Comments for Royal Australian Historical Society

Comment on Mary Jane Cain (1844-1929) by Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 22:53:44 +0000

Hi
This story is about my Grandmother Mary Jane Cain and her Mother also named Mary Jane Cain. My Grandmother didn’t become known as Molly Chatfield until she married my Grandfather, William Wallace Chatfield. In the above photo she was still known as Mary Jane Cain.

Comment on Clothing of Australia’s Transported Convicts by Alan Roberts

Alan Roberts — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:17:30 +0000

I make brief comments on the clothing of women convicts on the First Fleet in my Marie Officer, Convict Wife. The Johnstons of Annandale. See under ‘clothing’.

Comment on Kathleen Howell (c. 1904–2001) and Jean Robertson (1904–1981) by Jo Hamilton-Branigan

Jo Hamilton-Branigan — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:23:17 +0000

Hello, Recently a close friend of mine passed away. In her things were a letter written by Jean Robertson (her Aunt) about the overland trip in 1928 from Fremantle to Adelaide. It would add significant provenance to this story. The letter is almost 100 years old. It is an important part of women’s history so wondering where it should be kept/sent so it’s not lost. Best Regards Jo

Comment on Where Water Meets Memory: The Histories Behind Sydney’s Drinking Fountains by Ann O’Connell

Ann O’Connell — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 22:19:08 +0000

Congratulations Zoe on such an informative article about historic fountains. Now knowing the history of the fountains makes me appreciate them more.
Their significance to our heritage becomes clear through your article. Thank you.

Comment on Where Water Meets Memory: The Histories Behind Sydney’s Drinking Fountains by Patricia Dewey

Patricia Dewey — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 08:34:07 +0000

What an absolutely wonderful story about items we simply take for granted! I have looked at the one in Parramatta many times but never really thought about its history!

Comment on Good Servants and Valuable Wives: 190 years since the arrival of the Red Rover in 1832 by ELAINE M RUSSELL

ELAINE M RUSSELL — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 07:26:38 +0000

My Great Great grandmother Jane McNabb and her sister Catherine came to Sydney on the ‘Red Rover’. I assume they were orphans perhaps from the Cork Orphanage. Jane married a convict in 1833 in St. James C of E Sydney and then went to live in the Camden Cambelltown district. She died in 1846 and is buried in St. Paul’s Church Cobbitty with her husband Henry Edward Shepherd and 3 babies. Five of her children survived childhood.

Comment on The Recruiting Officer: Australia’s First Recorded Play by Dr Heather Blasdale-Clarke

Dr Heather Blasdale-Clarke — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:04:55 +0000

Thank you for this informative article. It is definitely a subject of great interest. I was very pleased to see my research acknowledged. Thank you!

Comment on Good Servants and Valuable Wives: 190 years since the arrival of the Red Rover in 1832 by Patrick Bourke

Patrick Bourke — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:29:59 +0000

In reply to Rhonda Flowers. Hello Rhonda My great, great grandmother, Mary Downey lived at Millburn Creek, near Cowra. She lived to 1896 and is buried in the Frogmore Catholic Cemetery. Frogmore between Boorowa and Cowra , was a copper mining settlement during the 19th century. Mary had nine children. One her sons, Michael Bourke, was killed in a copper mining collapse in 1884. Michael and Mary's second husband, Phillip Saywaker, are also buried in the Frogmore Catholic Cemetery.

Comment on Good Servants and Valuable Wives: 190 years since the arrival of the Red Rover in 1832 by Rhonda Flowers

Rhonda Flowers — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 05:44:51 +0000

Rosanna Sheehan came on the Red Rover. She married John Green in 1835. She died in 1893 and is buried in the Forbes Cemetery in NSW.

Comment on 2024 Certificates of Achievement and Appreciation by Jane Wood

Jane Wood — Fri, 06 Dec 2024 09:38:44 +0000

All very worthy winners. Congratulations to them all