Writing
The Fallen on the Ultimo Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour
The Ultimo Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour lists the names of 36 men with associations to the Ultimo community who enlisted in the AIF. Four of those men never returned.
My work
More about me
I am a professional historian accredited by the National Standards for Accreditation for Membership of Professional Historians in Australia.
Project highlights include:
- • 'Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst' — a digital history project mapping the people and places of Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst from the 1850s to the 1940s
- • Collecting World War I stories from IP Australia's records
- • Historical signage for over 30 parks for the City of Sydney
- • Investigating stories of 36 war servicemen listed on an honour roll for the Dictionary of Sydney
- • Oral history interviews for St Vincent's College's 160th anniversary
- • A historical walking tour of Ashfield, supported by the Inner West Council Community History and Heritage Grants Program
Areas of work
- Digital history
- Oral history
- Talks & broadcast
- Displays & signage
- Print publications
- Reports
Portfolio
Writing
Returned Soldiers on the Ultimo Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour
The Ultimo Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour bears the names of 36 men who enlisted in the AIF in World War I. Only 26 are readily identifiable. The stories of their war service, heroism, larrikinism and injuries are poignant.
Web content Writing
Sydney Harbour Islands – Dictionary of Sydney App
In 2016, I wrote the content for the Dictionary of Sydney’s Harbour Islands, which explores the fascinating history of the 13 islands of Sydney Harbour.
Writing
Ultimo Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour
While there are many stories about the movement of the Ultimo Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour that remain unknown, the stories behind the 36 names on the board are a poignant insight into the lives of the local men who enlisted in the AIF.
Talks
Darlinghurst Gaol
On 16 October 2015 I delivered a talk on behalf of the Dictionary of Sydney about Darlinghurst Gaol – its stories and most famous inmates.
Writing
Beyond the bulb: the innovation of light
‘Beyond the bulb: the innovation of light’ explores the history of Australian innovation around light and light-based technologies.
Writing
Battlefront innovations and the ‘Engineer’s war’
Faced with the reality of World War I, some Australians channelled their energies toward devising innovative solutions to aid the war effort.
Writing
The Anzac brand
There were many trade marks registered during World War I, and as products were endorsed by the brave men of ANZAC, businesses were able to leverage this for commercial gain.
Writing
Symbols of support and the aesthetic of war
A range of designs were registered during World War I from quirky children’s toys, to patriotic badges and buttons, medallions of hope for peace and tokens of remembrance.
Writing
First Fleet: Lady Penrhyn
The second lady of the First Fleet voyage to Botany Bay in 1787–88, Lady Penrhyn, enters the annals of history as the slowest ship with the largest number of female convicts.
Writing
First Fleet: Alexander
The Alexander was the largest and most notorious convict transport in the First Fleet. During its eight-month voyage to Botany Bay in 1787–88, it carried 25–33 crew and 195 of ‘ye worst of land-lubbers’.
Writing
First Fleet: Prince of Wales
The 350-ton barque Prince of Wales was the last ship to join the First Fleet on its epic voyage to Botany Bay in 1787–88.
Talks
The Order: 1886
On 17 February 2015 I had the pleasure of presenting at and attending the exclusive Sydney media launch of Sony PlayStation’s highly anticipated, historically immersive game, The Order: 1886.
Writing
The Greycliffe ferry disaster
On 3 November 1927 scenes of ‘indescribable horror’ unfolded during Sydney’s worst maritime tragedy. Photographer Sam Hood was there to capture its devastating aftermath.
Writing
The ‘oldest yachtsman’ in Sydney and his love for ATHENE
One of photographer Sam Hood’s many prominent subjects, David Carment was known for his distinctive long beard and love of the now historic yacht – Athene.
Writing
Frank Albert: Boomerangs, yachting and the colour green
A previously unidentified Sam Hood photograph led to the discovery of a family whose past is steeped in music and sailing. This is Frank Albert’s story.
Writing
Saving Grace
The wonder of Grace Darling’s 1838 rescue of nine shipwreck survivors captured hearts the world over. Nicole Cama shares the story of the ‘Heroine of the Farne Islands’ and its tragic conclusion.
Writing
The ‘March of the Gallant Five Thousand’
At about 2pm on 24 April 1915, 5,000 Australian troops marched through streets of Sydney, and one of the city’s most prolific photographers, Sam Hood, was there to capture it all.
Writing
Japanese flapper lands on Australian shores!
When you think of the kinds of things you might find in the collection stores of the Australian National Maritime Museum, a photograph of a Japanese flapper might be the last thing you would expect.
Writing
East meets West: The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam
Respected by the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Harry Houdini, the great Chinese magician Long Tack Sam stunned Australian audiences with his acrobatic feats and magic tricks. But his story lay forgotten for a long time.
Talks
UK Museums on the Web 2013: The power of Flickr Commons
Paper I presented at The Museum Computer Group’s UK Museums on the Web at the Tate Modern, London in November 2013. The theme of the conference was ‘Power to the People’.
Writing
Annette Kellerman: The Mermaid from Marrickville
An early 20th-century cigarette card depicts the mesmerising Australian swimmer and star of stage and screen, Annette Kellerman, an aquatic actor who took her world by storm.
Writing
The glamour of a naval visit
While researching the museum’s Samuel J Hood collection, who worked in the first half of the 20th century, Nicole Cama encountered these stylish women portrayed during a Dutch naval visit to Sydney during the Great Depression.
Broadcast Writing
Dictionary of Sydney on 2ser
Guest presenter and historian for the Dictionary of Sydney breakfast segment on 2SER radio.
Exhibitions Web content
Sculpture at Sawmillers Exhibition
After working as an artist liaison and personal assistant on the inaugural exhibition, I worked as a web content coordinator for Sculpture at Sawmillers Exhibition 2014.
Exhibitions
#HoodsHarbour exhibition
Chosen from the most viewed Sam Hood photographs on Flickr Commons, the exhibition #HoodsHarbour pays homage to an online community of devoted researchers.
Web content
Endeavour series
Series of photographs of HMB Endeavour replica and surrounds
Exhibitions Writing
Mystery lady identified: A glass-plate negative on Flickr Commons
Online sleuths help museum curators to identify images that have lain anonymous for decades in archives and storage cabinets.
Writing
The three mysteries: A film, a voyage, a disappearance
Lord Howe Island was the exotic locale for an early Australian ‘talkie’, and the launching place for a disastrous voyage that claimed two of its actors.
Writing
A country’s lifeblood
A century ago photograher William Hall captured the beauty and industry of the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales. Nicole Cama followed in his footsteps and fell equally in love with the surrounds.
Writing
‘Everything is open’
National pride swelled upon the arrival of HMAS Australia in 1913 — and her scuttling just over a decade later stirred outpourings of emotion. Nicole Cama tells the story of Australia and its role in the country’s nationhood, 100 years after the flagship first arrived.
Writing
From Calabria with love
Australia was a foreign yet promising place for the thousands of Italian migrants who sought to build new lives here after the devastation of World War II. Nicole Cama shares her grandparents’ story of love and hope after they took the ‘proxy plunge’.
Writing
Death of a shipping line: The rise and fall of the Sterlings
A trail of misfortunes destroyed Captain Edward Robert Sterling’s beloved fleet of giant sailing ships.
Writing
Defining the ‘Strano’: Madness in Renaissance Italy
This thesis explores the different ways madness was defined and treated in Italian texts from the early 15th century to the late 16th century.
Testimonials
"Nicole is a highly regarded consulting historian who works with and for a range of diverse history and community organisations and museums. Her outputs are produced to a very high standard, she is professional and prompt in her communications, never misses deadlines and she pays excellent attention to detail."
"Nicole delivered outstanding research and a fitting tribute to my grandfather's time in the First World War Battlefields of the Somme Valley in France. Her research unearthed some amazing records that shed some light onto his time in France. Nicole's unwavering dedication to the task went above and beyond the brief I had imagined. Nicole's work in my view is second to none and I would highly recommend her to any wanting a truly professional outcome for their project."
"In my many dealings with Nicole since 2013, I have found her articulate, innovative, well organised, and a superb researcher and writer with an excellent track record in meeting deadlines. She also has particularly strong social media skills. She is always pleasant to deal with. I have no hesitation in highly recommending Nicole as an historical consultant."
"Nicole was always responsive, delivered milestones on time, maintained regular communication and provided regular updates as to her progress. Her writing quality is of a very high level and she was able to tailor the research found for the audience of the delivery and provide succinct and easy to understand content."
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