Leichhardt, 1950

Saturday 25 July 2009

10.30 AM to 4.45 PM

Metcalfe Auditorium Macquarie Street wing, State Library of NSW

Cost: $48, $42 (Friends) $38 (Oral History Association of Australia members) includes lunch. Morning or afternoon sessions $18 each ($30 with lunch)

George Imashev, formerly of the Australian War Memorial will present a family history: Recorded memories of my family — from Bohemia to Batemans Bay. Sue McClean and Frances Rush, both members of the OHAA, will combine to examine selected photographs as inspiration and background for history and oral history. Sue McClean will address Remembering Burdekin House — a mystery, and Frances Rush will offer A Bea on my bonnet — memories of Bea Miles.

In the afternoon, Rosemary Block, the State Library’s Curator of Oral History, will conduct a practical seminar on oral history practice and technique.

BOOKINGS: 9273 1770 or bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au

The Abbey, 1880s

The entire contents of the Johnston Street, Annandale landmark home The Abbey, being the lifetime collection of Dr Geoffrey Davis, an eminent Sydney physician and music lover. is to be auctioned.

Furnishings include dumbwaiters, revolving bookcases and many cedar chests, extensive display cabinets and bookcases, washstands, desks, chesterfields, early coffer, Georgian gateleg table, boxes and compendiums of all shapes and sizes.

Viewing is Friday 22nd May with the auction happening on both Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th May. The Auctioneers have offered an opportunity for the Annandale Historical Society to ask those attending on the 3 days to donate a gold coin as a means of raising funds for its work.

See the Lawson’s Auctioneers site at http://www.lawsons.com.au/

More info. on The Abbey can be found at: http://localnotes.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/the-houses-of-john-young/

Celebrate the NSW National Trust sponsored Heritage Festival 2009

 – OUR PLACE IN SPACE: UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS

 Cook and Leichhardt: How Explorers Found Their Way

 Friday, 17 April, 2009 

 On his first expedition travelling overland from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, during 1844-45, the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt used the same methods of establishing his position that Captain James Cook had employed on his first voyage, over 70 years earlier. Astronomers at Greenwich Observatory, in particular, Astronomer Royal Neville Maskelyne, who was the villain of the piece in Dava Sobel’s best selling book Longitude, perfected the method of lunar distances as a way of determining longitude.  Longitude, one of the two coordinates necessary to establish position on the Earth’s surface, is difficult to determine, while the other, latitude, can be found relatively easily by observing suitable stars.  In this illustrated talk, the curator of astronomy at Sydney Observatory, Dr Nick Lomb, will explain the method of lunar distances, talk about how James Cook became the first ship’s captain to know his position and discuss Leichhardt’s journey.

 Time: 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm.

 Venue: Within the Leichhardt Town Centre (exact location to be advised depending on Nos. of patrons)

 Cost: Free event

Light food & refreshments will be available.

 Bookings essential please RSVP to 9367 9223

 Marine Officer, Convict Wife. The Johnstons of Annandale

  Wednesday, 8 April, 2009 

 Few Colonial families can boast the fascination of such characters as Major George Johnston, his convict mistress, later wife, Esther Abrahams and their experiences in the young colony of New South Wales.  Author Dr. Alan Roberts will speak on his recently released book ‘Marine Officer, Convict Wife. The Johnstons of Annandale’, funded by Leichhardt Council through the Annandale Urban Research Association.  All copies of the book, for sale on the night, will be signed by the author.  All welcome.

 Time: 6.30 pm – 8.00pm 

 Venue: Annandale Town Hall – 79 Johnston Street, Annandale (behind Annandale Neighbourhood Centre).

Cost: Free event

 Light food & refreshments will be available and books sold at the event will be signed.

 Bookings essential please RSVP to 9367 9223.

Leichhardt Council quarry, Moore Street, Leichhardt, ca 1920  

Leichhardt Council quarry, Moore Street, Leichhardt, ca 1920

NSW PREMIER’S HISTORY AWARDS

The NSW Premier’s History Awards are national awards, made to Australian historians in recognition of distinguished achievement in scholarly writing and publication and in the presentation of history in non-print media. The 2009 awards, each valued at $15,000, are:

• The Australian History Prize for a book on Australian history.
• The General History Prize for a book on international history.
• The NSW Community and Regional History Prize for a book which contributes to the understanding of community, institutional, urban or regional history in New South Wales.
• The Young People’s History Prize for a book or audio/visual presentation which increases the historical understanding of children and young adults.
• The Multimedia History Prize for the presentation of history utilising non-print media (including film, television, radio, CD-ROM, DVD or website).

Closing Date for the 2009 NSW Premier’s History Awards: Friday 17 April 2009.

Balmain Co-operative Store, Montague Street, ca1910

Iron Cove bridge, looking towards Callan Park, ca 1905

We were amused (yet also sobered, given the severity of the 1890s depression) by the following note from a Balmain Council meeting we came across recently, as reported in the Balmain Observer, December 1897:

Q: Are the Council’s employees entitled to any holidays, besides public holidays, during the year?

A: In 1881 we instituted a system of a fortnight’s holiday, but it was only twice taken advantage of, our officers being too, too busy to take advantage of such luxuries.

With best wishes for the holiday season!

Bruce, Amie & Garry

Local History team

Leichhardt Council