Friday, January 29, 2010

Australia day - Maitland Historical Society

From the Maitland Mercury report:
There was no shortage of Aussie pride on display as about 7000 people braved the burning sun and flocked to the city’s annual patriotic celebration in response to Advance Australia Fair’s order to rejoice.

Community organisations such as Maitland and District Historical Society set up displays in the park.

Full article by Briony Snedden available at Maitland Mercury, 27 Jan, 2010.

Speak up before bridge is wrecked

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland City Council wants residents to voice their concerns over the Australian Rail Track Corporations plans to demolish the William Street footbridge in May this year. Outraged resident and rail enthusiast, Andrew Warren said the William Street footbridge was regularly used by commuters and school students.

Full article by Anna Yeo available at Maitland Mercury, 25 Jan, 2010.

Historian taken on a journey to the UK

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Historian Ann Beaumont and colonial pioneer Edward Close live worlds apart, but when Ms Beaumont began to write the history of Morpeth Court House, she developed a fondness for the Morpeth founder that led her on a journey to Ipswich in the United Kingdom.

Full article by Belinda-Jane Davis available at Maitland Mercury, 22 Jan, 2010.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Access to Funding workshop

Successfully obtaining funds for museums and galleries requires knowledge and creativity. Museums & Galleries NSW presents Access to Funding, an invaluable workshop which delivers the skills and specialist knowledge to make accessing funds a reality.

Show me the money! Access to Funding is a full day workshop which offers delegates information, hardcopy resources, and practical training in how to write a winning grant application.

When: Friday 12 March 2010
Where: Hurstville City Library, Cnr Queens Road and Dora Streets, and Hurstville Museum & Gallery, 14 Macmahon St, Hurstville
Cost: $55 full price / $45 conc. (student, volunteer, Standards Program participants) / 3 for $100 special offer for volunteer museums

Further information and to register: http://mgnsw.org.au/sector_development/access_to_funding_2010/

Plaques sell to restore Darcy grave site

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Sporting personalities from Australia and overseas have lined up to support a fundraising initiative to restore the grave site of one of the nation’s legendary sportsmen, Les Darcy.
Rugby union stalwart Nick Farr Jones is one of 50 individuals and businesses who “bought” one of Darcy’s bouts to raise money for the $60,000 project, supported by Maitland City Council, the Les Darcy Committee and the Boxing Hall of Fame.
The details of each of Darcy’s 50 fights were engraved onto individual plaques, which were then offered for sale. All sold within months.
The plaques will be displayed at the base of the Les Darcy statue in East Maitland.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 20 Jan, 2010 .

$600m former Greta migrant camp overhaul plan

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A $600 million residential and golfing overhaul of the site of the former Greta Migrant Camp is on the verge of approval.

Plans for the site, including up to 1364 homes, an 18-hole golf course and a 3500sqm club house incorporating a 110-room hotel, have been five years in the planning by developer Uri Windt.
His commitment to the project also included documenting the site’s history by capturing the stories of the people who lived in the camp in the 1950s.

Full article by Briony Snedden available at Maitland Mercury, 15 Jan, 2010.

New roof only the start for historic Maitland Court House

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Morpeth Court House and Museum volunteer Alan Todd has praised Maitland City Council for allocating money to repair the building’s roof. But he said there was still more work to be done.
The council developed a program of works for the 1862 building in 2008, and repairs began late last year.
Australian Heritage Restorations was the company chosen to complete the work, which focused on removing old slate from the main centre structure and replacing it with new hardwood timber batons and imported Welsh slate.

Full article by Belinda-Jane Davis available at Maitland Mercury, 15 Jan, 2010.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Mitchell Library Centenary


2010 sees the centenary of the opening of the Mitchell Library (as part of the State Library of New South Wales), endowed by David Scott Mitchell. Mitchell gifted his substantial collection of books, manuscripts, maps and pictures relating to Australia. For the first time, this enabled the public study of Australia itself.
More information about David Mitchell, the Mitchell Library and Australiana can be found at Australia's Culture Portal.

Volunteers rally to help rail society

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Australia’s leading organisation for practical conservation has branched out to help rail heritage groups across the State, including rail enthusiasts at Paterson.
A small group from Conservation Volunteers Australia travelled to Paterson yesterday to work with village’s Rail Motor Society and to help with the maintenance and upkeep of the society’s historic cottage.

Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 14 Jan, 2010.

Collision course set for history, patriotism - Maitland Historical Society

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Kevin Short’s patriotism and passion for history will collide on Australia Day.

The treasurer of Maitland and District Historical Society has three direct links to the First Fleet that landed in Port Jackson on January 26, 1788.
In contrast to his ancestors – 222 years after their arrival – Mr Short will celebrate Australia Day in Maitland Park as a member of the historical society.
The society was invited to be part of Maitland’s annual festivities to highlight the organisation’s existence and to exemplify the city’s history.

Full article by Briony Snedden available at Maitland Mercury, 14 Jan, 2010. 

Sunday, January 17, 2010

National Trust News


Celebrate Australia Day on Tuesday 26 January with the National Trust as we throw open our doors in exchange for a gold coin donation. There will be 10 house museums open on Australia Day.

The EnergyAustralia National Trust Heritage Awards offer a unique opportunity to showcase individuals, organisations, government departments and community groups who have completed a project that promotes the conservation of Australia’s environmental, built or cultural heritage. Entries are now open until Monday 8 February.

Thousands of vintage ads

Vintage Ad Browser is a directory of over 120,000 vintage advertisements.  The site aims to collect vintage ads from a variety of sources, including comic books, CD-Roms, websites, book, magazine & comic book scans, and more.
The site currently contains 123,311 ads.

A search for Australia provides 80 interesting results.

The Powerhouse Museum also provides online access to Australian advertising.

Chapel has links to area’s convict past

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The building of a multi-million dollar wedding chapel and conference facility with a link to the Hunter Valley’s convict past is underway. Known as The Carriage House, the chapel and conference centre is at The Vintage in Pokolbin. One of the main recycled building materials used in the project is sandstone dating back to the 1830s. The sandstone was originally quarried by convicts for a home at Jerry’s Plains. The hsitoric home has been demolished, with the discarded sandstone later found at Sawyer's Gully. The sandstone still bears its original convict markings.

Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 12 Jan, 2010.

Focus on courthouse for third flood walk and talk

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Flood historian Peter Bogan has put the focus on the courthouse precinct in the third instalment in the flood educational walk and talk series. as part of his continuing research, Mr Bogan wants to hear from people who were in the area on the afternoon and evening of February 25, 1955.

Full article by Briony Snedden available at Maitland Mercury, 08 Jan, 2010.