to secure…

The decor has been described as “Old Shanghai opium den meets English drawing room and makes wild passionate love. Think Chesterfields, Klimt prints, carved screens and brocade covered walls.”
There’s an extensive cocktail and tapas menu for your enjoyment.

Places are strictly limited, so don’t tarry, pick up your ticket quick smart! Entry is $25 and this includes a complimentary cocktail or two basic spirit drinks to begin your evening. You can purchase your ticket at www.steampunkerie.com

Maps are one of my most favourite things. While I’ve not developed a collection of any kind, I do have very fond memories of my world travels, and the tiny pocket atlas I carried with me everywhere for nigh on 10 years. I would spend time of an evening, just before sleep in whatever random youth hostel or campsite I might be at, poring over routes, places I had been, places I was keen to travel, the dog-eared pages becoming more and more worn over the years. But maps of antiquity are of even greater interest to me now.

To James Horsburgh Esq. F.R.S.&c.&c., hydrographer to the Honble. East India Company, this general chart from England to China, including the Indian Seas, is respectfully inscribed by his obedient servants, Parbury, Allen & Co.

I came across the above-pictured map at the National Library of Australia website in some web wanderings a few weeks ago, and was impressed by the level of detail it was possible to magnify, but unfortunately there appeared to be no way to save the entire high-resolution document locally. So, I took it upon myself to painstakingly piece together a reasonably high resolution copy of the section of the map featuring our beloved Terra Australis, thinking it would quite possibly be of some use to either myself or some of you!

Terra Australis

Note the names, and/or lack thereof in places: Tasmania is still known as “Van Diemen’s Land”, Western Australia is “New Holland”; Perth isn’t even on the map yet, and is simply known as “New Settlement” — and there’s not even a sign of Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane or Darwin. Sydney is the only major city named outside of Tasmania (and New South Wales is huuuuuuge!), where Hobart and Launceston are both already firmly on the map. I can only assume in those early settlement days that Tasmania was more popular with the British immigrants; the weather would certainly have been more comforting and familiar.

If you would like a copy of the highest resolution version I’ve constructed, it is available here [2.5MB JPG]. Enjoy!

Title: Victorian Era Festival [ACT]
Location: Canberra, ACT
Link out: Click here
Description: Journey back through time to a simpler era during our Victorian Festival on 2-5 October 2009.

Experience the art, history, and romance of the 19th century amid Canberra\’s historic suburbs and tree-lined streets.

The Festival begins with a welcome evening on Friday and continues throughout the long weekend with workshops, displays, teas, suppers, promenades, dances, balls and much much more.

The Festival is hosted by the Earthly Delights Historic Dance Academy.

Events planned so far:

Beginner Dance Workshops
Advanced Dance Workshops
Victorian Grand Ball
Victorian Music & Song
The Lancers

Bonnet making workshop
Victorian needlecase workshop
Quilting Workshop

Croquet in Costume
Historical Fencing
Children\’s Treasure Hunt

Vintage Clothing Display
Victorian Fashion Show
All About Undergarments - Men\’s & Women\’s Unmentionables
Victorian Costume Competition, any age.

Victorian Tea Party
Victorian-era Songs
The Can-Can

Historical Houses Tour
Learn about Canberra\’s Victorian past
Graveyard Walk/Tour

Start Date: 2009-10-02
End Date: 2009-10-05

Last call, last call! There’s only 24 hours left to book for the illustrious Queen’s Birthday Eve Dinner Voyage! We’ve got a complement of dashing proportions already on board, but there are still a few seats available. We know in these harder economic and wintry times that it’s a stretch for some, but we refuse to be bowed! Come join us in a most memorable and exclusive event: the opportunity to ride with such a well dressed and distinguished company as we will be entertaining is rare indeed.

Ticket page is here!

Title: Sydney Tweed Ride [NSW]
Location: Start from the Sydney Town Hall, 483 George St, Sydney
Link out: Click here
Description: Sydney Tweed Ride

Queen\’s Birthday Long Weekend, Sunday 7th June

Dapper or Ladylike Tweed Attire to be Worn.

Meet Sydney Town Hall 8am for 9am Start. Prizes for Best Dressed Male, Female and Child (under 12).

This is an unsupported ride, all riders accept responsibility for themselves and their bikes, all Road Rules apply.
Start Time: 8:00
Date: 2009-06-07
End Time: 12:00

Title: Prometheus Bound [QLD]
Location: Club 320 Corner Leichhardt & Boundary Sts, Spring Hill, Brisbane
Link out: Click here
Description: Prometheus Bound, presented by Black Productions, developed out of our limitless passion for the Steampunk culture and its diverse manifestations of creativity.

We perceived a growing need for a Steampunk community locus in Brisbane and created Prometheus Bound to showcase local, interstate and international entertainers and artists.

We recognise that people attracted to the Steampunk aesthetic come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we aim to cater for a variety of tastes. In addition to hosting performances, artists and live music we have resident DJs who will be spinning a selection of emergent steampunk inspired music as well as established alternative favourites.
Start Time: 20:00
Date: 2009-07-25