Protected: Successful Grants and Sharing Your Collection: Affiliated Societies Seminar
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The Rum Corps: Rulers of the Colony
Military History Society of NSW presents:
The Rum Corps: Rulers of the Colony
The New South Wales Corps was raised to protect and police the people of the infant colony of New South Wales. Instead, they became corrupt traders in rum, goods, land and power for twenty years. They defied several Governors, culminating in the overthrow of Governor William Bligh and the Rum Rebellion of 1808. They established a military dictatorship in New South Wales with all the elements of any modern dictatorship today. Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Lyons (retd) will talk about this turbulent time in the military history of New South Wales.
The arrest of Governor Bligh, 1808 (Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW)
Event details
When: Saturday, 5 September 2026 at 10:30 am.
Where: The Auditorium, Anzac Memorial Hyde Park, Sydney CBD.
Admission: Free, but a donation is appreciated.
More information: https://militaryhistorynsw.com.au/
About the venue
The venue for the Military History Society of NSW lecture program is the Auditorium on the lower level of the Anzac Memorial, Hyde Park, corner of Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets, Sydney CBD. Numerous bus services stop at the location, and Museum Railway Station is a short walk away. The venue opens its doors from 10:00 am.
Film Heritage Academy: The Letter (1929)
Film Heritage Academy presents:
Tribute to early cinema and its relationship with breaking the sound barrier and negotiating pre-codes and censorship
Join the Film Heritage Academy for a screening of the early sound classic, The Letter (1929).
This adaptation of Somerset Maugham’s play provides a powerful structure for the astonishing performance of Jeanne Eagels in this celebrated drama film. Australian-born star of stage and film O.P. Heggie plays a key role. An affair, the shooting of a lover, the torrid aftermath and trial all combine to deliver an early talkie that attracted widespread critical acclaim and established that sound movies had a unique artistic potential that differed from silent film. This film and its success helped to normalise sound and establish its dominance.
The film will be introduced by Ursula Dubosarsky AM, acclaimed Australian prize-winning author of books for children and young adults
When: Friday, 28 August 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 am.
Where: Auditorium, History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.
Admission: General $25 | Concession $20.
The Film Heritage Academy is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity that promotes an appreciation of historic films and film history.
Why the First Fleet voyage was a Success
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society presents:
Why the First Fleet was Such a Success
Denis Smith explores the remarkable story behind the First Fleet’s voyage from Portsmouth in 1787. Denis will consider the careful planning that made it possible, the choice of Arthur Phillip to lead it, and why Botany Bay was chosen. The talk also sheds light on Lord Sydney’s role in shaping the expedition, including his selection of Arthur Phillip. Denis tackles some intriguing questions in this presentation: why did Phillip raise the British flag at Sydney Cove in January 1788 when Captain Cook had already claimed the east coast? And what role did Matthew Flinders play in the naming of Australia?
Free entry, no booking required. You are welcome to stay for refreshments following the presentation.
HMS Sirius weathering Tasman Head by George Raper, 1791 (State Library of NSW)
About the speaker
Denis Smith OAM MRSN is Vice President of the Fellowship of First Fleeters and past president of the Lane Cove Historical Society and the Matthew Flinders Society. He is a descendant of 1st Class Marine John Barrisford and his wife Hannah, who came out on the Prince of Wales in 1788.
Event details
Join the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1 at 2:00 pm on Saturday, 15 August 2026. Finishing time is approximately 3:30 pm.
The meeting room is in the Old Gordon Public School, adjoining the library, 799 Pacific Hwy, Gordon (corner Pacific Hwy and Park Ave).
It’s a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station. For a map and parking information, see www.khs.org.au/contact-us
In case of any last-minute changes, and for more information on forthcoming events, please check www.khs.org.au/events
Researching Local History using the State Archives Collection
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society presents:
Researching Local History using the State Archives Collection
The NSW State Archives Collection documents the daily work of the NSW Government and its agencies from 1788 to the present day. This vast collection of records is an invaluable resource for local historians, from tracing the development of an area, through to its schools, buildings and local businesses, to recording key events that have impacted the community over time.
Join Fiona Sullivan for this special presentation in which she outlines how to begin searching this vast collection. Fiona will highlight the many (and sometimes unexpected) records that can help you unlock the local history of Ku-ring-gai and New South Wales.
Free entry, no booking required. You are welcome to stay for refreshments following the presentation.
Killara Railway Station, 1924 (Museums of History NSW State Archives Collection)
About the speaker
Fiona Sullivan is the Manager, Access Services, at Museums of History NSW, where she oversees access to the State Archives Collection, both onsite and online. Fiona is passionate about archives and libraries, the people who use them, and the impact that they have on people’s lives.
Event details
Join the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1 at 2:00 pm on Saturday, 1 August 2026. Finishing time is approximately 3:30 pm.
The meeting room is in the Old Gordon Public School, adjoining the library, 799 Pacific Hwy, Gordon (corner Pacific Hwy and Park Ave).
It’s a 5-minute walk from Gordon Station. For a map and parking information, see www.khs.org.au/contact-us
In case of any last-minute changes, and for more information on forthcoming events, please check www.khs.org.au/events
The History of Burnside Homes
Parramatta District Historical Society presents:
The History of Burnside Homes
The Burnside Homes (Burnside Presbyterian Orphan Homes) in North Parramatta were established in 1911 by shipping magnate and philanthropist Sir James Burns. Burnside pioneered cottage care in Australia and was a functioning village, with 14 cottages, all grand in scale, its own farm, hospital and school. They were later transformed into a major family service agency.
In this detailed presentation by Sheenal Singh, the changing story of Burnside Homes will be discussed, including the history of Sir James Burns, the history of each of the individual homes and daily routines of children who lived at the homes (sports, special events, school, work, holidays etc).
Burnside home ‘Robertson’, c. 1930s (UnitingCare Burnside – Find & Connect)
About the speaker
Sheenal Singh is employed by Uniting and is based in some of the original Burnside buildings.
Event detials
When: Monday, 20 July 2026 at 7:30 pm.
Where: Burnside Gardens Community Centre, 3 Blackwood Place, Oatlands.
Admission: Free and will be followed by supper. Visitors very welcome!
Enquiries: Jeff Allen at jallen6@bigpond.net.au
Mr Todd’s Marvel
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society presents:
Mr Todd’s Marvel by Adam Courtenay
Adam Courtenay tells the inspiring story of Sir Charles Todd, the visionary astronomer and scientist who led the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line – one of Australia’s greatest engineering feats.
Spanning thousands of kilometres from Adelaide to Darwin, it connected Australia to the rest of the world in 1872, transforming communication across the continent. The book describes Todd’s ambition, the hardships endured by his team, and the lasting impact of this incredible project on Australia’s development and global connectivity. It’s both a tribute to a pioneering mind, and a gripping account of overcoming nature, distance, and doubt.
Join the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society at its next meeting as Adam Courtenay brings to life the story of this remarkable man and his achievements.
Free entry, no booking required. You are welcome to stay for refreshments and a chat following the presentation.
Adam will have copies of Mr Todd’s Marvel: How one man telegraphed Australia to the modern world on sale at the special price of $25.
Event details
Join the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1 at 2:00 pm on Saturday, 18 July 2026. Finishing time is approximately 3:30 pm.
The meeting room is in the Old Gordon Public School, adjoining the library, 799 Pacific Hwy, Gordon (corner Pacific Hwy and Park Ave).
It’s a 5-minute walk from Gordon station. For a map and parking information, see www.khs.org.au/contact-us
In case of any last-minute changes, and for more information on forthcoming events, please check our website: www.khs.org.au/events
Film Heritage Academy: Tribute to Anna May Wong
The Film Heritage Academy presents:
A Tribute to Anna May Wong
Join the Film Heritage Academy at History House for a screening of silent romantic drama, The Toll of the Sea (1922). Runtime: 80 minutes.
The film stars Anna May Wong (Wong Liu Tsong), an acclaimed Chinese American film star of the silent and early sound eras in US and European classics such as The Thief of Bagdad, Peter Pan, Piccadilly, Pavement Butterfly, Song, and Shanghai Express. She carved out a four-decade career in film, theatre and radio, acting alongside icons including Dietrich, Crawford, Fairbanks and Olivier.
The film will be introduced by Ursula Dubosarsky AM, acclaimed Australian prize-winning author of over 60 books for children and young adults.
When: Friday, 24 July 2026, from 10:00 to 11:30 am.
Where: Auditorium, History House, 133 Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000.
Admission: General $25 | Concession $20.
Acknowledgements: The Film Heritage Academy values the vital assistance of the RAHS. The positive support of Leslie May and the sublime skills and flair of Diana Wong are appreciated.
The Film Heritage Academy is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity that promotes an appreciation of historic films and film history.
Waltzing Mathilde
Mosman Historical Society presents:
Waltzing Mathilde by Rosalie Horner
Rosalie Horner will tell the true story behind her well received historical novel Waltzing Mathilde: Letters to a Little Girl. The novel is a coming-of-age account of her grandmother Mathilde Plate’s loss, love and finding home. It is based on the 12-year-old Mathilde’s 1890 journey from Germany to Australia to live with her art dealer uncle and how she fared after she arrived in the often-violent nineteenth-century art world. She lived in Mosman virtually all her adult life. It was in Mathilde’s home at 24 Moruben Road that Rosalie’s mother found some 40 letters written to Mathilde from family members and friends in Germany. Rosalie also located the diaries of two men who were on the same ship that took Mathilde to Australia a year after she was on it.
About the speaker
Mosman Historical Society member Rosalie Horner was a Fleet Street journalist in London for over 30 years. She was also the author of two non-fiction books, a presenter on ABC television and a London theatre critic. She spent her early years in Mosman, went to school locally and undertook university studies in Fine Arts and Italian. In 2018 she returned to live permanently in Mosman.
Event Details
When: Wednesday, 10 June at 7:00 pm. Please arrive promptly.
Where: Mosman Library, 605 Military Rd, Mosman NSW 2088.
Admission: Members Free | Visitors $5 donation.
RSVP: Email David Carment at davidcarment@me.com by 8 June 2026.
Please join members of the Mosman Historical Society for refreshments and a chat following the talk.
What Do We Know About Convict Women?
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society presents:
What Do We Know About Convict Women?
Digital copies of historical records in Australia and the United Kingdom have opened new possibilities for research into convict Australia.
Join Carol Liston AO at the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society on Saturday, 20 June 2026, to explore some of these newly available sources that help us to question traditional views of the 25,000 women convicts sent to Australia. Records of their crime and their circumstances in England and Scotland suggest that we have made assumptions and generalisations that are not supported by the new evidence. Understanding how the records were created provides insights into these myths.
Free entry, no booking required. You are welcome to stay for refreshments following the presentation.
About the speaker
Carol Liston AO is a professional historian and researcher who specialises in the history of colonial New South Wales from 1788 to 1860. She is Adjunct Associate Professor of History at Western Sydney University, where she is also a Whitlam Institute Fellow. Carol is President of the Royal Australian Historical Society.
Event details
Join us in Gordon Library Meeting Room 1 at 2:00 pm on Saturday, 20 June 2026. Finishing time is approximately 3:30 pm.
The meeting room is in the Old Gordon Public School, adjoining the library, 799 Pacific Hwy, Gordon (corner Pacific Hwy and Park Ave).
It’s just a 5-minute walk from Gordon station. For a map and parking information, see www.khs.org.au/contact-us
In case of any last-minute changes, and for more information on forthcoming talks, please check our website: www.khs.org.au/events
Celebrating Grant Successes Across Our Affiliated Societies
RAHS Affiliated Societies continue to play an important role in preserving local history, caring for collections, supporting research, and creating opportunities for communities to connect with their past.
The RAHS runs two grant programs on behalf of the NSW Government: the Create NSW Local History Grants Program, which is currently open for applications until 23 June 2026, and the Transport Heritage Grants Program. These programs support projects involving research, publications, exhibitions, collection management, conservation, and heritage interpretation across NSW.
At the April 2026 meeting of the RAHS Affiliated Societies Committee, members shared their recent grant successes from a variety of funding sources, including Lynne Allen, President of the Shoalhaven Historical Society, and Robyn Atherton, President of the Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society.
Shoalhaven Historical Society: ‘Embrace every opportunity’
Shoalhaven Historical Society is a highly active organisation combining museum management, research, publications, exhibitions, and collections care. The society operates the Nowra Museum and is well known for its strong publishing program and extensive online bookshop specialising in local history publications relating to the Shoalhaven region – see publications available for purchase.
The society has successfully secured support through a range of funding opportunities over the years, including the Create NSW Cultural Grants Program, which is now known as the Local History Grants Program. One recent success came from a far less expected source, with the society securing support from a United Kingdom-based funding body for conservation work on an important artwork in the museum collection.
President Lynne Allen explains:
‘When a grant opportunity appeared, I initially dismissed it as in the realms of fantasy because it was based in the UK. Why would a UK institution make grant funding available to a small, volunteer-run and funded historical society in regional NSW? However, with my father’s mantra, “You have to be in it to win it”, ringing in my ears, I decided to take the chance.’
The project focused on conserving a deteriorated painting by renowned local artist Samuel Elyard. In 2017, during commemorations marking 200 years since Elyard’s birth, the society received a donation of 24 Elyard paintings, including several rare oil works. A 2025 condition report identified many of the paintings as requiring urgent treatment.
The selected artwork depicts a small sailing boat approaching the Shoalhaven River, with a group of First Nations people gathered around a campfire on the shoreline.
‘Convinced I was wasting my time, but stirred on by the potential of securing £3,000, I persisted and submitted the grant application. Some weeks later, we were stunned to receive an email from the UK confirming success. Miracles do happen, so give it a go.’
Painting by Samuel Elyard (Supplied: Lynne Allen, Shoalhaven Historical Society)
Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society: ‘Preserving history one grant-funded project at a time’
Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society plays an important role in preserving and sharing the history of the Hilltops region. The society operates the Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society Museum, housed in the former 1912 School of Arts building, which features collections relating to railways, farming, mining, local businesses, schools, domestic life, and Australian Light Horse history. The society is also deeply involved in local history research, exhibitions, school engagement, and community partnerships.
The breadth of the society’s work was highlighted in a feature article, ‘Keepers of History’, published in the Twin Town Times in December 2025, which explored the society’s exhibitions, volunteer projects, flood-recovery work, fundraising activities, and ongoing involvement in community life.
Volunteers regularly assist schools and community organisations with research projects, produce seasonal newsletters, and contribute to the Ryerson Index, a major Australian volunteer-run index of death notices and obituaries widely used by family and local history researchers.
Recent activities have included acquiring a circa 1900 sulky built by David Reid & Sons of Murrumburrah for future restoration and display, with support from the Geoffrey Kruger Trust helping fund its purchase, transport, and future refurbishment. Volunteers have also been researching the history of buildings and businesses in Harden’s Neill Street using rate books dating from the 1890s, while the society’s recent Museums & Galleries NSW Volunteer Museum Grant is supporting strategic planning work and a review of the museum collection in partnership with museum consultant Margot Jolly. The society has also hosted an exhibition celebrating local artist Barbara Bullock during the Hilltops Art & Culture Trail and continued flood recovery and collection clean-up work following the devastating 2022 flood.
Recent successful grants have also supported a range of practical museum improvements and community projects. President Robyn Atherton shared a list of the society’s most recent successful grant applications, including:
- Geoffrey Kruger Trust — $3,000
Support for the purchase, transport, and future refurbishment of a locally made circa 1900 sulky. - Museums & Galleries of NSW ‘Lights On, Doors Open’ Stipend (2023) — $2,000
Support for an energy-efficiency lighting upgrade for the museum. - Inland Rail Community Grants Program — $2,833.95
Support for technology upgrades within the museum’s archive and research areas. - Museums & Galleries of NSW Volunteer Museum Grant (2025) — $3,600
Support for strategic planning work and a review of the society’s collection. - Harden Regional Development Corporation Community Sponsorship — $1,500
Support for the ongoing clean-up of the museum basement following the 2022 flood, undertaken in collaboration with Frontier Services volunteers.
Robyn noted that grants are an important source of funding for volunteer-run organisations, helping societies undertake projects that would otherwise be difficult to achieve through membership fees, donations, and museum income alone.
David Reid & Sons sulky (Supplied: Robyn Atherton, Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society)
Together, the work of Shoalhaven Historical Society and Harden-Murrumburrah Historical Society demonstrates the creativity, persistence, and dedication of affiliated societies across NSW in seeking support from a wide range of funding sources. From conserving significant artworks and strengthening museum collections to flood recovery work, strategic planning, exhibitions, and research projects, these volunteer-run organisations continue to find practical and innovative ways to preserve and share local history within their communities. As Lynne Allen reflected after securing perhaps the geographically most distant funding source discussed at the meeting, sometimes it is worth embracing every opportunity because ‘you have to be in it to win it.’ The RAHS welcomes other affiliated societies to share their own success stories with us.
Investigating Dispossession with Dr Bruce Pennay
Albury District Historical Society presents:
Investigating Dispossession with Dr Bruce Pennay OAM
The Albury and District Historical Society invites you to join Dr Bruce Pennay OAM for an introduction to Investigating Dispossession: Conflict and Coexistence 1838–1844.
Investigating Dispossession explores stories of the early interactions between colonists and First Nations people in the NSW-Victorian border region. It invites readers to delve into the investigations that followed violent conflict at Broken River in 1838 and at Whorouly in 1840, and analyses observations made by witnesses describing how the colonists and First Nations people were learning to live together.
Designed to assist secondary school teachers to explore the topic ‘Aboriginal Peoples’ Experiences of Colonisation’, Investigating Dispossession unravels stories of early post-contact interactions, draws attention to the complications of evidence-based storytelling and assesses the value of different kinds of evidence.
Event details
This event is part of the Australian Heritage Festival.
When: Thursday, 23 April 2026 at 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
Where: Albury LibraryMuseum, Corner of Kiewa and Swift Streets, Albury NSW 2640.
Admission: Free, but bookings essential.
About the resource
A cleverly structured online resource that localises stories of the early interactions between colonists and First Nations Peoples in two parts.
To access the resource: https://alburyhistory.org.au/investigating-dispossession/