At point blank range, opposition leader Arthur Calwell was shot in the face with a sawn-off shot gun as he left a Labor party meeting in Mosman, The Canberra Times reported on this day 53 years ago.
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Police arrested a 20-year-old man, who was taken to Mosman police station for questioning. Mr Calwell was in a "satisfactory condition".
But closer to home, the Times reported that Kingston's Robin Poole paid $1 for a block of land in Charlton Street, Pearce at a restricted auction. It was the only bid on the last block offered at the auction.
It was a bargain for the soon-to-be-married Mr Poole, who said he had studied what was on offer before the auction, where his was the only bid for the site.
Although Mr Poole's block was $1, he had to pay $64, covering the first year's rent and a survey fee. Accounting for inflation, the $1 block would cost a little over $13 in today's money, while the total amount Mr Poole paid was equivalent to about $840.
He wasn't the only successful bargain hunter. The average price paid at the auction was $57 for a block and six blocks failed to sell.
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
