Friday, March 24, 2017

Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival is on this weekend

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Shine your shoes and put your glad rags on – the Kurri Kurri Nostalgia Festival is on this weekend.
The annual celebration of all things ‘50s and ‘60s will kick off on Friday afternoon with a high tea and retro fashion parade at Kurri Kurri High School.
Get your program here.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 24 Mar 2017.

The first of the iconic machinery for 2017 Steamfest arrive in Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The first of Steamfest’s iconic engines has rolled into Maitland in preparation for the 32nd ​iteration of the event.
Among the hissing, churning machinery that draws thousands of people to the town is Sooty, a 1926 Fowler engine that journeys more than 360 kilometres from inland NSW to Maitland each year.
“Sooty would have more than 20 years at Steamfest now,” Councilor, co-pilot and The Burton Automotive Group Hunter Valley Steamfest organiser Peter Garnham said.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 22 Mar 2017.

Paterson Town Walk 2017

Paterson's annual town walk will be held on Sunday 2 April 2017. Dr Cameron Archer AM will take the group on an informative tour of the town's historical features. The walk starts at the Paterson Court House Museum at 1.00pm. Cost is $5 for adults, including museum entry and afternoon tea. Children are free. Media Release

Council pushes for maximum security on Maitland Gaol's long term future

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland City Council has locked into place plans to secure its long term tenure of Maitland Gaol and to cement the site’s standing as one of the region’s iconic tourist attractions.
A submission has been made for funding through the Public Reserves Management Fund and council will now engage a consultant to undertake a gaol business plan.
Council initially undertook tours of the gaol almost immediately after it closed in 1998 and was offered a licence to operate the property as a tourism facility in 2000.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 22 Mar 2017.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Call for nominations for Maitland's annual Hall of Fame awards

From the Maitland Mercury article:
Do you know someone who is a big Maitland achiever or someone who has achieved significant prominence in their field?
 
Maitland City Council is calling for nominations for the 2017 Maitland Hall of Fame and asking the community to nominate someone worthy of induction.
The Hall of Fame recognises the achievements and contributions of those people who have a strong association with Maitland and have achieved significant prominence in their field.

Last year the inaugural induction included champion boxer Les Darcy, actor Ruth Cracknell, Arnott’s biscuit entrepreneur William Arnott and Maitland identities like naturalist and photographer Athel D’Ombrain and former NSW Transport Minister and Member for Maitland Milton Morris.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 14 Mar 2017.

Images of Sydney in the 1960s

Join professional photographer and History Council of NSW member Russell Workman for a photographic talk at the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts. Russell will share his vintage photographs taken in and around Sydney during the 1960s, revealing how the city has changed and those areas that have stayed the same.

When: Wednesday 29 March 2017. 12:30-1:30pm.
Where: Mitchell Theatre, Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Cost: Free – no bookings required.
Contact: library@smsa.org.au or 02 9262 7300

Historic Belmore Hotel poised for more improvements

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland’s historic Belmore Hotel is set for another change with an application before tomorrow night’s council meeting for alterations to the landmark pub.
The hotel’s owners are proposing alterations and additions to enclose the existing outdoor dining area and extend the existing garden bar.
There are also plans to demolish the existing gaming court and build a new indoor gaming room and convert the existing gaming room into new toilets.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 13 Mar 2017

Former St Barnabas Anglican Church : O'Rourke family feels blessed

From the Maitland Mercury report:
You may say it was divine intervention but for the O’Rourke family of East Maitland it was the best investment they have ever made.
Three years ago Susan and Simon O’Rourke were house-hunting in the Maitland area, looking for something with a little bit of character and some rustic charm.
The former St Barnabas Anglican Church was a great find for the O’Rourkes. The magic happened on Valentines Day 2014. It was a match made in heaven.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 11 Mar 2017.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Community War Memorials Fund

Applications for the  Community War Memorials Fund are now open and close on Anzac Day, 25 April 2017.
The NSW Government established the Community War Memorials Fund to help protect and conserve war memorials across NSW. Since the establishment of the program in 2008, grants have been provided for a wide range of projects including honour roll repair, war memorial cleaning and conservation work, arborist advice for war memorial trees, memorial conservation assessments, security measures for memorials, repairs to war memorial halls and improvements to the accessibility of memorials.

Vanessa Berry, author of the blog Mirror Sydney - a bus tour of Sydney Lost and Found

Join Vanessa Berry, author of the blog Mirror Sydney, on a bus tour of Sydney Lost and Found. A mystery tour travelling south from the city, the journey will explore a series of curious sites with interesting stories to tell. Discover hidden traces and suburban oddities, stories of crime and controversy, and secret histories of the urban environment.
 
Embracing the obscurities and anomalies of Sydney's suburbs, the tour will reveal a different side of the city you thought you knew.
 
Produced especially to accompany the Demolished Sydney exhibition.
 

Maitland councillors vote to commit $50,000 to next month's Steamfest

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland's internationally acclaimed Steamfest could lose status, if more funds are not channeled into the event.
A Maitland council meeting this week heard how costs for the delivery of the festival have grown substantially in recent years.
A report said increasing costs present a challenge for staff  who attempt to continue to deliver a quality product with less funds for activity programming and marketing.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 1 Mar 2017.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Remembering the 1955 Maitland flood

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The 1955 Maitland flood was one of the most severe catastrophes to ever hit the region.
It destroyed thousands of homes as water inundated the city and claimed several lives.
On Wednesday February 23, 1955 heavy rain began falling in the Upper Hunter Valley. This would be the beginning of a horrendous week for the people of Maitland.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 23 Feb 2017.

National Archives content on the Google Cultural Institute

We’re delighted the National Archives now has a selection of curated collection content on the Google Cultural Institute platform.
Initially we have six digital exhibitions, which draw on  past Archives’ exhibitions:
• Design 29: creating a capital
• Beacons by the Sea
• Strike a Pose
• Summers Past
• Max Dupain on Assignment
• Banned.
In future, this will be complemented by other content. In the meantime, take a peek at our exhibitions at Google Cultural Institute.

History Council of NSW 2017 Awards and Prizes now open

The History Council of NSW is delighted to announce its awards and prizes for 2017 are now open. The History Council of NSW’s program of awards and prizes foster excellence in Australian historical writing, showcase and reward best practice, and advance and promote public understanding and appreciation of history.
  • The Deen De Bortoli Award for Applied History ($5,000), generously sponsored by De Bortoli Wines – 2017 Nomination form (pdf 221.KB)
  • The Aboriginal History Prize ($1,000) – 2017 Nomination form (pdf 201.KB)
  • The Max Kelly Medal ($500), sponsored by Geoffrey Jones – 2017 Nomination form (pdf 155.KB)
  • ENTRIES CLOSE Friday 31 March 2017

    A trip down memory lane for Maitland Show

    From the Maitland Mercury report:
    Bill Atmore and Janice Blackwell share their experiences at the show.
    In days gone by Maitland Show was filled with crowds in their Sunday best.
    People came from far and wide to be part of the iconic event, which was a major event on the yearly calendar, and many entered to be part of it.
    Ladies entered their needlework and cooking while men entered their farm produce and their animals.
    But it was the attire they wore that has long-time show patrons Bill Atmore and Janice Blackwell thinking of the past.

    Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 21 Feb 2017.

    Brough and Grossmann House laundry opens

    From the Maitland Mercury report:
    The final major piece of a Maitland historical site has been restored and will be unveiled to the public this weekend.
    The laundry at Grossmann and Brough House might not be as glamorous as the stately Victorian homes it serviced – but those behind the project say it will offer the important historic insights.

    Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 21 Feb 2017.

    Search begins for next Maitland Hall of Fame entrant

    From the Maitland Mercury report:
    There are countless examples of exceptional Maitland residents from throughout the city’s history.
    Maitland City Council is calling for people to nominate someone they think worthy of recognition in the city’s new Hall of Fame.
    The accolade recognises people who have a strong association with Maitland who have achieved significant prominence in their field.
    Nominations for this year’s induction, scheduled to take place in July, are being called for under the category of either academia, arts, business, public service or sport.

    Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 21 Feb 2017.