Since its inception in the early 1880s, Broken Hill has been a thriving mining boomtown. Its prosperity attracted able-bodied workers from across the region, quickly transforming the town into a bustling hub of activity. As its success grew, Broken Hill also became a key trading centre. Camel trains regularly passed through, using the town as a base along major inland trade routes. At the height of the camel train era, Broken Hill was home to two of the largest cameleer camps in Australia. Among those drawn to Broken Hill was a young man named Frank Bottrill, who arrived in the late 1880s to work in the mines. While there, he witnessed the struggles of camels burdened with heavy loads. Moved by compassion for the animals, Frank resolved to find a solution. His vision took shape in the form of a massive, innovative traction engine—armoured with metal plates and fitted with wheels reminiscent of modern military tanks. Join us this week as we explore the history of Broken Hill, the camel trains that once powered inland trade, and the remarkable young man who set out to make a difference.

In the early 20th century, England and Australia produced some of the world’s greatest pioneering aviators. Among them were Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, and C. W. A. Scott (Charles William Anderson Scott), a record-breaking pilot whose daring flights captured global attention. Their stories are marked by courage, determination, and astonishing leaps of faith. Nearly a century after Scott’s record flight, the very de Havilland Gipsy Moth he flew was painstakingly restored and returned to one of his original landing sites in Brisbane. Join Gary Kent as he shares the inspiring journeys of these pioneering aviators and the remarkable story of a Gipsy Moth that made history.

In 2023 the oldest Hebrew Bible in the world sold at Sotheby’s New York for over $38 million USD, making it the most valuable manuscript sold at auction. It is called the Codex Sassoon and is thought to have been written about 1,100 years ago. It is the earliest surviving example of the Hebrew Bible. The Codex Sassoon Bible is a veritable treasure. However, there are older ancient Bibles, scrolls, and manuscripts that are even more valuable and involve amazing stories of discovery. Join us in the Bible Lands as we search for the oldest scrolls, manuscripts, codices, and Bibles and discover the profound influence they’ve had on Western civilisation and cultures around the world.