Audio on demand

Canberra historian Matthew Higgins tells a story of adventure and discovery by three young men, Percy Sheaffe, Harry Mouat and Freddie Johnston, working in Australia’s rugged mountain country to mark the national capital and its surrounding territory.

Hubert Opperman (1904-1996), or ‘Oppy’ as he was known, was one of the greatest cyclists of his time. Curator Daniel Oakman reflects on why Opperman became a national hero and how his cycling feats transformed popular understandings of human endurance.

Photographer Peter Eve reflects on an expedition into the remote southern Simpson Desert that he shared with archaeologist Dr Mike Smith. Peter praises Mike’s ability to bring the buried landscapes and humanities of deep time to life.

Leading Australian mountaineers reflect on their Himalayan and broader climbing experiences, on the 25th anniversary of the first Australians climbing Mount Everest.

American writer and scholar William Fox discusses his research into how humans transform land into landscape, terrain into territory, and space into place, during his time as a Visiting Fellow at the National Museum’s Centre for Historical Research.

Adventurer and author Robyn Davidson joins desert archaeologist Mike Smith for a discussion about her travels in Australia, India, China and Tibet, and 30 years since the publication of her Making Tracks book.

Desert archaeologist Mike Smith on his expedition into the remote southern Simpson Desert in South Australia. Mike recalls the thrill of discovering ancient fossil remains, working with camels and a helicopter rescue for an injured expeditioner.