The Maitland Collection - Art by Holly McNamee

Friends of Grossman House - The Maitland Collection is part of a series of artworks by Maitland artist, Holly McNamee, who draws on her relationship with many of the unique buildings of historic Maitland. The artist has been working on this collection of drawings and paintings for the past 2 years, as an enduring and growing register of her appreciation of the Maitland of both her past and present and the stories the places hold.
Date and Times: 10am - 3pm, 11-13, 18-20 and 25-27 May 2011.
Location: Grossman House, Brough House, Church Street, Maitland, NSW.
Telephone: 02 4934 4314 or 02 4933 6452

Dictionary of Sydney update

The Dictionary of Sydney has released its quarterly update, with 33 new entries and hundreds of new images, people, organisations and connections.

Mark St Leon's major essay on Circus in Sydney is illustrated from his private collection, including footage of Col Colleano's famous tightwire somersaults. Read the essay.
Other highlights include new essays on Sydney's Russian and Maori communities, place entries for Eastwood, Green Park and Yaralla, and entries on Arabanoo, the Royal Society and the Technical and Working Men's College.

History Council of New South Wales talk in May

Australia’s Colonial Experience in New Guinea between the Wars

Michael Waterhouse, author of Not a Poor Man’s Field, pares back layers of “lost history” in providing insights into Australia’s colonial experience in New Guinea.

Presented by: The Sydney Institute

When: 5.30 for 6pm, Tuesday 3 May 2011 Where: 41 Phillip Street, Sydney

Cost: Free to Associates and one Guest; Students $5; Others $10
Bookings essential, from 19 April  Contact: (02) 9252 3366

Anzac Day at Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Crowd attendance “believed to be records” delighted RSL officials at both Maitland and East Maitland RSL dawn services and main commemorations yesterday.

An estimated 2000 turned out at the Cenotaph in Maitland Park which stunned Maitland RSL officers.
In East Maitland, the RSL said their commemorative service numbers stood at about 600, while the dawn service drew one of the biggest crowds ever seen there.
Full article by Alan Hardie available at Maitland Mercury, 26 Apr, 2011.

Hunter Knitters Guild are about to take over Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The Hunter Knitters Guild are about to take over Maitland with their biennial exhibition, featuring 300 expertly-crafted articles.

It is the first time in the guild’s 22-year history that the exhibition will be held in Maitland. Titled Knitting Outside the Square, the exhibition will feature the works of more than 40 Hunter knitters and the intricacy of the mitred square.
Knitting Outside the Square will be held at the Maitland CWA Hall on Saturday, April 30, and Sunday, May 1, from 10am until 4pm.

Full article by Emma Swain available at Maitland Mercury, 22 Apr, 2011.

Morpeth Court House

From the Maitland Mercury report:

Photographs of court house hold clues to its evolution. Sepia-toned snapshots of Morpeth Court House – whether as the focus of the photograph or a snippet in the background – could contain vital clues about the evolution of the structure. Maitland City Council has issued a call for anyone with historic photographs of the 1862-established court house to help fill a shortage of images of the building.

Full article by Briony Snedden available at Maitland Mercury, 15 Apr, 2011.

Royal Australian Historical Society Meeting

Notice of 2011 Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Royal Australian Historical Society Annual General Meeting will be held Wednesday 27 April, 2011 at 6.00 pm at History House, 133 Macquarie Street, Sydney. Any financial member is entitled to attend and vote. A member may appoint a proxy to attend and vote in his or her stead. The proxy must be a financial member of the Society at the time of voting.