Random views and observations from Michael Gorey in Ballarat, Australia
Gorey Things is the personal website of Michael Gorey, a writer based in Ballarat in regional Victoria, Australia. Michael writes about Australian history, politics and opinion, travel, books, food, technology and life in regional Australia. Articles cover topics including colonial history, genealogy, sport, culture and current affairs. Whether you are interested in the gold rush era, Victorian-era figures, walks and hiking trails, or simply curious opinions on life, cuisine and the world, there is something here for you.
23 JULY 2026 I'm descended from the Burgdorf family in Germany and 700 years ago we had our own castle in the Harz Mountains . Historian Georg Bode wrote about this . He described the Ahlsburg ruins in Germany’s Eckerthal valley. It looks like natural rock, but old, mossy masonry confirms it as a medieval castle ruin. Bode wa...
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23 JULY 2026 Walking along Pleasant Street South in Ballarat towards my local supermarket, I came across a horse trough on a nature strip outside an ordinary house. I paused to read ...
Read article → 10 JULY 2026 I've just bought a refurbished Dell XPS 15-9530 laptop, built in 2023, and it has double the memory of the 2019 Asus Zenbook, which I've been using for the past few years....
Read article → 9 JULY 2026 Today I spoke with Mark Robinson on Gold Central Victoria radio about what's happening in the Central Goldfields Shire, filling in for the Council CEO. I've always enjoyed ...
Read article → 6 JULY 2026 Nimmons Bridge at Newtown was built in 1889 for trains to traverse a creek on the Ballarat to Skipton railway line. It was Victoria's fourth-largest timber trestle bridge w...
Read article → 4 JULY 2026 On a cold Ballarat day, it's very tempting to stay under the doona and read or binge watch something on streaming TV. However, today I forced myself outdoors and do a bit of...
Read article → 3 JULY 2026 Football (soccer) isn't really my sport. I'm more of a rugby union and cricket fan, but I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the Socceroos tomorrow when they take on Egypt ...
Read article → 14 JUNE 2026 I've developed a new family history website at www.goreyhistory.com with information about the Gorey, Burgdorf and Wassenberg families in Australia. I've built this site ...
Read article → 12 JUNE 2026 Curried sausages are a hearty winter dish and this one comes with a kick, thanks to Asian Green Garden red curry simmer sauce and a South African Tikka Tandoori seasoning. ...
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