Ludwig Leichhardt – nearly 200 years!

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Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt was born in Trebatsch, Germany, 70km south of Berlin, on October 23, 1813. Leichhardt studied Greek, Latin, English, French, German, Mathematics, Physics and natural history at grammar school in Cottbus until he was 18, when he commenced studies at the Universities of Gottingen and Berlin. At Berlin he met Englishman William Nicholson, whom he accompanied to England in 1837. In London, and also Paris, he studied medicine and natural history. Leichhardt had been taught to sketch and draw by his brother-in-law Freidrich Schmalfuss, and arrived in Australia on the Sir Edward Paget in February, 1841 with plans for exploring and studying the botany, zoology and geology of the continent. He spent time exploring the land between Newcastle and Brisbane in 1843 and his first major expedition began in October 1844 where he spent over 12 months crossing from Brisbane to Port Essington (today known as Darwin). Returning to Sydney, Leichhardt was warmly received by colonial society and awarded gold medals by the Royal Geographical Society of London and the Geographical Society of Paris. It was at this time that he wrote his Journal of an Overland Expedition form Moreton Bay to Port Essington.

In 1846, Leichhardt set out once again from the Darling Downs with the intention of traveling northwards, then westwards and ending up moving down towards Perth. Unfortunately the expedition was only able to travel about 800km, but due to bad weather and ill health, Leichhardt had to turn back.

The third and final expedition left in February 1848. April was the last communication with the trekking party and the 5th of April was the last time the party was seen. No further news was received from Leichhardt and, despite many searches, no trace of the expedition has ever been found. During his explorations, Leichhardt named several species of plants and some of his original specimens are kept at the Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.

A local businessman, Walter Beames, supported Ludwig Leichhardt on his first expedition by supplying the explorer with supplies and equipment for his journey.

Beames had bought what was then known as the Piperston Estate. As an acknowledgement of the support that Beames had shown, Leichhardt named a tributary of the Albert River in Queensland ; Beames Brook. Beames, in turn, renamed Piperston to Leichhardt, and when the estate was subdivided in 1849, the area became known as Leichhardt Town.

When the municipality was incorporated in 1871, Walter Beames was the first returning officer and his nephew, Frank Beames, was the first Mayor. The municipality was called Leichhardt and it still is to this day.

More items available for in house research from our collection: 

Journal of an overland expedition in Australia, from Moreton Bay to Port Essington : a distance of upwards of 3000 miles during the years 1844-1845 / [by] Ludwig Leichhardt. 
Author: Leichhardt, Ludwig, 1813-1848. Published: 1980 
Whirlwinds in the plain : Ludwig Leichhardt - friends, foes and history / by E.M. Webster. 
Author: Webster, Elsie May, 1929- Published: 1980 
Library Catalogue

Old Balmain: Paddocks and Shipyards.

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Paddocks

The two biggest paddocks in Balmain, were Pilchers (Grafton Street) and Ory’s (cnr of Elliot and Glassop Streets) Ory’s was thickly covered with bushes and trees and a good playground for the children who loved to climb. housing commission homes are built there today.

Shipyards:  Many shipyards were seen around the shores of Balmain and some played a very significant role during World War II. they were Mort’s Dock and Engineering, Foole and Steel, Howard Smith, White and Co S.G White, Adelaide Steamship, Chapmans Dock, Jubilee Storey and Keers, Morrison and Sinclair and Sydney Ferries.

Balmain’s Maritime History includes the history of boat yards, shipyards and ship repair yards which once inhabited Balmain and provided employment for Painters and Dockers.

  • 1. Poole and Steel, Stephen Street
  • 2. Irma and Dick White, Shipwriting, Grafton Street
  • 3. Maritime Services Board Depot, Cameron’s Cove (now proposed Water Police)
  • 4. Nichol Bros. Pty Ltd and Penquin Heavy Lifting Pty Ltd  10-20 Weston Street Balmain East.
  • 5. S.G. White & Co. (the “Bull Ring”) Lookes Avenue
  • 6. Maritime Services Board, Goat Island
  • 7. Adelaide S.S. Co., Nicholson Street
  • 8. Chapman’s Slipway, Hart Street
  • 9. Mort’s Dock & Eng. Co., Mort Bay
  • 10. Stannard’s Launches, Lemm Street
  • 11. Jubilee Eng. Co., Yeroulbin Street
  • 12. Morrison & Sinclair, Long Nose (now Yeroulbin) Point
  • 13. Storey & Keers, Louisa Road
  • 14. Howard Smith S.S. Co. (old coal mine site), Water Street, moved from Adolphus
  • 15. Cockatoo Island
  • 16. S.G. White (“Bull Ring”), Fitzroy Avenue, moved from Lookes Avenue

 

Nicol Bros Pty Ltd and Penguin Heavy Lifting Pty Ltd, 10-20 Weston Street.

 

Old Balmain: Soap Manufacturers

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Lever Brothers

Two major soap Manufacturers were in Balmain for many years, Lever Bros and Colgate Palmolive, Lever Brothers was surrounded by seven streets and started in the early 1900’s. The company had it’s own sawmill for making their wooden cases for packing of their products. The company had a big hall in Roseberry place, called Sunlight Hall and this was used as a dining room and at times a company dance hall. Two of the old time soaps produced by Levers were Lifebuoy, carbollice toilet soap for bathing and monkey soap for cleaning pots and pans.

Colgate started operating in 1924 and built on the old meat works sight in Colgate Avenue (then known as Broadstairs Street) after the meat works closed down after WW1. A wide range of products were being manufactured at the Balmain factory, not only soap and toothpaste, but shampoo, shaving cream, brilliantine, powder, rouge, and lipstick. The workers at Colgate Palmolive developed skills, speed and pride in their work. Stamping, finishing, wrapping and packing were all done largely by hand.

Colgate Palmolive Products

Old Balmain  week 1

History Week 2012 Threads – they wore what!

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THREADS: 8-16 September They wore what?! History Week 2012 will explore the history of threads and unpick the meaning behind the wardrobes of the past.

Everyone is warming up to History Weeks theme of “Threads” at Leichhardt Library we will be holding an exhibition on Threads that made Leichhardt Fashionista’s .

Time to dig deep into your wardrobes does anyone out there have Granny’s 1940s tailored suit in the cupboard or perhaps a 1960’s mini dress or 1970’s flares or some

great family photos displaying the fashions worn by families growing up in Leichhardt.

If you do and would like to contribute to the exhibition we would love to hear from you.

just email us at localhistory@lmc.nsw.gov.au

     Check out up and coming events for History Week at twitter.com/#!/history_week

 

C.H.E Blackmann 1835 -1912 The disappearing architect.

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Oybin built 1880-1881

Norma Perry has published a thorough and informative research on the often over looked architect C.H.E Blackmann, Architect of Oybin, 270 Johnston Street, Annandale which was his own residence. Some of the buildings he co- designed with Varney Parkes include Goulbourn Post Office (1880) St Andrews, Summer Hill, (1880) Stanmore Public School (1883), Erskinville Public School (1882) Glenmore Road Public School, (1882) and St Andrews Hall (1880) By 1885 Blackmann and Parkes had designed more than 110 buildings.

Despite a career of 20 years in Australia as a leading Sydney architect and member of the council of the Institute of Architects Charles Henry Edmund Blackmann has been erased and his contribution to Australian Architecture reduced to a racy tale of fraud and exile from society due to illicit sex.  During his lifetime his contemporaries lauded his skills in mining engineering, drawing, design, project management and architecture. Now Blackmann has no, entry in the Australian Dictionary of Biography, he is a side note, mentioned only as a partner in biographical notes of Varney Parkes (Blackman and Parkes) and Sir John Sulman (Blackman and Sulman).

This book records his substantial contribution to architecture in Australia, as well as a fascinating story of German migration, mining, family life in Victorian times and the consequences of his desertion and flight to California. The Book also covers the origins and design of Oybin (part of the Abbey group, including the witches houses)

Heritage Inventory for Oybin on the Heritage State Register Oybin

To Purchase the book clicke here or you can borrow a copy  from Leichhardt Library.

Saving Ballast Point – an evening talk with local activist who saved Ballast Point.

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Fergus Fricke

 The 32nd Heritage Festival – Innovation and Invention was the perfect opportunity to commemorate the long and hard efforts of the local resident activist groups who fought a 15 year battle to save Ballast Point from development and the clutches of the Walker corporation. On April 26th a lively crowd gathered at Balmain Town Hall to hear Fergus Fricke, Helen Styles and Roger Parkes talk about their role in the battle which began in 1989 when the 5 sites in Balmain, Unilever, Caltex, Ampol, Monsanto, Balmain Power Station,  were up for rezoning and development. They were an innovative group of resident/ community activist starting with the Snails Bay Action Group then the Ballast Point Action Group, White Bay Action Group, Mort Bay Action Group and the Balmain Association. They all united to create BURST (Balmain United, Residents, Strategic Taskforce).   They were innovative in their tactics, and strategies, raising money with Harbour cruises and evening dinners at Taronga Zoo, getting the media onside and taking it to the Land and Environment Courts.The Battle was won in 2002 when the Bob Carr Government purchased the land for Public open Space for $24 million. (Alot of the leg work had been carried out by BURST) Mcgregor and Coxall won the contract to design and landscape the site.  They responded to the history of the site and incorporated the industrial features of the old caltex site into their design along with leaving the skeleton of the oil tanks and clanking iron stairs. Echoing further the history of the site, is the display of crockery from the original house  that stood on the land “Menevia”  The park’s design is loaded with symbolism and meaning with references to the Balmain Tigers, Caltex, when it was used as a Ballast, it also features a three teared  environmentally sound draining system. Jan Woods of Woodland productions created footage of the key events of the Local Community activists, on the victory harbour cruise, sausage sizzle and opening of the new  Ballast Point Park in 2009. Larry Hand, June Lunsmann, Jan Wood, Helen Styles, Fergus Fricke, Kathleen Hamey and Susan Callaghan.

The audience included ex mayor of Leichhardt Larry Hand, Tom Uren, Trevor Snape, June Lunsmann, Kath and Val Hamey, Diana Garder and Malcolm Garder and Balmain photographer David Liddle.

Local Resident activists

Heritage Festival Exhibition

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“A Patchwork of Memories of Balmain in the 50’s, 60’s , 70’s and 80’s”

An exhibition of retrospective art work by Jan Wood. 

Jan Wood will exhibit her work as part of the Heritage Festival Events for 2012.

Her work includes images of the older Balmain including Ballast Point when it was Caltex,
Mort’s Dock and Darling Street.  

Opens Monday 2nd April – 30th April
Leichhardt Library

Opening Hours of the Library Enquiries – 9367 9266