Monthly Archives: October 2008

Marine Officer, Convict Wife : the Johnstons of Annandale

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George Johnston played an important part in creating a viable colony out of pitiable beginnings. He gained enduring notoriety for deposing govenor Bligh in 1808 but his wider role as a soldier and entrepreneur was no less important. In a new book written by Alan Roberts of the Annandale Urban Research Association Johnston’s achievements, and their personal cost to him, provide for a fascinating read.

More striking is the depiction of Esther, a young milliner transported for stealing 21 yards of silk lace who rose to play a key role in managing Johnston’s large pastoral properties. The name of Johnston will always be associated with Annandale, if only for Johnston Street. Marine Officer, Convict Wife is a study of place as well as personality, tracing the development of Annandale from 1793 when the family farm and mansion dominated the district just west of Sydney, to the 1870s when it began to take shape as a suburb.

Paintings, drawings and photographs illustrate a new world being created in an unfamiliar landscape. Funded through Leichhardt Council’s Local History Grants Programme, Marine Officer, Convict Wife will fascinate not just those who enjoy local history and architecture, but anyone with an interest in the early days of white settlement in Sydney. Available from all good bookstores, Marine Officer, Convict Wife retails at $29.95

Inner Sydney stories. .

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Enjoy a discussion on the history of Sydney’s inner suburbs. Hear about the development, people and architecture of Darlington, Paddington and the Hungry Mile with Joan Lawrence (The Sydney good walks guide); marvel at the background to the railways, wool stores and wharves of the Pyrmont peninsula with Hilary Golder (Pyrmont and Ultimo: Under siege); and enjoy a different perspective on Glebe, once a country retreat for affluent city families, with Max Solling (Grandeur and grit: A history of Glebe).

Tuesday 28 October, 5.30 pm for 6.00 pm

Dixson Room, Mitchell wing, State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney 

$15 (State Library Friends), $20 (seniors), $22, includes light refreshments
Bookings: 9273 14 14

Pictures of the week 7 & 8

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Completed in 1885 by Colonial Architect James Barnett in cooperation with Dr Frederick N. Manning, Inspector for the Insane, some twenty neo-classical buildings were constructed and named the Kirkbride Block on the former Garry Owen estate after the U.S. psychiatrist Dr Thomas Kirkbride. Kirkbride advocated the importance of natural surroundings in the treatment of mental illness, and essential to the Callan Park plan were the extensive parklands designed by the Director of the Botanic Gardens Charles Moore.

 

Patients occupied the buildings until 1994 when they were handed over to Sydney University who moved their Sydney College of the Arts from Reynolds Street Balmain to the site in 1996. More on the Kirkbride model of treatment in an international context can be found here: http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com

 

Images – photographer Richard Hughes

Picture of the week 6

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Balmain Tigers Grand Final win, 1969

Balmain Tigers Grand Final win, 1969

 A foundation club of NSW Rugby League, the Balmain Tigers played their first match on April 20th 1908 against Western Suburbs at Birchgrove Oval, winning 24 to nil. Remembering their 1969 premiership win against fellow inner-city club South Sydney, Balmain’s Francis Peters-Little says “It was one of the happiest days for Balmain, we went up and down Darling Street and just yelled and yelled and screamed, we felt so proud of our local team, it was just an awesome day”

 

More on the Tigers Centenary can be found at:

http://www.tigers.org.au/centenary/default.aspx