Monday, December 19, 2016

Heritage representatives visit Morpeth as part of Morpeth Heritage Conservation Group's application

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A Morpeth community group’s bid to have the historic town added to the state heritage list has progressed.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage has met with Maitland council and visited the town as it considers the application.
Two representatives met with council’s urban growth manager Ian Shillington, development and environment manager David Sim and heritage officer Clare James.
Afterwards they met with Morpeth Heritage Conservation Group president Simon Brooker, member Alec Clements and resident Stephen Berry.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 19 Dec 2016.

Maitland Woolworths bombing on December 19, 1980

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Minutes before 2am on December 19, 1980, Maitland Woolworths was bombed.
Located in High Street at the time, next to the Westpac Bank, the blast caused $300,000 of stock damage.
A bomb had been lowered through a vent near the back car park of the variety shop.
Police were aware that Woolworths at Warilla had also been bombed with gelignite using a timer attached, and it too had been lowered through the roof.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 19 Dec 2016.

12 Australian Genealogy Blogs You Should Be Following

From:  Genealogy & History News 
There are millions of blogs out there … on just about any topic that you can think of, including family history, genealogy and history.
But which ones should you follow? Back in 2013 Jill Ball and Inside History Magazine put together a listing of the Top 50 Blogs You Need To Read, and I must say that is a great list. So do yourself a favour and check it out.

However, if you don’t have time to subscribe and follow all 50, here’s just 12 Australian history/genealogy related ones that we have chosen.

Royal Australian Historical Society events 2017

RAHS ---  Our Calendar of Events for the summer season has just been released. We have excursions to Government House, the Australian National Maritime Museum and The Rocks Discovery Museum/YHA Big Dig Site planned (numbers are limited so book early to secure your place).
Guest speakers at History House will present a range of history topics, including the occupational pursuits of Greek-Australians, New South Wales and the Great War, and the life of Marie Byles – the first female solicitor of NSW, to name a few. The next Arts NSW funded RAHS regional seminar will take place in Wauchope, NSW, in mid March and Oral History NSW will return to History House for an Introduction to Oral History in April.

Maitland council will investigate restoration of Dunmore Lang family's tomb

From the Maitland Mercury report:
A family crypt containing the remains of some of Australia’s earliest settlers may soon be restored and put on the tourist map.
Maitland City Council voted unanimously at a meeting this week to investigate the purchase of land and the funding of the restoration of the Dunmore Lang family crypt at Largs.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 14 Dec 2016.

Maitland councillor Arch Humphery calls on council to restore historic Dunmore family gravesite

From the Maitland Mercury report:
Maitland councillor Arch Humphery is on a mission to retore the derelict tomb of the pioneering Dunmore Lang family.
The family crypt located opposite Dunmore House on Paterson Road, Largs is a significant part of Maitland’s history many people are unaware of.
Cr Humphery said the family set up the area’s first flour mill on the Paterson River, which employed 350 people. They also built historic Dunmore House, a landmark Hunter building which owners Paris and Mittie Osborne have restored.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 12 Dec 2016.

The Maitland Mercury moves into new home in Central Maitland

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The first edition of the Maitland Mercury has been produced from the masthead’s new home, in Central Maitland. Staff have moved in to the Elgin Street premises – next to the ANZ bank  and the office will open as normal during business hours from Monday.
The move from 555 High Street – near The Long Bridge – came almost five years after staff relocated from opposite Maitland Town Hall, where the paper was produced for more than a century.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 12 Dec 2016.

Friday, December 9, 2016

Annual Christmas Fare - Hyde Park Barracks Museum

This one-evening-only event will feature over 40 stalls, providing the opportunity to shop from a hand-picked selection of Sydney’s finest artisan producers, makers and small-scale retailers. From create-your-own gourmet food hampers to premium handmade produce and artisan wares, we have your gift shopping covered as well as everything you need for your Christmas table.
Thursday 15 December, 4pm–9pm, Hyde Park Barracks Museum
More info: http://sydneylivingmuseums.com.au/events/christmas-fare-2016

National Archives of Australia relocation

The relocation of 15 million records to the new National Archives Preservation Facility (NAPF) continues. Records are being moved at a rate of 8000 boxes per day! Many months of planning have involved:
• recording the shelf locations of more than 570,000 containers. The Archives’ collection management system takes into account the dimensions of different containers used to house items, from standard type 1 (85 per cent of the collection) to type 0 containers, which are custom-made for particular items.
• replacing damaged containers and wrapping awkward collection items
• planning for the relocation of specialist equipment, including microscopes, cameras and scanners, as well as the digital archive
• undertaking a mass clean-up, moving bulk materials and planning their transition to the NAPF.
There will be disruption to access until 1 July 2017 but you can view digitised records online and in our state and territory offices. For more information please visit the Archives’ website

Maitland vehicles of the 1960s

From the Maitland Mercury:
Throwback Thursday - Vehicles of the 1960s

Gallery available at Maitland Mercury, 8 Dec 2016.

Maitland business through the years

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

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 25 Nov 2016.

John Eales book tells of a respected rogue who shaped the Hunter

From the Maitland Mercury report:
The book charts the spectacular rise and fall of the Eales’ family fortunes over 149 years.
After arriving in Australia from England to take up a land grant at Berry Park near Morpeth in 1823, Eales tackled many business ventures.

A rogue with plenty of energy, Eales was respected and expanded his farming empire and built elaborate metal grain silos, believed to be a first for colonial Australia.
He survived the 1840’s Depression and eventually held more than 16,000 acres (6475ha) of freehold land in Maitland alone. He was involved in 240 land transactions during his lifetime.
Eales dabbled in horse racing, built a private racecourse, bred blood stock and erected Berry Park House, Berry House and Duckenfield House for his son John Jnr.

Full article available at Maitland Mercury, 23 Nov 2016.