Friday, October 28, 2016

Work on Riverlink Building begins in The Levee, Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Work to build The Levee Riverlink Building, a cornerstone of Maitland Council’s major city-centre revamp, will begin on Monday.
Three High Street premises will be demolished to make way for the arch structure, which will link the shared pedestrian and vehicle zone to the bank of the Hunter River.
It will feature public open space, public art, new amenities and a cafĂ©.
The Riverlink Building is a key part of council’s $9.92 million second stage of the central Maitland upgrades.
“It has been a little over 12 months since council officially opened The Levee development component one to vehicle traffic, which has seen the space blossom with activity,” council’s general manager David Evans said.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 24 Oct 2016.

Inside History September 2016 edition

Inside History magazine is for people passionate about Australian family history and heritage, with features and practical tips to help you trace your family tree and discover the life your ancestor led. Whether you want to explore convict history, find your Anzac, identify photographs or trace your family tree, our trusted expert advice will help you discover your past.
In issue 36, the Spring 2016 edition of Australia’s favourite history and genealogy magazine, you’ll discover:
  • 150+ new family history records online
  • The case of an Irish orphan girl
  • Tracing your Welsh ancestry
  • A Victoria Cross winner turned war propagandist
  • Journeying aboard a Royal Mail coach
  • Chasing Captain Thunderbolt
  • Two million years of world history in 100 objects
  • The stretcher-bearers of Passchendaele
  • A new Irish parish maps resource
  • The Indigenous warrior who fought against Brisbane’s colonial settlement

History Council of NSW secures 2017 funding

The History Council of NSW is delighted to announce it has been successful in its application for 2017 funding from the NSW Government through Arts NSW‘s Arts and Cultural Development program.
The Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant, yesterday announced the range of artists and cultural organisations across New South Wales who have secured funding to deliver a range of ‘innovative and vibrant annual programs and individual projects to local communities’.
The History Council of NSW aims to build capacity in the history sector and connect new audiences with stories from the past. As with previous years, the History Council of NSW will continue to host its state-wide festival – History Week – for its 20th year, however, it will add a new range of programs in 2017.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

New exhibition coming to Museum of Sydney : Demolished Sydney

This summer the Museum of Sydney will host Demolished Sydney, an exhibition exploring the buildings that once shaped the city’s skyline, from the convict built Commissariat Stores to the city's last island of industry, the Kent Brewery. 
Curated by Dr Nicola Teffer, the exhibition examines the histories of 13 sites and asks, what are the forces that have shaped our changing city and how do we value and preserve the heritage of the city we inherit?
Demolished Sydney brings back to life the heritage of a Sydney that is gone but not forgotten.

Currency Lass opens Les Darcy cafe to pay it forward

From the Maitland Mercury report:
In a year, High Street’s Currency Lass has transformed from a dilapidated former pub to accommodation for the Hunter’s homeless. Next month one of the final pieces of the puzzle will fall into place, a pay-it-forward cafe styled after a Maitland legend.
Founder Liz Berger said patrons of the cafe can donate extra money which will be used to provide a coffee or meal to families and individuals struggling to make ends meet.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 16 Oct 2016.

Hunter (Living) Histories - Coal River Working Party - Carrington Pump House

Illustrations from Thesis 608 held in the University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections (Auchmuty Library).

John Gibson was on 1233 ABC Radio this morning (8 October 2016) announcing the heritage nomination for the Carrington Pumphouse and the historic hydraulic works established in Newcastle in 1877. We were surprised to find that it had been established just a year after the one in the United Kingdom and predates the pumphouse in Sydney which was not built until 1891.
For further information see: https://hunterlivinghistories.com/2016/10/11/carrington-pump-house/

The National Archives of Australia Preservation Facility

The future of the 40 million Commonwealth records held by the National Archives has been bolstered through three major projects: the upgrade of the Chester Hill repository in Sydney completed in late 2015; the National Archives Preservation Facility (NAPF) in Canberra, which is well underway; and a third that is subject to further approval processes. The combined capacity will enable us to accept records until 2031.

The relocation of records to the NAPF in Canberra is an exciting evolution for the Archives. The architecturally designed, environmentally sustainable building has storage for approximately 25 per cent of our extensive collection. It will house 104 kilometres of paper records, more than nine kilometres of audio-visual records and a digital archive, ensuring the preservation and conservation of our irreplaceable collection continues into the future.
There will be disruption to access to the Canberra-based collection from 30 October 2016 to 1 July 2017, as we relocate 15 million records from multiple repositories and rehouse them in the NAPF.

Greetings from Maitland by Trevor Dickinson at Maitland Regional Art Gallery

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Renowned illustrator Trevor Dickinson is turning his vibrant lens up the Hunter, with an exhibition celebrating Maitland’s well-worn vistas.
The artworks capture everything from the instantly recognisable facade of the Grand Junction Hotel to a promotional inflatable yellow rubber duck perched atop an East Maitland bottleshop.
“All along this part of Maitland the buildings are so grand and diverse,” Mr Dickinson said, gesturing to Central Maitland.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 13 Oct 2016.

Benhome resident Trudy Edmonds celebrates 100th birthday

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Trudy Edmonds has become just the second Benhome resident to turn 100 in the aged care home’s 150 year history.
Mrs Edmonds notched up her century surrounded by friends and family at the home on Friday.
Her family made quite the crowd at the gathering, as Mrs Edmonds has a large number of relatives.
She married Harry Edmonds in 1933 and went on to have five children, 14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 10 great, great-grandchildren.
Mrs Edmonds was born and raised in Horseshoe Bend, and also lived at Tenambit, Tea Gardens and Rutherford.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 11 Oct 2016.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Bicentenary of the Royal Botanic Gardens

To celebrate the Bicentenary of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the State Library of NSW and Sydney Living Museums invite you to explore the artistic, scientific and social histories of horticulture and gardens.
Join us for this unique, day long program of talks and discussion and take the opportunity to visit our current exhibitions, Botanicals at the Museum of Sydney and Planting Dreams at the State Library of NSW.

Session 1 - Botanical – Artists and Collectors - at the Museum of Sydney
10am for 10.30am-11.30am
Session 2 – Planting Dreams: New Perspectives on Garden History – Richard Aitken - at the State Library of NSW

12.30pm for 1pm-2pm
Session 3 – Australian Garden Culture - at the State Library of NSW
2pm for 2.30pm-3.30pm

Saturday 29 October 2016 10AM–3.30PM     More information: http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/events/botanical-200-years-shaping-australian-gardens 

Maitland Regional Art Gallery - 'Greetings from Maitland' exhibition

Artist: Trevor Dickinson
Greetings from Maitland  is a series of pen drawings and digital prints that forms a unique and personal portrait of Maitland.
Wherever we live, we grow so familiar with aspects of our surroundings that they gradually become invisible. This exhibition will highlight details of Maitland that deserve a second look.
The point of view is that of a visitor getting to know a city by searching for visual clues with a fresh eye, looking for differences and idiosyncrasies that only an outsider can pick up on. The intention is to find a way for the community to re-experience their city.
 
This focus gives equal importance to a decaying street sign as it does to landmark architecture; the approach is to recognise  and interpret the details that give a location its character.
The work is inspired by background locations from classic animations and the strong linework of underground comics, while all the compositions are clear and direct in order to give every subject an iconic status.
15 October 2016 – 29 January 2017 - Maitland Regional Art Gallery

Throwback Thursday: Hunter kids through the ages

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Fairfax photographers have captured the Hunter's kids at play over the years.
Look back at the fun and see if you can spot yourself and anyone you know.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 6 Oct 2016.

Maitland gets $45,000 in state government heritage grant roll-out.

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Two iconic Maitland buildings will receive an upgrade thanks to a state government heritage grant.
Almost $34,000 will go to Walka Water Works to refurbish 10 timber windows.
Dunmore House has been granted $5000 to replace the guttering, downpipes, and collector boxes on the first and second floors.
Maitland City Council also received $6000.
Parliamentary secretary for the Hunter Scot Macdonald announced on Wednesday. It will be drawn from the Hunter Region Heritage Grants program.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 5 Oct 2016.