Friday, July 31, 2015

Battle of Lone Pine at Gallipoli centenary to be commemorated in East Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A special ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Lone Pine at Gallipoli will take place in East Maitland on Saturday, August 8.
The ceremony has been arranged by members of the Rotary Club of East Maitland – just where a lone pine was planted in Cooks Square
Park from original seeds of a lone pine growing at the battle site.
“We would like everybody to come to this ceremony at what is a major historical site in East Maitland,” one of the organisers David Sciffer said.
“This lone pine in Cooks Square Park has been grown from seeds taken from a tree at Lone Pine Grove at Gallipoli.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 26, 2015.

National Library of Australia - Heroes and Villains: Strutt's Australia

William Strutt was the first great exponent of history painting to work in Australia. His spectacular work depicting the brutal and beautiful Australian landscape, explorers and bushrangers is iconic, and informs the way we envisage colonial life in the mid-nineteenth century. Heroes and Villains will bring together Strutt’s oils, watercolours, sketches and prints from the extensive collections at the National Library with dramatic works from several major Australian collections.
Wednesday 12 August–Sunday 15 November 
Daily, 10 am–5 pm


More details at National Library of Australia website.

Fifties Fair returns to the iconic Rose Seidler House for its 20th year!

Secure your tickets to be part of the most swinging event on the calendar set in the grounds of Sydney’s iconic mid-century home, Rose Seidler House.
Shop for authentic vintage wares, have your hair styled, enjoy live music and rock n’ roll dancing, tuck into gourmet food, and marvel at our classic car displays and Rose Seidler House.
Grab some friends and celebrate all things 1950s in a day of vintage fun.

More information: Sydney Living Museums website.

Dual celebration with a Peek into the Past and Tocal College celebrating 50 years

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Crowds enjoyed a nostalgic weekend at Tocal in celebrations that spanned its settlement to the first 50 years of the ­college.
Back to Tocal had all the hallmarks of an agricultural college celebration, from guest speakers to hearty meals and tales beside the bonfire.
Meanwhile, celebrations were in full swing at the old Tocal Homestead for Peek into the Past.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 26, 2015.

Take a Peek into the Past at Tocal

From the Maitland Mercury report:
There was a time when the internet did not exist, when people met face to face to chat and they did not mind getting their hands dirty.
Peek into the Past at Tocal Homestead is a day devoted to the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era on Sunday, July 26.
This was a time when horses worked the fields, blacksmiths fired a forge and scones were baked in a wood-fired oven.
The old-fashioned family day is a chance for grandparents to reminisce, parents to be nostalgic and children to discover the unknown.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 23, 2015.

Centenarian Clyde Pearsall has fond memories of Morpeth

Fromm the Maitland Mercury report:
Morpeth has been a favourite of 100-year-old Clyde Pearsall ­since he worked there during World War II. The Lake Macquarie resident has worked and lived across much of the state, but Morpeth has worked its way under his skin. “I’ve never seen so many vegetables,” he said.
“It was vegetables as far as the eye could see.”
Mr Pearsall and his daughter Janelle enjoyed a birthday lunch at the Campbell’s Store on Thursday.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 23, 2015.

St James at Morpeth celebrate 175th anniversary

From the Maitland Mercury report:
St James’ Anglican Church, Morpeth is the Hunter Valley’s first Anglican church north of Newcastle and celebrates its 175th anniversary this weekend.
The church was rebuilt after a fire in 1874 and was damaged in the 1989 earthquake, but still stands today as a symbol for the faithful in Morpeth and beyond.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 23, 2015.

Historic Maitland High School WWI flag to be restored to former glory

From the Maitland Mercury report:
In 1914, 345 old boys from Maitland High School enlisted to serve in World War I.
Sixty of those men, one in five, never returned.
The names of those brave young soldiers were hand stitched into an Australian flag created by the young women at the-then Maitland Girls High School, in a show of support.
Some of the names have faded over time and the flag has deteriorated, but it will be brought back to its former glory at the capable hands of specialist Duncan Harty at his Morpeth Conservation Studio.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 22, 2015.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Maitland Diggers answer call to record WWII history

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Six Maitland World War II Diggers answered the call to make history on Tuesday just as they did when they defended their country against the Japanese 74 years ago.
Proudly wearing their medals, the six will be immortalised with their ­pictures taken by professionals from the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 21, 2015.

Morpeth's River Royal Inn

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Morpeth’s historic River Royal Inn, which was declared unsafe after the extensive flood damage in May, may yet be saved.
Licensee Tom Greene said engineers had examined the structural damage caused to the 159-year-old hotel by the surging floodwaters and were confident the building could be restored.
“A lot of work will be involved, but I am now more than confident this can be done,” Mr Greene said.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 21, 2015.

National Trust - Grossmann House - Historic Bourke Street Maitland

The next National Trust walk in August:

Wayne Campbell will take us through the streets of a section of Central Maitland. The Bourke Street area presents a unique look at the early settled history of Maitland, with the streetscape still capturing elements of the 1850 subdivision of a part of the land of Molly Hunt / Morgan.
Humble timber cottages, terraces, substantial brick dwellings, schools, a private hospital, and accommodation for early Maitland clergy, all side by side and bound by a network of narrow streets and laneways.


Sunday, August 23 at 2.00,
$25.00 / $20.00 National Trust members, price includes the usual sumptuous afternoon tea at Brough House.

Bookings essential. Ph: Holly 49344314.

Photo call goes out to World War II veterans

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A call has gone out to all World War II veterans to assemble in East Maitland next week to be photographed so their portraits can be gifted to the Australian War Memorial’s collection.
The project is one of the most ambitious ventures ever undertaken in this country by members of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography.
Called The Reflections: Honouring Our World War II Veterans, the project will provide a compelling pictorial record of returned servicemen and women living in Australia, said Vivian Hayles of the Institute.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 15, 2015.

Five Maitland landmarks finalists in urban design awards

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Five Maitland landmarks have made it onto a list of the top urban building and space designs from the past 40 years.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Lower Hunter Urban Design Awards, an annual design competition of buildings, landscapes and public open spaces.

1. Former Jewish Synagogue conversion to Credit Union in Church Street, Maitland, winner of the heritage section in 1987.
2.  Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council Community Health and Multipurpose Centre, Chelmsford Drive, Metford, winner of small-scale commercial development in 1996.
3. Maitland City Art Gallery, High Street, Maitland, winner heritage section 2004.
4. East Maitland Branch Library, Garnett Road, East Maitland, winner small-scale commercial development in 2005.
5. Morpeth Court House, Swan Street, Morpeth, winner of heritage section in 2014.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury,

East Maitland Library hosts talk from historical society member Ruth Trappel

From the Maitland Mercury report:
High achievers never rest, they just find new challenges even in retirement.
When the children left home Bolwarra woman Ruth Trappel applied her precious spare time to university study and her love of history.
"If you get the opportunity to go to uni, you should, even as an older person," Mrs Trappel said.
That's the take-home message from Tuesday's Look Who's Talking program at East Maitland Library.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 13, 2015.

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Paddy's Pickers united Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Paddy Maher did more than simply deliver the Maitland Pickers their first premiership in 1933.
The Australian centre helped unite a community.
In a period dominated by the Great Depression in the lead up to World War II, Maher and his men were a shining light for the city during dark times.

“They reckon he brought the whole town together,” Maitland Leagues Club general manager Glen Whaler said.
“They reckon there was just something about him.”
Maher hailed from Lismore and after five seasons with South Sydney – including a premiership in 1931, skippering NSW and a Kangaroo tour – he ended up in Maitland.
Playing out of Maitland Showground, “Paddy’s Pumpkin Pickers” went to claim the rugby league club’s maiden grand final with a resounding 34-0 victory over Waratah Mayfield in the 1933 Newcastle Rugby League decider.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 8, 2015.

Who Do You Think You Are? Australia Season 7 (2015)

From the Genealogy and History news blog:
The emotional and personal stories in Who Do You Think You Are? reveal a bigger picture of Australia’s diverse national identity. These stories demonstrate how Australians have come to be the people that we are today. Who Do You Think You Are? is a fascinating chronicle of the social, ethnic and cultural evolution of Australia.
In this 7th season we discover the family history of:
– Geoffrey Rush (actor)
– David Wenham (actor)
– Luke Nguyen (chef)
– Toni Collette (actress)
– Dawn Fraser (champion swimmer and former politician)
– Ray Martin (television journalist)
– Greig Pickhaver (HG Nelson) (comedian)
– Peter Rowsthorn (comedian)

The 2015 season of "Who do you think you are premieres on SBS, Tuesday 4 August.

National Library of Australia captures the internet

Future generations of Australians will now have access to today’s online stories, thanks to the National Library of Australia.
New legislation means that from January 2016 the National Library will be able to capture everything from ebooks to blogs, websites to social media—and everything else published on the Internet.
Director-General of the National Library of Australia, Ms Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, said for more than 100 years, the Library had been collecting all print material about Australia and Australians through legal deposit.
‘This new legislation allows us to take the lead in the way Australia documents the ever-changing online world by collecting the very latest digital media, that is, the full digital landscape.’

Full details available at National Library of Australia.

$50,000 heritage grant for Cessnock

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Cessnock City Council has received a $50,000 boost to conduct a review of its heritage study.
NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage Mark Speakman approved Cessnock’s funding application, which was among three projects across the state that has had money allocated as part of the Local Government Heritage Planning Studies Grants Program.
Council’s strategic land use planning manager Martin Johnson said the money would allow for review of the Cessnock LGA-wide heritage study.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 8, 2015.

Memories of Kurri's first police car come to life in mural project

From the Maitland Mercury report:
It is being painted on the Mitchell Avenue side of the police station and depicts another chapter in the town’s history .
Towns with Heart, which manages the mural project, approached the Central Hunter Local Area Command with the idea of creating a mural on the wall of the station.
Lesley Morris and Matt Nolan of Towns with Heart said it was a good spot for a mural because of the high traffic flow.
Mr Nolan, who is a retired police officer, found the perfect photo for the project years ago when looking for images for the celebration of 100 years of policing.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 8, 2015.

Fifty years on and Maitland's city centre still cause for public discussion

From the Maitland Mercury report:
50-year-old cartoon has been unearthed that proves history does repeat.
A Mercury reader has found a copy of a ­cartoon that was published in the Maitland Mercury in November, 1965, that ­satirically depicts Maitland City Council and the changes that were taking place in central Maitland at the time.
The cartoon depicts Maitland council as a toy store that sells items such as “The Kill High Street Game”, “Supermarket Monopoly” and a kit to “build your very own life size supermarket”.
It reflects a time when there was community debate over developments in Maitland, similar to the public discussion that has been taking place in the city in recent months over The Levee.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 5, 2015.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Inside History Magazine May-June 2015

Inside History Magazine May-June 2015
  • Our expert guide to finding and using parish maps and land records
  • Our chat with Sir Tony Robinson on his Tour of Duty discovering Australia’s hidden wartime stories
  • 95 new online genealogy resources to help grow your family tree
  • The world of the English workhouse, beyond Dickensian stereotypes
  • The iconic Tea and Sugar train of yesteryear and its cross-country rides across the Nullarbor
  • How to use asylum records and access even those closed to the public
  • Our pick of the top 5 historical walks around Australia
  • The mammoth project to document our surviving World War II veterans
  • Where to find the newly digitised collections of 14 leading museums from around Australia
  • How you can help map the past with geo-referencing projects underway
  • Why Victoria’s education system is historically significant
  • Restored High Street Maitland property to become new hair salon

    From the Maitland Mercury report:
    The purchase of one of Maitland’s most prominent commercial properties in High Street’s west end represents a big investment for one person and could signal a positive trend.
    Tracy Johnson settled on 513 High Street seven weeks ago and will soon open the doors to a hair salon.
    Many of the building’s original features, including exposed brickwork, polished hardwood floors and an operational fireplace, have been kept.

    Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 30, 2015.

    Maitland and District Historical Society guest speaker : Elizabeth Matt, Greta Migrant Camp

    Maitland and District Historical Society next guest speaker for July will be Elizabeth Matt from Greta, she will be speaking about her experiences as a child at the former Greta Migrant Camp and her adjustment to life after it closed.
    Elizabeth has a series of projection images to show and a number of photos printed to pass around, to show us just what it was like at the camp.
    She was recently featured in the weekend magazine of the Maitland Mercury.
     
    Tuesday 7th July
    5.30pm 
    3 Cathedral Street, Maitland

    Trove's latest newspapers

    The National Library of Australia is pleased to announce that the following newspapers, digitised by the National Library through the Australian Newspaper Plan program, have been recently added to Digitised newspapers and more on Trove.

    The Armidale Chronicle (NSW : 1894 - 1929)
    The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser (NSW : 1856 - 1861; 1863 - 1889; 1891 -1954)
    Blackheath Beacon (Katoomba, NSW : 1930 - 1931)
    The Blackheath Bulletin (Katoomba, NSW : 1929 - 1931)
    The Blue Mountain Star (Katoomba, NSW : 1929 - 1931)
    The Blue Mountains Advertiser (Katoomba, NSW : 1940 - 1954)
    Blue Mountains Daily (Katoomba, NSW : 1939)
    Blue Mountains Gazette (Katoomba, NSW : 1903 - 1904)
    The Blue Mountains Times (Katoomba, NSW : 1931 - 1937)
    The Chronicle (Katoomba, NSW : 1929)
    Coffs Harbour Advocate (NSW : 1907 - 1942; 1946 - 1954)
    Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW : 1915 - 1954)
    The Hospital Saturday News (Katoomba, NSW : 1930)
    The Independent (Katoomba, NSW : 1930 - 1931)
    The Inverell Times (NSW : 1899 - 1954)
    The Katoomba Daily (NSW : 1920 - 1939)
    Katoomba Times (NSW : 1889 - 1894)
    Manilla Express (NSW : 1899 - 1954)
    The Mountain Daily (Katoomba, NSW : 1919 - 1920)
    The Mountaineer (Katoomba, NSW : 1894 - 1908)
    Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah, NSW : 1914 - 1949)
    The Uralla News (NSW : 1904 - 1907)
    The Walcha News (NSW : 1932 - 1935)

    Exhibition reveals religious tensions in Maitland's past

    From the Maitland Mercury report:
    Back in the 1800s the ­opposite sides of Free Church Street, Maitland, were anything but ­harmonious.
    With the Catholics on one side and the Presbyterians on the other, the small street was fraught with religious tension.
    Until March 1860, when all hell broke loose in what is known as the religious riot of Maitland.
    “The minister was bashed, his brother was bashed and a few days later the Catholics stoned all the buildings in High Street that belonged to the Presbyterians,” Maitland Regional Museum committee member Janece McDonald said.

    Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 30, 2015.

    Search for history of family’s Narang Street home, East Maitland

    From the Maitland Mercury report:
    Three years ago Terry and Bec Knight fell in love with a piece of Maitland’s history transforming the house into a city showpiece.
    With the hard renovation yards almost complete, the couple and their three children have taken to social media to learn more about the ­mystery house they believe has a real story to tell.
    No. 67 Narang Street, East Maitland was dilapidated, parts of the building falling down around their ears, almost ready for the scrap heap. To date, the family has learnt that the two-storey house was built in the early 1890s.

    Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 21, 2015.

    National Trust of Australia NSW : Thumbs down for new kiosk in Maitland - The Levee

    From the Maitland Mercury report:
    The Levee’s new kiosk is the type of “visual disorder” that the National Trust of Australia warned against in Maitland three decades ago, a Sydney-based heritage expert says.National Trust of Australia NSW Advocacy Director Graham Quint told the Mercury that the kiosk appeared unsympathetic to High Street’s surrounding historic streetscape.

    Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 18, 2015.