History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. - Mark Twain Libraries closed, schools, churches, theatres, halls and indoor entertainment venues shut down. Six days later, racecourses and hotels were closed and people on public transport and in public places were required to wear masks. Schools remained closed, and other states implemented similar measures to contain the virus. Movement by public transport was restricted and state borders were closed. Streets were sprayed with the disinfectant phenyl and the public were urged to practice cough etiquette, regular handwashing, ventilation and disinfection. This was 1918, consequences of the Spanish Flu in Australia. And here is the newspaper snippet I found - you can read the article here if you're interested, it's absolutely fascinating.

Financial markets are not as simple to understand as they may appear on face value. There are so many variables and inputs that go into the price of something. Not the least complex is property. There are a multitude of factors that influence the price of property, from supply, demand, immigration, demographics, zoning/re-zoning, rent, lifestyle, fear, greed, ego, and the cost of debt. Especially in Australia, debt is a big one. It has been a large factor in dictating prices.

Hence, if it requires, say, a thousand years to fit for easy flight a bird which started with rudimentary wings, or ten thousand for one with started with no wings at all and had to sprout them ab initio, it might be assumed that the flying machine which will really fly might be evolved by the combined and continuous efforts of mathematicians and mechanicians in from one million to ten million years — provided, of course, we can meanwhile eliminate such little drawbacks and embarrassments as the existing relation between weight and strength in inorganic materials. - The New York Times, 1903