Making Tracks takes young readers on a fictional journey through some fascinating Australian stories, inspired by objects from the National Museum of Australia's collection. The series is written and illustrated by leading Australian children's authors and artists.
Daisy Sunshine
by Susanne Gervay
Daisy and her mum have just moved into the Grand Private Hotel belonging to Mr and Mrs Papadopolous. It's all new and strange, but Nina, Old Dot, the Colonel and especially Rainbow Rose are there to help them make a new life for themselves. But what's so special about the year 1975?
- Daisy Sunshine was inspired by a 1970s 'Superwoman' T-shirt from the National Museum of Australia's collection.
- See the activities for Daisy Sunshine.
The Red Camel
by Kirsty Murray
Ruby doesn't like working for the Nortons. She wants to go back to Alice Springs to live with her mum. Will Idris, the Afghan boy who works with the camels, help her to return home?
- The Red Camel was inspired by a photograph of camels and their driver taken by Herbert Basedow in Oodnadatta in 1903. This photograph is now part of the National Museum of Australia's collection.
- See the activities for The Red Camel.
Tibby's Leaf
by Ursula Dubosarsky
Tibby feels like everything is going wrong. Her big brother Clarence is all grown up, and doesn't want to play with her any more. If Clarence says there aren't any pixies except in books, then what exactly did Tibby see in the bush, peering out from behind a leaf?
- Tibby's Leaf was inspired by a postcard called 'Off to the war' designed by May Gibbs and featuring her famous gumnut fairies. This postcard is now part of the National Museum of Australia's collection.
- See the activities for Tibby's Leaf.
Turning the Page
by Felicity Pulman
Maggie is working as a children's nurse in the big house when she finds a copybook and decides to teach herself to read. She knows she shouldn't really take the book, and things only get worse when the mistress sends her home in disgrace.
- Turning the Page was inspired by a nineteenth-century child's copybook that is now part of the National Museum of Australia's collection.
- See the activities for Turning the Page.
Antarctic Close-up
by Hazel Edwards
John loves to fiddle with things, but when he connects a broken webcam to an old telescope he is in for a shock. Suddenly he finds himself looking back in time, caught up in a very 'cool' Antarctic adventure.
- Antarctic Close-up features the telescope that belonged to John Collinson Close, a member of Sir Douglas Mawson's 1911 Antarctic expedition.
- See the activities for Antarctic Close-up.
The Day I Was History
by Jackie French
Sam's Saturday begins like any other but he is soon battling wind, flames and blackened skies as he desperately tries to find his home.
- The Day I Was History features the burnt wheel and hub of a fire truck destroyed in the 2003 Canberra bushfires. This wheel is now part of the National Museum's collection.
- See the activities for The Day I Was History.
A Penny to Remember
by Kirsty Murray
When George is sentenced to seven years' hard labour in Van Diemen's Land his only thoughts are of his sister Hannah. What can he give her to remember him when he is so far away?
- A Penny to Remember features a convict love token, part of the National Museum's collection.
- See activities for A Penny to Remember.
The Other Side
by Sally Morgan
Things are not going well for Alex! It looks as if he is going to be filmed by a national news crew standing next to his tree-hugging, slogan-yelling, long-haired grandfather. How embarrassing! But perhaps there is a little more going on with Gramps and his friends than Alex realises.
- The Other Side features the rabbit-proof fence, a segment of which is part of the National Museum's collection.
- See the activities for The Other Side.
Seams of Gold
by Christopher Cheng
Danny knows that he has to respect his uncle and do as he says, even if that means joining him on a sewing trip to the goldfields. Danny would rather be anywhere else ... until he takes things into his own hands!
- Seams of Gold features a sewing basket used on the New South Wales goldfields, part of the National Museum's collection.
- Explore Gold Rush! – Flash interactive about life on the goldfields.
- See the activities for Seams of Gold.
Caravan Kids
by Libby Hathorn
Sally Smyth-with-a-y desperately wants an adventure! What better place to find one than spending the summer in a caravan at the beach? There might be pirate ships, or maybe even a beach rescue. Whatever happens, she's ready for it ... or is she?
- Caravan Kids features the treasured Propert caravan, part of the Museum's collection.
- Play with the Pink Caravan – Flash interactive
- See the activities for Caravan Kids.
The Hold-up Heroes
by Diane Bates
Polly and James accidentally overhear a gang of bushrangers plotting to hold up the Governor. Their first thought is to tell their parents and become heroes for saving the day. But then they find out their dad might be helping the bushrangers! They need to stop him, but how?
- The Hold-up Heroes features the magnificent Ranken coach, part of the Museum's collection.
- Play with the Ranken coach – Flash interactive
- See the activities for The Hold-up Heroes.
River Boy
by Anthony Hills
Nat is asked to help out on a paddle steamer. It's his dream and he's even getting paid for it! But he's got a secret that could not only risk his own life but the lives of the entire crew ...
- River Boy features the magnificent PS Enterprise, part of the Museum's collection.
- Play with the PS Enterprise – Flash interactive
- See the activities for River Boy.
The Saw Doctor
by Gary Crew
Jo Boy's mother has warned him to stay away from gypsies - she says they steal kids and sell them to butchers for mincemeat. But when he comes across a bright, shiny caravan one day, his curiosity gets the better of him ...
- The Saw Doctor features the intriguing Saw Doctor's wagon, part of the Museum's collection.
- Play with The Saw Doctor – Flash interactive
- See the activities for The Saw Doctor.
One Perfect Day
by Jackie French
Billy's having a really bad day. No family, no friends, no fun and now he has to save his four-legged mate, Dusty, from certain death! Will the strangers by the side of the road be able to help him before it's too late?
- One Perfect Day features the magnificent Crossley car, part of the Museum's collection.
- Play with The Crossley car – Flash interactive
- See the activities for One Perfect Day.
Ray's Olympics
by Libby Gleeson
Ray lied to the school bullies and now he has to find a way into the Olympics before the Leary boys make mincemeat out of him.
- Ray's Olympics features an original ABC outside television broadcast van, part of the Museum's collection.
- Play with the ABC van – Flash interactive
- See the activities for Ray's Olympics.
Robbie and the Dolphins
by Justin D'Ath
Robbie can't swim or play games and everyone treats him like a baby. But with one gust of wind things start getting very interesting ...
- Robbie and the Dolphins features a Chev truck built during the Second World War. The Chev is part of the Museum's collection.
- Play with the Chev truck – Flash interactive
- See the activities for Robbie and the Dolphins.
Across the Dark Sea
by Wendy Orr
Trung's adventure begins in the dead of night. He and his father escape the soldiers with guns. But what awaits them across the dark sea?
- Across the Dark Sea features a fishing boat used to flee Vietnam after the war. The Hong Hai, part of the Museum's collection, was also used for this purpose.
- Play Journey of the Hong Hai – Flash interactive
- See the activities for Across the Dark Sea.
