André Brett
@drdrehistorian.bsky.social
Historians wanna talk like they got something to say | NZ and Australian history, politics, trains, music, sport, higher ed | he/him | "Australian-adjacent person": Melburnian Kiwi in Perth
I reckon that after a big day exploring Hamilton on foot and travelling back to Auckland I’ve earned this stout (25k steps!). It’s going down well while doing a run-through of my slides for NZHA later this week—here’s a preview!
November 25, 2025 at 7:19 AM
I reckon that after a big day exploring Hamilton on foot and travelling back to Auckland I’ve earned this stout (25k steps!). It’s going down well while doing a run-through of my slides for NZHA later this week—here’s a preview!
Can confirm @davejac.bsky.social is right: if you’re in Hamilton, go get a pie from this humble place. I had a truly excellent caramelised pork pie, and if you can eat seafood you’ll find a host of interesting pie flavours
November 24, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Can confirm @davejac.bsky.social is right: if you’re in Hamilton, go get a pie from this humble place. I had a truly excellent caramelised pork pie, and if you can eat seafood you’ll find a host of interesting pie flavours
It’s a great day to arrive in Hamilton by train
(Every day is a great day to arrive anywhere by train)
(Every day is a great day to arrive anywhere by train)
November 24, 2025 at 12:57 AM
It’s a great day to arrive in Hamilton by train
(Every day is a great day to arrive anywhere by train)
(Every day is a great day to arrive anywhere by train)
It’s a beautiful morning, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, the temperature is mild, and the time is just ticking over to Te Huia o’clock
November 23, 2025 at 8:43 PM
It’s a beautiful morning, the sky is blue, the sun is shining, the temperature is mild, and the time is just ticking over to Te Huia o’clock
My father and I were amused to discover yesterday that my great-grandfather, who was repeatedly in trouble for ill-discipline in WWI, is buried in the military section of Masterton cemetery right next to a brigadier general
November 21, 2025 at 2:46 AM
My father and I were amused to discover yesterday that my great-grandfather, who was repeatedly in trouble for ill-discipline in WWI, is buried in the military section of Masterton cemetery right next to a brigadier general
That’s what I thought at first too, which would also be funny, but this graphic they posted announcing their new leader indicates it is just plural to singular. Have they submitted an official name change with the electoral comm?
November 19, 2025 at 5:21 AM
That’s what I thought at first too, which would also be funny, but this graphic they posted announcing their new leader indicates it is just plural to singular. Have they submitted an official name change with the electoral comm?
Colonial Office in 1890: "Our Empire is so fucking big we can't keep track of everything, soz lol"
November 15, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Colonial Office in 1890: "Our Empire is so fucking big we can't keep track of everything, soz lol"
Nobody can outdo the Nepalese: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Ne...
November 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Nobody can outdo the Nepalese: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Ne...
I can at least partly answer why: a bizarre error on Proquest. As you would expect, searching the book's text returns no hit for "Guthro" but there he is listed in the metadata somehow. I've seen similar before, though usually where a series editor or foreword or similar is grouped with the authors
November 12, 2025 at 6:48 AM
I can at least partly answer why: a bizarre error on Proquest. As you would expect, searching the book's text returns no hit for "Guthro" but there he is listed in the metadata somehow. I've seen similar before, though usually where a series editor or foreword or similar is grouped with the authors
John Laws is dead, so as well as remembering him for outrageous on-air statements and the cash-for-comment affair, let me take this opportunity to remind everyone that in 1976 he released an album of country music covers called You've Never Been Trucked Like This Before
It reached 69 on the charts
It reached 69 on the charts
November 9, 2025 at 9:56 AM
John Laws is dead, so as well as remembering him for outrageous on-air statements and the cash-for-comment affair, let me take this opportunity to remind everyone that in 1976 he released an album of country music covers called You've Never Been Trucked Like This Before
It reached 69 on the charts
It reached 69 on the charts
These are two of the most “colourful NSW political identity” sentences that it is possible to write
November 8, 2025 at 2:05 AM
These are two of the most “colourful NSW political identity” sentences that it is possible to write
Let the giant penguin have his toys
November 7, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Let the giant penguin have his toys
My father and uncle happened to see 3 of the new DM class locomotives being unloaded at Lyttelton last weekend and they sent me these pics. I thought they’d interest other railway nerds too. The DMs will gradually replace decades-old locos and be the core of the South Island fleet for years to come
November 7, 2025 at 6:50 AM
My father and uncle happened to see 3 of the new DM class locomotives being unloaded at Lyttelton last weekend and they sent me these pics. I thought they’d interest other railway nerds too. The DMs will gradually replace decades-old locos and be the core of the South Island fleet for years to come
Don’t trust the sheep either
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Don’t trust the sheep either
A leisurely evening beverage to ease my way out of a taxing workweek and it has one of the best names of any beer I’ve ever purchased
October 24, 2025 at 12:53 PM
A leisurely evening beverage to ease my way out of a taxing workweek and it has one of the best names of any beer I’ve ever purchased
I cannot possibly use AI on the Feast of Maximum Occupancy. I also cannot use it on the Feast of Minimum Occupancy or any of the 363 (or 364) annual feasts in between
October 21, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I cannot possibly use AI on the Feast of Maximum Occupancy. I also cannot use it on the Feast of Minimum Occupancy or any of the 363 (or 364) annual feasts in between
Left map: core Hutt. Right map: westernmost Hutt. Quoted map: outer realms of the Hutt
October 21, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Left map: core Hutt. Right map: westernmost Hutt. Quoted map: outer realms of the Hutt
THE HUTT UNITED!
WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
October 19, 2025 at 11:26 AM
THE HUTT UNITED!
WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
This might be the single greatest beer name and label of all time
I am drinking well tonight, friends
I am drinking well tonight, friends
October 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
This might be the single greatest beer name and label of all time
I am drinking well tonight, friends
I am drinking well tonight, friends
Ahaha how is Dunedin hotter than Perth right now
October 11, 2025 at 6:08 AM
Ahaha how is Dunedin hotter than Perth right now
Not even a band of cloud rolling in could stop the supermoon shining on a Perth train heading to bed (the depot)
October 7, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Not even a band of cloud rolling in could stop the supermoon shining on a Perth train heading to bed (the depot)
Holy shit go look at the moon
October 7, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Holy shit go look at the moon
I know why it is the way it is, but Arizona absolutely refusing to be normal
I also like this bit, and thinking of an east-west drive across it
I also like this bit, and thinking of an east-west drive across it
October 5, 2025 at 7:32 AM
I know why it is the way it is, but Arizona absolutely refusing to be normal
I also like this bit, and thinking of an east-west drive across it
I also like this bit, and thinking of an east-west drive across it