Latest news with #TreasureIsland
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gold prospector's discovery in Aussie town linked to pirate folklore
A piece of silver associated with pirate folklore has been extracted from a dig site in a quiet Australian town. Prospector Angus James was searching for treasure in Stawell, 237km northwest of Melbourne, when he found half a Mexican 8 reales coin. 'I first thought it might have been a half crown, but then I thought why is it cut in half? I was looking for the other half and couldn't find it, so I took it home and washed it clean,' he told Yahoo News. Mexican 8 reales were linked to the term 'pieces of eight' because they were cut into quarters and traded for their weight in silver. Mexico originally used Spanish silver dollars, which carry the same nickname, but the nation created its own version in the 1820s following independence. The first Spanish reales were struck in 1497, and the coin eventually became the preferred international currency, making it desirable to traders. On the other side of the world, in the colony of NSW, Governor Lachlan Macquarie ordered 40,000 of them in 1812, and refashioned them with new markings. Spanish reales were used until 1869, and in Mexico until 1897. The currency captured the imagination of children around the world after it was featured in the novel, Treasure Island. The book featured a parrot named Captain Flint, who squawked the phrase 'pieces of eight'. $20,000 in hidden gold: Aussie prospector reveals secret maps to find fortune Rare coins or $100 million in lost change: Where to find them Fisherman's sensational photograph inspires new story How did the Mexican coin arrive in Australia? Stawell is far from the ocean, and rather than being brought to Australia by a pirate, it's thought the Mexican reales coin was carried by a prospector. The coin was found among other items from the Victorian era, including British coins, and there are indications it was minted in the mid-1800s. 'There was an old campsite, and I was working around that. It's a pretty rare find. I've never picked up anything like it in Australia,' Angus said. 'A prospector probably had it in his pocket when he came to Australia and traded half of it for some fossicking equipment.' The Victorian Gold Rush began in 1851, just three years after the California Gold Rush, and both attracted people from all over the globe. Gold was first found in Stawell in the mid-1850s, but today the town is most famous for hosting the annual Stawell Gift, an annual running race that first began in 1878. After Angus posted news of the find to his Gold Coins and Relics Australia social media account, there has been a lot of excitement. He has received several offers for the coin, including one of $400. But he plans to keep it in his personal collection. 'There's always a lot of interest when it has history, to display it in museums and that sort of thing. I won't clean it, and will keep it as is,' he said. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
NZ Herald
18-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Gail Pope: Robert Louis Stevenson's Samoan home shot by Hawke's Bay photographer
On the voyage, the Waikare stopped at several islands including Tonga, Fiji, Rotuma, Samoa, Niue, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Russell, a prolific photographer, took many images of the islands they visited, amongst which was this photograph of Vailima, the residence of celebrated Scottish author, Robert Louis Stevenson and his wife Fanny. Robert wrote masterpieces such as Treasure Island (1881), Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886) and Kidnapped (1886). Born in Edinburgh and suffering throughout his life from the effects of tuberculosis, he was an avid 'wanderer on the face of the earth, seeking the will of the wisp health with scant success'. Robert along with his wife Fanny, cruised the Pacific on board the schooner Equador, arriving in Samoa on December 7, 1889. They were met by American trader and friend, Harry Moors, with whom they stayed for a couple of days until moving into rental accommodation. The couple chose Samoa to build their home, primarily because of the temperate climate, which helped ease the tuberculosis symptoms from which Robert constantly suffered. The archipelago also had a regular mail service, essential for connections with the author's agents, editors, and publishers. On January 10 1890, Robert purchased the Vailima estate of approximately 128 hectares. It was named Vailima, 'five waters', due to five streams crossing the property. In April 1890 they moved into their new home, along with Fanny's son Lloyd and Robert's widowed mother Margaret. Their home, named Vailima after the estate, was at the base of Mt Vaea overlooking Apia on Upolu Island and stood in the middle of a green plateau, which sloped gently toward the sea. Constructed entirely from wood, some imported from California, the two-storey house was low and rambling, the exterior painted a subdued colour with a glaring red iron roof. The homestead comprised five bedrooms, all of which were on the upper floor fronting the verandah, while on the lower floor was a library, combined dining and sitting room, a ballroom which could accommodate 100 dancers with accompanying piano, a kitchen, smoking room and an infirmary. Throughout the house, the darkness of beautifully polished wood, was softened by large windows and French doors, which let in Samoa's light and warmth. To remind Robert of his native Scotland, two fireplaces were installed - both of which were never lit. The couple had separate bedrooms as Robert, a restless sleeper, would get up and write at his desk all hours of the night and did not wish to disturb Fanny. Their beds were placed on either side of a shared wall, through which Robert built a hatch, so they could converse together while in bed. Vailima was a warm, inviting home in which visitors were always welcomed and entertained. In December 1893, a reporter described his visit under the title 'The novelist at Home'. In depth he aptly described Robert's physical appearance as being 'a little above medium in height but woefully thin and pale' whose face was 'gaunt and haggard' wearing an expression of 'continual weariness'. From the description, it was obvious Robert was extremely ill but regardless, was 'good-natured' with 'a dim suspicion of a smile in the depths of his big black eyes' as he extended his 'long, thin, cool, patrician hand' to greet the visitor. The two sat opposite, Robert viewing the 'ceiling in a retrospective manner' while holding a homemade cigarette in his right hand. On a small table stood a can of tobacco from which the author rolled a fresh cigarette as soon as the last was discarded. Robert was dressed in a 'tight-fitting sleeveless undershirt, cut décolleté', with black trousers rolled 'halfway to the knees'. The author's feet were bare so that the reporter could 'plainly see his ingrowing toenail' while his right foot, which rested across his left knee, was 'symmetrical, long and slender and beautifully arched, but not overclean'. As the two conversed, Robert 'gently toyed among his shapely toes with his disengaged hand'. He concluded by stating the Vailima was 'an ideal spot for the dreamer [Robert] and a home for the poet and student of nature [Fanny].' Robert became a trusted friend, firm advocate and political adviser in Samoa, so much so he was gifted the name Tusitala, teller of tales. During the four years he lived at Vailima, drawing inspiration from life in the Pacific, Robert wrote several books including 'The Beach of Falesá' (1892) and 'The Ebb-Tide' (1894), before passing away December 1894 from a cerebral haemorrhage. Both Samoan and European officials carried Robert's body up the steep 'Road of Loving Hearts' to be buried on a clearing just below the summit of Mt Vaea, overlooking his beloved Vailima. 'I love Samoa and her people. I love the land, I have chosen it to be my home while I live, and my grave after I am dead.' - Robert Louis Stevenson.
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Canmore summer theatre returns with two classic, adventurous tales
CANMORE – Audiences can buckle up for a trip down the yellow brick road and a front row seat to some swashbuckling adventures during this year's summer theatre festival. Returning for its eighth year, Pine Tree Player's summer theatre is presenting two well-loved classics: The Wizard of Oz adapted by Erin Detrick and Treasure Island by Mary Zimmerman at Canmore's Stan Rogers Memorial Stage in Centennial Park. Starting July 10 and running as the festival's matinee, The Wizard of Oz directed by Chelsea Howell-Fellows is packed with action, dynamic movement and bright costumes. 'It's a very fun show. It's quite fast-paced as well. It goes from scene to scene. There's no pauses and it's great for young kids to keep their attention there,' said Lily Burden, who plays Dorothy. Closely based on the book by L. Frank Baum, director Chelsea Howell-Fellows says the outdoor festival environment adds a unique element to the show. 'The weather is just beautiful, and I feel like a story like The Wizard of Oz is so unique to have in a park … because you can really feel surrounded by all of those environmental things and kind of get lost in the journey and the adventure of it,' she said. 'I thought it would be a great choice this year because of all the hype with Wicked,' Howell-Fellows added. Using parts of her grandmother's old dresses to make the costumes, Howell-Fellows is dedicating the show to her grandma Dorothy. 'My mom also helped make some of the collars and costume pieces and then my dad helped make the monkey wings and stuff like that … growing up in community theatre, I wanted to bring that aspect of having my family involved,' she said. A classic storybook tale, Treasure Island, is running as this year's evening show. 'We follow the journey of Jim Hawkins, this 14-year-old boy, quite closely and so a lot of these things kind of take place with his perspective in mind, things feel larger than life,' said director Kelsey James. 'I've been thinking about Treasure Island for over two years. Just the visual of the stage really lends itself to the idea of a boat.' Incorporating movement through fight scenes between sailors and pirates, James said the show doesn't shy away from character's deaths, giving the audience the chance to see it all play out on stage. 'I think we get to take advantage of it being an evening show, so we can be a little bit more realistic with the deaths and things like that,' she said. Costumes also played a key role in the production. Vanessa Taylor, costume designer for The Wizard of Oz and head of wardrobe for Treasure Island, said the theatre was given access to part of the Banff Centre's wardrobe. 'We're going to see a lot of those classic pirate costumes, sailor costumes and there's blood involved, so it's going to be very dynamic in that sense too.' 'I'm really excited for both these shows. I think that there was a bit of a concept that, you know, for The Wizard of Oz, it's like these are youth and this is their backyard and they're playing dress up ... and they're throwing on different costumes,' she added. Cast members range from all ages and skill sets, and for some the festival is their debut into community theatre. 'Multi-generational learning is my favourite part of community theatre … I think our youngest is around nine and then all the way up to probably 60 plus,' said Howell-Fellows. Treasure Island runs until July 19, with the final performance of The Wizard of Oz on July 20. 'Both of them are great for kids. The Wizard of Oz [is] definitely more for the younger kids and then Treasure Island is probably 10 and up, maybe 13 and up. There are some mentions of violence and there's some depictions of violence,' said Burden. Audience members are asked to bring their own chairs. For more information on show times visit: . The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. The position covers Îyârhe (Stoney) Nakoda First Nation and Kananaskis Country. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Florida resort that faced hurricanes to be demolished and rebuilt
By An iconic resort that faced the brunt of back-to-back hurricanes will be demolished and rebuilt, sparking concern that the decades-old Florida staple will lose its nostalgic charm. The Thunderbird Beach Resort, located west of St. Petersburg on Treasure Island, sustained severe damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton - which both caused widespread devastation last year. With roughly 80 percent of the retro-styled beachfront hotel decimated, its owners were left with no choice but to make the distressing call. 'Sadly, the back-to-back hurricanes that struck our coast last year caused catastrophic damage to the property,' owners Avi & Gilad Ovaknin wrote in a statement in April. 'After extensive evaluations and much deliberation, we were left with no choice but to move forward with a full redevelopment of the hotel.' The Ovaknins added they were 'heartbroken by the loss' of the flagship structure, which has been a coveted family-friendly vacation spot since it opened in 1957, but will do their best to preserve its 'heart, soul, and charm.' Thunderbird guests were also disheartened by the news, but were ultimately relieved that the hotel would be rebuilt. Another user said he hoped developers would be able to keep some of the resort's trademark features, including its unmistakable neon sign and the Thunderbird painted on the bottom of one of its pools. 'I do hope that along with the original signage, that you will put another Thunderbird in the pool,' he wrote. 'I have been coming there since the 1960's and both the big sign and the Thunderbird in the pool always thrilled me as a child.' Someone claimed they have stayed at the resort every time they visited Treasure Island for the past decade. She added she knows 'it won't be the same sweet 1950's style motel' but is optimistic for the new design. 'This just breaks my heart, but I hope what you build honors the historical nature, and has character - well being safer, and more resistant to future flooding,' another added. Hundreds of people have been sharing their fond memories of their relaxing getaways spent swimming in the Thunderbird's two heated pools and getting drinks at its popular tiki bar. Originally, the resort was called the Thunderbird Motel. It consisted of 64 rooms and cost $750,000 to build, St. Pete Rising reported. It became the Thunderbird Beach Resort around 2006, the according to StPeteCatalyst , and grew to 106 hotel rooms throughout two and three story buildings. When developers first drew up plans for the hotels post-hurricane makeover, the design included the same number of rooms, but in one four-story building. These plans included U-shaped structure with three levels sitting atop a 124-sqaure-foot parking garage and featuring a 1,750-square-foot lobby and office area. But since sharing that design in April, the owners have expressed intent to grow Thunderbird into an even larger resort. 'Putting 106 units on this land doesn't really pencil out,' Gilad told St. Pete Rising. 'In order to justify [the development], it's going to require a little bit more units.' He hopes to drastically expand the vacation spot to 160 or 170 units, Thunderbird Beach Resort Manager Donna Jollimore told the outlet. Although the city's code technically does not allow for the new hotel to exceed its previous 106 rooms, Treasure Island board members have been supportive of the massive change. 'It's ok to bring us some stuff that's outside the box. Because if you look around, we need it. We can't live the way that we have for the last 30 years,' alternate board member Mark Zdrojewski said. 'You can put a Ferris wheel on top and I'd probably say yes.' The Treasure Island Board said it is actively working with the Ovaknins' owners to make these expansive dreams come true. Increasing the room count may require a provision in the city's plan, St. Pete Rising reported. The timeline for the demolition and exact rebuild plans remains unclear, but owners have eased some worries by declaring the trademark neon sign will remain. 'Our new plans reflect a thoughtful balance of preservation and progress. While the structure and layout will evolve, the spirit of the Thunderbird will live on,' they wrote.
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Heartbreak as Florida's beloved Thunderbird Beach Resort faces the wrecking ball
An iconic resort that faced the brunt of back-to-back hurricanes will be demolished and rebuilt, sparking concern that the decades-old Florida staple will lose its nostalgic charm. The Thunderbird Beach Resort, located west of St. Petersburg on Treasure Island, sustained severe damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton - which both caused widespread devastation last year. With roughly 80 percent of the retro-styled beachfront hotel decimated, its owners were left with no choice but to make the distressing call. 'Sadly, the back-to-back hurricanes that struck our coast last year caused catastrophic damage to the property,' owners Avi & Gilad Ovaknin wrote in a statement in April. 'After extensive evaluations and much deliberation, we were left with no choice but to move forward with a full redevelopment of the hotel.' The Ovaknins added they were 'heartbroken by the loss' of the flagship structure, which has been a coveted family-friendly vacation spot since it opened in 1957, but will do their best to preserve its 'heart, soul, and charm.' Thunderbird guests were also disheartened by the news, but were ultimately relieved that the hotel would be rebuilt. 'Breaks my heart. Been taking me family for decades. Mother's Day weeks, graduations, and family getaways. We will be awaiting the grand opening,' one woman reacted on Facebook. Another user said he hoped developers would be able to keep some of the resort's trademark features, including its unmistakable neon sign and the Thunderbird painted on the bottom of one of its pools. 'I do hope that along with the original signage, that you will put another Thunderbird in the pool,' he wrote. 'I have been coming there since the 1960's and both the big sign and the Thunderbird in the pool always thrilled me as a child.' Someone claimed they have stayed at the resort every time they visited Treasure Island for the past decade. She added she knows 'it won't be the same sweet 1950's style motel' but is optimistic for the new design. 'This just breaks my heart, but I hope what you build honors the historical nature, and has character - well being safer, and more resistant to future flooding,' another added. Hundreds of people have been sharing their fond memories of their relaxing getaways spent swimming in the Thunderbird's two heated pools and getting drinks at its popular tiki bar. Originally, the resort was called the Thunderbird Motel. It consisted of 64 rooms and cost $750,000 to build, St. Pete Rising reported. It became the Thunderbird Beach Resort around 2006, the according to StPeteCatalyst, and grew to 106 hotel rooms throughout two and three story buildings. When developers first drew up plans for the hotels post-hurricane makeover, the design included the same number of rooms, but in one four-story building. These plans included U-shaped structure with three levels sitting atop a 124-sqaure-foot parking garage and featuring a 1,750-square-foot lobby and office area. But since sharing that design in April, the owners have expressed intent to grow Thunderbird into an even larger resort. 'Putting 106 units on this land doesn't really pencil out,' Gilad told St. Pete Rising. 'In order to justify [the development], it's going to require a little bit more units.' He hopes to drastically expand the vacation spot to 160 or 170 units, Thunderbird Beach Resort Manager Donna Jollimore told the outlet. Although the city's code technically does not allow for the new hotel to exceed its previous 106 rooms, Treasure Island board members have been supportive of the massive change. 'It's ok to bring us some stuff that's outside the box. Because if you look around, we need it. We can't live the way that we have for the last 30 years,' alternate board member Mark Zdrojewski said. 'You can put a Ferris wheel on top and I'd probably say yes.' The Treasure Island Board said it is actively working with the Ovaknins' owners to make these expansive dreams come true. Increasing the room count may require a provision in the city's plan, St. Pete Rising reported. The timeline for the demolition and exact rebuild plans remains unclear, but owners have eased some worries by declaring the trademark neon sign will remain. 'Our new plans reflect a thoughtful balance of preservation and progress. While the structure and layout will evolve, the spirit of the Thunderbird will live on,' they wrote.
