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Celebrating 170 years of The Age
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Celebrating 170 years of The Age

We’ve been asking the questions you want answered since 1854. In this collection, we reflect on the tradition of courageous journalism and what The Age means to you as we look to the future.

20 stories
The first copy of The Age was printed in 1854.

‘Melbourne was leaping out of its skin’: A new Age began in the year that shaped our city

The Melbourne we know today began to take shape in 1854. It was also the year The Age was first published. As we celebrate our 170th anniversary, we look back at this extraordinary year.

  • by Tony Wright
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The Age 170

‘One of the great newspapers’: The Age celebrates its grand history, and looks to a bright future

As The Age reaches a significant milestone, its editor makes a commitment to readers on behalf of the publication’s dedicated staff.

  • by Patrick Elligett
The Age has a proud history of investigative journalism.

Sacked, prosecuted, exposed: A proud tradition of muckraking

The Age’s investigative reporters have brought down public officials, revealed corruption, and uncovered organised crime operations and war crimes.

  • by Michael Bachelard
Nick McKenzie addresses media after the Ben Roberts-Smith judgment in June.
Opinion

Why we cop threats in the search for information you deserve to know

The Age backs tough, difficult journalism. I feel intensely privileged to be a journalist working for you – our readers.

  • by Nick McKenzie
The Age celebrates 170 years of journalism.

A silent friend: Why The Age has been part of these readers’ lives for decades

Over the past 170 years, we have informed you, inspired you, puzzled you and made you laugh.

The Thunderer

‘The Thunderer’: How The Age has shaped public opinion and held a mirror to society

An editorial does not exist to please. As The Age turns 170, we look back at editorials which have served as barometers of the times, but also went against the general view.

  • by Warwick McFadyen
Tommy Woodcock and Reckless.
100 images

The Age’s best pictures over 170 years

See some of the most iconic images The Age has published over the decades.

  • by Danie Sprague
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Major events
23 images

Triumph and tragedy: A front-page view of history

As The Age celebrates 170 years, we look back on some of the most notable major events featuring on our front pages over the decades.

  • by Hannah Kennelly
Police arrest Carl Williams on Beaconsfield Parade, Port Melbourne, in 2003.
Analysis

Celebrity crooks existed long before Carl Williams. The method’s different, but the aim is the same

Gangsters, massive protests, drug busts and police corruption have been around as long as The Age. Here’s a look back at Melbourne’s underbelly decades before the Underbelly war.

  • by John Silvester
Melbourne has become one of the world’s great sporting cities since 1854.

How Melbourne has become one of the world’s great sporting cities since 1854

With the MCG as the pearl at its heart, cricket, footy and the Melbourne Cup were sewn into the city’s early fabric.

  • by Greg Baum
Melbourne had a rich cultural life in 1854.

Equestrian shows and Shakespeare in a tent: A Saturday night in Melbourne in 1854

You might have a drink at the tavern, or take in a circus show of dance and swordplay on horseback. As The Age celebrates 170 years, we look back at the city’s cultural life in 1854.

  • by Karl Quinn
Nancy Sibtain, 97, is still a keen writer of cryptic crosswords.

Nancy found errors in our cryptic crosswords 35 years ago, so we hired her. At 97, she’s still puzzling you

What started as a “bee in her bonnet” has led to a decades-long career for cryptic crossword compiler Nancy Sibtain – and she has no plans to stop.

  • by Carolyn Webb
The Age quiz. Index image

What is The Age’s motto? Take our quiz

Think you know your Age and facts about Melbourne? Test your knowledge with our quiz.

  • by Stephen Brook
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From left: Neil Mitchell, Rachel Griffiths, Bob Murphy, Lisa McCune, Anthony Albanese.

For some, it’s a place of belonging. For others, a battleground. Famous faces reveal what The Age means to them

We asked stars of the stage and screen, sporting heroes and politicians to reflect on their interaction with us.

Why these two firemen dived back into a city fountain to rescue a boy

Why these two firemen dived back into a city fountain to rescue a boy

In 1981,12-year-old Carl Powell was presumed dead after he went missing while wading in fountains on Swanston Street. As The Age turns 170, we revisit the firemen who risked their lives to save him.

  • by Carolyn Webb
Brigitte Muir

She was bad at finishing things. Then she conquered Everest

In 1997, after three previous attempts, Brigitte Muir became the first Australian woman to reach the top of Mount Everest. Now, she’s leading fundraising treks.

  • by Carolyn Webb
Lee Gordon-Brown today.

He disarmed a gunman at Monash Uni after being shot twice. Now, he doesn’t worry about little things

After being shot in his arm and leg, ex-lecturer Lee Gordon-Brown sprang into action to save others. Read how the experience has changed him.

  • by Carolyn Webb
Nash family

‘We were extremely lucky’: This family narrowly escaped death on Black Saturday, but Kinglake is still home

The Age photographed the Nash family in 2009 after the fire destroyed all of their possessions. Now they say they can get through anything.

  • by Carolyn Webb
Brendan Cole, Australia’s first intestine transplant recipient.

‘Fight to survive’: How an Australian-first transplant made Brendan’s ‘miserable’ life amazing

Horsham postman Brendan Cole has a full life, 14 years after receiving donor small intestine, liver and pancreas.

  • by Carolyn Webb
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Peter Johns, 86, has been a long-time contributor to The Age’s letter page.

170 letters for 170 years of The Age. You know me as ‘Peter Johns, Sorrento’

When my first letter was printed in 2006, I was surprised and felt very excited. It is still a thrill.

  • by Peter Johns

Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/link/follow-20170101-p5kino