Flashback Friday: Olympians from the Hunter 1956-2016 | photos

From the Maitland Mercury report:
With a week to go until the start of the 2016 Rio Olympics, we look back to the Olympians who called the Hunter home in the past.
From 1956, to this year’s announced competitors, take a look at the Hunter’s great sporting champions.

The story Flashback Friday: Hunter Olympians | photos first appeared on Newcastle Herald.

An Introduction to Oral History seminar

The RAHS and Oral History NSW (OHNSW) present ‘An Introduction to Oral History: key principles that everyone should know’ at History House on Thursday 18th August. This talk introduces historians of all kinds to the possibilities and pitfalls of ‘making memories’ or doing oral history interviews with people about their experiences of the past. It asks why they matter as an historical source and how they stand in relation to the traditional written newspapers and archives.

Come along and hear Oral History NSW President Professor Paula Hamilton discuss the value of oral history and share examples from her own oral history practice. Paula will discuss its value in particular circumstances and whether it is suitable for local and family historians to add to their existing expertise with this historical method. Paula will also share examples from her own work on local places in suburbs of Sydney.

Date and Time: Thursday 18th August @ 11am – 1pm
Cost: RAHS/OHNSW Members $25/Non-Members $30
Venue: History House – 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Click here for more information and details of how to book online.

Historic recreations at Tocal's Peek Into The Past 2016

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Tocal will take visitors back to a time of bushrangers and bounty hunters with its annual Peek Into The Past on Sunday July 31. Special guests, the 73rd Regiment of Foot, will be encamped at Tocal Homestead in their iconic, red coats.
This re-enactment group represents in faithful detail, the daily lives of the soldiers and their families of the original 73rd Regiment of Foot. 
Not only the redcoat soldiers uniforms, firearms and accoutrements but also their camp, kitchen facilities and traditions.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 25 Jul 2016.

Francis Greenway High School celebrates 50 year anniversary

From the Maitland Mercury report:
On August 3, 1966 a small cohort of about 100 students donned the Francis Greenway High School uniform for the first time.
Among them was year eight student Barbara Jennings.
“A lot has changed,” Ms Jennings said.
“When it opened it was just three building blocks.”
50 years later to the day, Ms Jennings and her much bigger school will mark half-a-century since gates opened with an assembly and cake-cutting.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 25 Jul 2016.

Historic Koreelah House on Bourke Street, Maitland, sells at auction

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Koreelah House built in 1851 in Bourke Street, is one of the city’s few homes with Georgian grandeur remaining.
Its sale through Maitland’s PRD Realty sparked great interest from about 60 local, Sydney and Newcastle bidders.
Selling agent Rhonda Nyquist said about 20 groups inspected the property prior to Saturday’s auction with the strongest interest from locals.
Koreelah is a much admired and significant Bourke Street property, nestled on a prime, level, double block with rear lane access.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 21 Jul 2016.

Flashback Friday: Maitland business through the years

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Take a look at the changing face of business in Maitland from the Fairfax archives.

Available at Maitland Mercury, July 8, 2016.

On War with Virginia Passmore - Military Geologists in the First World War

Military Geologists in the First World War - Virginia Passmore puts the work of fellow Australian geologist Edgeworth David into context.
In association with the Canberra Great War Study Group, the Estaminet.

Tuesday 19 July
5.30pm - 6.30pm, free
Theatre, Lower Ground 1
National Library of Australia

A Future for the Past: Rum Hospital Symposium

On the 200th anniversary of its completion, Sydney Living Museums invites you to discover the extraordinary history of The Rum Hospital and the ongoing story of its surviving buildings in a full day symposium “A Future For The Past.” From its design, construction and original function serving convict patients, through to the adaptive re-use of its northern and southern wings as Parliament House and the Sydney branch of the Royal Mint respectively, the Rum Hospital site is interwoven with some of the most important events in New South Wales history.

When: 9:30am to 5pm, Saturday 30 July 2016
Where: The Gold Melting Room
The Mint, 10 Macquarie St, Sydney
Cost: $125 General
$100 Concession/Member (includes History Council of NSW members)
$75 Student
Ticket includes lunch, refreshments and a complimentary copy of The Mint Project book (RRP $65)
Bookings essential. Call 1300 448 849 or book online.

Colour in Darkness: Images from the First World War

The State Library of NSW has just launched a new exhibition, Colour in Darkness: Images from the First World War. The exhibition draws together over 150 war photographs which originally toured Australia in the early 1920s, drawing huge crowds. Many of the photographs were taken by soldiers in the field or while on leave – with some even taken by enemy soldiers. The collection depicts sweeping desert views of Light Horse troops on the march, scenes of devastation on the Western front, and rare snapshots of occupied Germany.
When: Saturday 25 June 2016 to Sunday 21 August 2016, 9am-5pm.
Where: Exhibition Galleries
State Library of New South Wales
Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Cost: Free.
The images were printed and hand-coloured at Colarts Studio in Melbourne, which was established by Captain William Donovan Joynt VC.

Maitland City Hall of Fame opens online

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Some of Maitland’s most successful academics, politicians, artists and sportspeople have become the inaugural inductees into the Maitland City Hall of Fame.
A total of 25 individuals local heroes, including Athel D’Ombrain, Ruth Cracknell, Cheryl Kernot, Garry Barton and Ken Tubman, are being inducted, 15 posthumously.
The inductees, their families and friends and civic leaders took part in the historical event which was held on Thursday at Maitland Regional Art Gallery.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 7, 2016.

Former Maitland councillor Ray Fairweather has called for a full time caretaker at historic Walka Water Works

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Former Maitland councillor Ray Fairweather spent almost 20 years working at Walka Water Works, planting more than 11,000 trees and promoting it as the city’s leading tourist attraction.
The man once known as "Mr Walka" has been sitting on the sidelines listening to recent debate about what Maitland City Council should do with the historic establishment. His answer: “Leave it alone.”

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 6, 2016.

Maitland's historic Walka Water Works backdrop for new show

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Walka Water Works is being used as the backdrop for a promotional video on Channel Seven’s latest reality cooking show hosted by celebrity patissier Adriano Zumbo.
Zumbo’s Just Desserts will search for Australia’s sweetest home cooks and is schedule to go to air after the Olympic Games.
The Seven Network started to promote the show on air the same week Maitland City Council announced it would place on public exhibition a draft masterplan for the site and Cr Loretta Baker suggested turning it into a day spa and wellness centre.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 4, 2016.

Invitation to a Commemoration of Captain James Cook and Sir Joseph Banks

St. James Church extends an invitation to attend a Commemoration of the lives of Captain James Cook, FRS, RN and Sir Joseph Banks, Bt, GCB, PRS at 3pm on Sunday 24^th July 2016 at St. James Church – 173 King Street, Sydney.

This tribute will occur in the context of a service of Choral Evensong, during which the Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor of NSW, the Honourable Tom Bathurst AC, will unveil a plaque in their memory, and Mr Paul Brunton OAM, Emeritus Curator of the State Library will give an address.

St. James Church has kindly offered to reserve seats for RAHS Members at this event. RAHS Members can RSVP to history@rahs.org.au or call (02) 9247 8001 by the 19^th July.

Nostalgic glassware on display at Campbell's Store Morpeth

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A nostalgic exhibition has opened at Campbell’s Store, Morpeth this morning.
Remember Nana’s green and amber glasses and vases? Well they’re aplenty at the Depression Glass Exhibition.
More than 500 items of 80-plus year old glass produced during the 1930s are on display and it is rare to find so many pieces available for sale and on exhibition, said Campbell’s Store owner Trevor Richards.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 1, 2016.

Calls for Maitland community input on how to use Walka Water Works

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A Maitland councillor has flagged plans for a day spa and wellness centre for Maitland’s historic Walka Water Works.
Cr Loretta Baker told this week’s council meeting that the site’s pumphouse would make an ideal location for a day spa when councillors were discussing an interpretation plan for the site.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, July 1, 2016.

Maitland Council adopts masterplan for Walka Water Works

From the Maitland Mercury report:
An educational hub, a tourist attraction of national significance and a spa are just three of the possibilities for Maitland’s historic Walka Water Works.Maitland City Council unanimously approved a master plan for the 64 hectare site at a meeting this week and councillors couldn’t be happier.The water works property is owned by the State Government but council pays substantial maintenance costs each year.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 28, 2016.

Maitland's cathedral precinct project

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The proposed revamp of Central Maitland’s cathedral precinct is closer to receiving welcome state government funding.
The project has been shortlisted for a $3.95 million share in the state’s mining royalties as part of the latest round of the Resources for Regions program. Maitland City Council and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle have lodged an application for the funding.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 26, 2016.

New beginnings at Maitland's historic Walka Water Works

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Historic Walka Water Works is poised for a new beginning with Maitland City Council tipped to adopt a master plan for the site.
Councillors will vote at a meeting on Tuesday night whether to adopt the plan which will make the historical, political and cultural significance of the site accessible to the community.
Walka is located two kilometres north of Central Maitland and comprises 64.2 hectares of Crown land.
Full article available at Maitland Mercury, June 26, 2016.