Perth Skyshow 2014 - Skyworks: Australia Day Skyworks 2014

Every year on Australia Day, The Perth sky light's up with the annual Perth Skyworks fireworks display

Metro Hotel Perth is the perfect place to be located during this event, 

To enquire about accommodation availability at Metro Hotel Perth - Please contact us for availability Phone: +61 8 9367 6122

View this special at www.metrohotels.com.au

View Metro Hotel Perth

Terms & Conditions:

• Validity dates apply - please check at time of enquiry or reservation.
• Rates are Subject to availability
• Rate is based on twin/ double share.
• Extra persons can be accommodated with additional cost.
• Maximum Occupancy is 4 persons.

Holey Sound Decisions - Holey Dollar Macquarie Group FREE Exhibition

Governor Lachlan Macquarie and the holey dollar.

Although the connection is not immediately obvious, the Macquarie Group's logo is based on the holey dollar, Australia's first coin. These silver coins were introduced 200 years ago, in 1813, appropriately by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

Faced with a severe shortage of local currency, Macquarie had the bright idea of buying 40,000 Spanish silver dollars from the East India Company in Madras. He transformed them into local currency by punching a hole in each coin, creating an outer circular ring and an inner disc.

The outer ring was re-stamped ''New South Wales'' to become the 1813 holey dollar with a value of five shillings. The inner disc was also re-stamped to become the 1813 dump, with a value of 15 pence.

The conversion was done by a convicted forger, William Henshall.

The holey dollar, Australia's first distinct coin.

When the Macquarie Group decided to stage an exhibition of these coins to mark the anniversary, it recruited Belinda Downie, managing director of Coinworks in Melbourne.

Advertisement

About 300 of these coins survive, with 200 in private hands, including most of the finest known examples. Downie knows where they are because chances are she has bought and sold them in the past 10 years.
She assembled 13 of the most significant holey dollars, with a total estimated value of $7.3 million.

These coins have taken off as solid-gold investments in the past 10 years, especially since the global financial crisis.

In March, a West Australian collector paid a record price of $495,000 for one, bought through Coinworks.
Downie also sold the holey dollar that set the previous record of $485,000 in 2011.

Three other examples have sold for more than $400,000 since 2010. Downie estimates she has sold 10 holey dollars in the past three years, for a total value of $3.46 million.

What makes the coins so special is that each is unique. Governor Macquarie's urgent request for 40,000 silver dollars did not specify dates, and the coins supplied had been struck at various mints, including Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Spain, Guatemala, Chile and Colombia.

The condition was of no concern given what would happen to them. Some, of course, are more significant than others.

One of the most notable on display at the exhibition is known as the Hannibal Head, a reference to the unflattering portrait of Joseph Bonaparte on the original Spanish coin. It is the only one known bearing this design and its exceptional condition makes it one of the most valuable. It sold at the Eminent Colonials Auction in August last year for about $450,000. The coin's previous public appearance was at a 1988 Spinks auction where it was listed with a $45,000 estimate, which bidders thought a little excessive. It's thought it sold privately after the auction for $40,500.

 Downie picked up this coin in 2007 for a cool $260,000, then on-sold it to a client who, five years later, sold it again for a profit of about $200,000.

She says this tenfold increase in value from 1988 to 2013 is typical of Holey Dollars in good condition.
The location of the mint is also significant. Holey dollars from the Mexico Mint are relatively common. Examples from Lima and Potosi are scarce.

The exhibited holey dollar struck at the Madrid Mint is unique in private hands.
The date can also be a factor.

The 1788 holey dollar on display marks the year that NSW was settled and, as if William Henshall were aware of this, the countermarks New South Wales, the holey dollar date 1813 and the Spanish dollar date 1788 are vertically aligned.

This raises an interesting question. Was Henshall under instructions to make this holey dollar the textbook coin in the series?

The exhibition also includes four examples of the 1813 dumps. Originally worth a mere 15 pence, these are also in demand. Those in exceptional condition are valued at up to $250,000.

The Macquarie Group Exhibition of Holey Dollars starts on October 2 at 1 Martin Place, Sydney. The exhibition is open to the public and admission is free.

Enjoy Australia Day in Sydney at Metro Hotel on Pitt - Metro Hotels

For Sydneysiders and regional visitors to Sydney looking to enjoy some of the many events planned for Sydney this Australia Day long weekend, Metro Hotel on Pitt, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, is offering a great value Australia Day Package from $179* per night (real value of package is $313).

To help you celebrate Australia Day in Sydney, Metro Hotel on Pitt’s Australia Day Package includes:

• One night’s accommodation for two in a Superior Deluxe Queen room
• Lunch or dinner for two people at Paradiso Restaurant (2 courses with a glass of Australian wine or beer)
• Late checkout till 1pm
• *offer valid for January 26 – 28, 2013; subject to availability
• *Full prepayment is required at time of booking.

Some of the events planned for Sydney include the Australia Day Tall Ships Parade on Sydney Harbour; Australia Day CARnivale, one of the largest vintage car displays in the southern hemisphere; Sample Sydney, giving you an opportunity to visit a host of Sydney’s most popular cultural institutions and public buildings free-of-charge; GIO Oz Day 10K, where over 40 wheelchair athletes descend upon The Rocks to participate in this exciting 10K race; Festival of the Voice in The Rocks, a free celebration of Australian music and song on the edge of Sydney Harbour; and Darling Harbour Australia Day Spectacular, a stunning multimedia symphony of light and music, culminating in a fireworks display over Cockle Bay, to name just a few.

Previously a central city Post Office, Metro Hotel on Pitt is located in a charming, heritage-listed building at 300 Pitt Street, making it an easy walk to Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour, The Rocks, and Sydney Harbour.

Metro Hotel on Pitt offers 115 comfortable four-star guest rooms complete with modern facilities such as broadband Internet connectivity, key card access to rooms and lift, and cable television. The Hotel offers a mix of standard, superior and executive rooms, all with ensuite bathrooms, and offers 24 hour reception and room service till 10 pm.

The Hotel’s facilities include a fully licensed bar and restaurant, Paradiso, offering a range of Modern Australian and European dishes, and a comprehensive wine list with a choice of local and imported wines.

Guests are able to book the Australia Day Package at Metro Hotel on Pitt by calling the toll free Central Reservations line on 1800 004 321. Alternately guests can book online by logging onto Metro Hotels' website at www.metrohotels.com.au.

We're a Weird Mob: Australians' Bizarre Behaviour

People do some weird things overseas, which is why I wrote a post about it some time ago. Things like sticking your entire family on a scooter, or taking your goat on the bus. Or eating chips with mayo.

But it occurs to me that for foreigners coming to Australia for the first time, it would seem like we do some pretty strange stuff here as well.

So in the interests of fairness, and with a lot of help from a band of expat friends of mine, I've compiled this list of the bizarre things that Australians get up to.

Shortening all words

Whatevs, it's not like we shorten everything. Except sunnies. And boardies. And footy. And snags. And chucking a uey. And calling Barry, Baz. And Sharon, Shaz. And Robert, Robbo. I even travelled with a girl who referred to her binoculars as "binos".

"Bring a plate"

When my mum first arrived in Australia she was invited to a friend's barbecue and told to "bring a plate". So she brought a plate. An empty plate. She was a little embarrassed to find that everyone else had brought some food on theirs.

BYO

It's great when foreigners first realise this: "You can take your own wine to a restaurant? Geez, can you take your own beer to the pub?"

Watching the footy

Because there's no such thing as just "footy". There are four sports here that could qualify as "footy", and you can never be quite sure which one people are talking about. Still, you gotta love the footy.

Buying a beer

What the hell is a "pony"? And who came up with "schooner"? And why do "handles" not have actual handles? And in which other country is it normal to order a "pot of gold"? South Australia takes the grand prize for weirdness though, with a glass called a "pint" that doesn't hold a full pint.

Taking a day off for the Queen's birthday

I'm not arguing about it or anything, but it's not even on the Queen's actual birthday. And the Brits don't celebrate it, so why do we?

Having a bank robber as a national icon

Ned Kelly was no Robin Hood, was he? No altruistic man of the people. He just shot some cops and wore a bucket on his head. And we revere this guy? (OK, I know there's a lot more to this story, but from a foreigner's perspective, it's pretty odd.)

Dressing really fancy for the races...

Then getting absolutely obliterated. There's nothing more Australian than seeing a smartly dressed couple stumble out of the races, her with high heels in hand, him with a tie around his head, and start drunkenly screaming at taxis going past.

"How's it going?"

This has to be up there with the American "what's up" as the most nonsensical greeting around. How's what going? I remember a few exchange students at uni talking about this, saying, "It took me a while to realise that Australians don't actually want to know how you are going. They just want you to say 'good'."

Complaining about the rain in London

Somewhat stunningly, a mate of mine pointed out that Sydney gets more rain each year than London. Ouch.

Having celebrity TV shows that don't feature any celebrities

Australia's pool of actual, legitimate celebrities is frighteningly shallow, but that doesn't stop the networks from pumping out "celebrity" versions of their reality shows featuring people you've never heard of. We have chefs dancing on primetime TV. It's embarrassing.

Eating seafood on Christmas Day

I'm all for a few prawns and bugs on the 25th of December, but if you're from the Northern Hemisphere and were expecting a turkey roast, it might seem a little bizarre.

Worshipping meat pies

It's pastry filled with bits of meat, and slathered in tomato sauce. Not exactly a gastronomic masterpiece, but that doesn't stop us getting all excited about eating a lukewarm one at the footy.

Worshipping swimmers

Just between you and me, swimming's not really a sport, is it? It's a pastime; a survival technique. But anyone who wins gold medals over here is a big deal. Heck, we even treat walking as a real sport once every four years.

Playing the pokies

Surely the dreariest, most antisocial form of gambling there is, and yet Aussies are mad for it. We flock to pubs and clubs around the country to pour money into the gaping mouths of these flashing, dinging monsters. Sigh.

Travelling... Elsewhere

Australians love to travel, right? Well sure, as long as it's not in Australia. No, we can't tell you what WA is like, and we haven't been to Adelaide. But what do you want to know about Bali?

Rugging up for winter

Northern Hemisphere folk think it's hilarious, just as we have a chuckle when everyone strips down to their bikinis in England when the temperature nudges 20. In Australia, a brief dip into the teens will mean the scarves and coats are out for the next few months.

Wearing our thongs on our feet

This is for the Americans, who always look a little confused when you ask them if they've seen our thongs. Or, do you think I should wear thongs today? Sounds a little inappropriate... but at least it's not as dumb as jandals.

What do you think are the weirdest things Australians do?

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/blogs/the-backpacker/were-a-weird-mob-australians-bizarre-behaviour-20120609-202em.html#ixzz2AvAvUCwt

Perth Skyshow 2012 - Skyworks: Lightning and Fireworks Ignite Perth Skies in Stunning Australia Day Skyshow

Crowd numbers were slightly down on last year, but the Australia Day celebrations in Perth still attracted 250,000, despite the heat and rain.

Police said today that 139 arrests and summons were made statewide during the Skyworks.

There were 169 move-on notices issued, 67 alcohol related offences and 39 people were charged with disorderly conduct.

Police said four people were charged with driving under the influence with six people caught driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.08%.

There were nine assault charges laid, three assault on a public officer charges and seven drug related offences.

But West Australians were well-behaved during Australia Day celebrations across the state yesterday, police said.

Lightning and Fireworks Ignite Perth Skies in Stunning Australia Day Skyshow

Australia Day (feat. our correspondent Ken Oathcarn)

Australia Day. It's a day of high jinx, high revelry and high people in Australia; a day when a large and vocal majority come together to "celebrate what's great" about this country.

But what is the meaning of all this fanfare? What is the true origin of this passionately marked day of facepaint and binge drinking? Is everyone in Australia so keen on this particular anniversary?

To get to bottom of these questions, and more, join your amiable host Robert Foster as he conducts a high-octane, high-frequency satellite link-up with a representative of the Mainstream Australian media: multi-Logie award-winning broadcaster, entertainer, emu-wrangler and true blue Aussie, Kenneth Oathcarn.

WARNING: contains adult Australian vernacular - viewer discretion is strongly advised.

Written, produced and performed by Hugo Farrant (Robert Foster) & Giordano Nanni (Ken Oathcarn).

Maggie's Australia Day Pavlova

MAGGIE Beer shows how to make Australia's favourite dessert, writes Simon Wilkinson.

So what will you be putting on top of the pavlova this Australia Day? That magical circle of billowing white meringue is a blank canvas, as much at home with the wildly fragrant fruit of the tropics as the peaches, nectarines and berries of the southern climes or classically the passionfruit that's grown on a vine trailing over the back shed.

That expression of person and place is one factor that makes the pavlova an Aussie icon just as much as that other spectacular white structure on Sydney harbour. A meringue opera house now there's a thought.

The people who voted in our poll on taste.com.au certainly think so, declaring pav their choice of dessert for Australia Day, ahead of other frontrunners lamingtons and peach melba.