RDHS History Talk: Resuming Bondi Beach Join the Randwick and District Historical Society for an engaging presentation that will explore the history of Bondi Beach. Did you know the world-famous Bondi Beach was privately owned for most of the nineteenth century? Public use was dependent on the landowners’ permission until the NSW Government resumed it in 1882. Achieving public access took time and advocacy. About the speaker: Alice Paul is a local historian and member of the Waverley...

The Convict Valley by Mark Dunn Parramatta Female Factory Friends Bi-monthly Speaker Newcastle, at the mouth of the Hunter River, is largely a forgotten convict town, despite its foundation story being a convict story and its first twenty years being one of convict toil, punishment and endeavour. The talk will focus on the story of Newcastle in the years before 1830, including its foundation as a convict penal station, interactions with Aboriginal people and the exploitation of the area’s coal...

Paterson Historical Society launch new book: Gresford to Carrabolla – People and Places Paterson Historical Society’s new book, Gresford to Carrabolla – People and Places by Dr Brian Walsh, was recently launched by the Mayor of Dungog, Digby Rayward, at Gresford Bowling Club. It was published with support from Create NSW’s Cultural Grants Program. The book reveals how European society emerged along the Paterson River from the 1820s, albeit at the expense of the dispossession of Aboriginal...

Kiama Historical Society to launch new book: Rascals and Respectables: A social history of Kiama hotels Published by Kiama Historical Society, Dr Tony Gilmour’s new book tells the exciting history of the hostelries of Kiama, Jamberoo and Gerringong on the NSW south coast. From the first local hotels licenced in 1837 to the present day, drinking venues have shaped local social life and character. Kiama was once a place of ‘besotted and shameless drunkards’, nearby Bombo hosted an illegal ‘sly...

Mosman Story: The Community and Council Then and Now Dr Peter Abelson will discuss his recently published book Mosman Story: The Council and Community Then and Now: A History and A Personal Memoir. The book covers the period from Mosman’s Indigenous origins to the author's retirement from its local government in 2017. Its key message is the enduring importance of the local community and council in Mosman residents’ lives. Please join members of the Mosman Historical Society for refreshments...

Mothers, Matrons and Lady Superintendents: Women Working in NSW Prisons, 1788-1969 By the end of the 19th century, female staff were thought to be more appropriate to manage institutions housing women and children. However, the status, everyday experience and career prospects for women in these senior appointments was often difficult and within the NSW prison service remained discomforting for male colleagues and problematic for the authorities. Noeline Kyle says she wanted to find the...

PHA-OHA Event: Working as a freelance historian and/or oral historian in NSW The Professional Historians Association of NSW-ACT and Oral History Association of NSW have partnered to bring you an informative discussion about working as a freelance historian and/or oral historian. You are invited to hear from three experienced freelancers, who will hopefully answer many of your questions, such as: How do I set myself up to work as a freelance/consultant historian? Can you provide some advice on...

Lavender Bay Heritage Walk led by Dr Roy Lumby Join the Twentieth Century Heritage Society of NSW and ACT for the Lavender Bay Heritage Walk led by heritage practitioner Dr Roy Lumby. Originally known by First Nations people as Gooweebahree or Quibaree, understood to mean spring of fresh water, Lavender Bay's history has been rich and varied. In the 1820s and 1830s, it was known as Hulk Bay, after the prison hulk Phoenix that was anchored there. It was renamed Lavender Bay after George...

The Show Must Go On! Blue Mountains Performance and Entertainment Join BMACHO at the Carrington Hotel for a day filled with fascinating insights into the Blue Mountains' rich performance and entertainment history. The lineup of speakers will cover a range of topics. Associate Professor Richard White will present the keynote R. Ian Jack Address. Don't miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the stories and heritage of this iconic region. When: Saturday, 10 May 2025 at 9.00 am – 4.30...

RDHS Workshop: Who Once Lived in My House? Have you ever wanted to research the history of a house or property and who lived there, but weren't sure where to start? The Randwick and District Historical Society is hosting a workshop to introduce you to a range of easily accessible resources that can help you trace the history of a house or property in the local area. About the presenters: Christine Yeats is an archivist and historical researcher, President of Randwick and District Historical...

PDHS Event: Dive! Australian Submariners at War The Parramatta and District Historical Society invites you to their February Monthly Meeting when Mike Carlton will speak about his latest book, Dive! Australian Submariners at War. In a working life of more than fifty years, Mike Carlton was one of Australia's best-known media figures in radio, television and newspapers. Beginning as a cadet journalist at the ABC, he became a war correspondent in Vietnam. He also reported for the ABC from...

BMACHO Event: School Tours of Museums: A Practical Presentation This talk will be presented by Yvonne Kattell, an experienced Woodford Academy volunteer. Yvonne will be talking about the use of heritage sites as primary sources of material for education, followed by an overview of how to access and use curriculum documents. This will take place in the Woodford Academy Dining Room with the use of visuals on a screen. The presentation includes a tour of Woodford Academy. In addition to museums,...

Front-line heritage in the Hawkesbury St Andrew's New Church Hall, West Market St, Richmond Thursday, 24 October at 7.30 pm On 24 October, Dr Peter Hobbins will be delivering the 2024 Annual Memorial Lecture to R. Ian Jack, hosted by the Hawkesbury Historical Society. Peter’s presentation, ‘Front-line heritage in the Hawkesbury’, will consider Ian’s lasting legacies in historical archaeology, especially industrial archaeology. Drawing upon Hawkesbury region examples, Peter will reassess the...

Prof. Kate Fullagar will present the James Jervis Memorial Lecture on Bennelong and Phillip. Bennelong and Phillip were leaders of their respective people in the first encounters between Britain and Indigenous Australians. Phillip was the colony's first governor, and Bennelong was the Yiyura leader. The pair have come to represent the conflict that flared and has never settled. Kate Fullagar's new book, Bennelong & Phillip: A History Unravelled, is the first full biography of Bennelong of...

Peter FitzSimmons will present the 56th Ward and Olive Memorial Lecture The City of Liverpool and District Historical Society is privileged to host Peter Fitzsimmons, Australia's bestselling non-fiction author and journalist, as the Keynote Speaker for the 56th Ward and Olive Havard Memorial History Lecture. Peter will discuss his latest book, The Last Charge of the Australian Light Horse. The 12th Light Horse was formed in Liverpool. The lecture will be followed by a book signing, light...

The Friends of Callan Park commemorated its 25th anniversary on 4 December 2023 at Writing NSW at Callan Park. About a hundred people attended its AGM and the celebration that followed. The current MP for Balmain, Kobi Shetty, and the former MP, Jamie Parker, addressed the crowd.

A free public lecture presented by Noel Phelan at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park

Join the Military History Society of NSW for a free public lecture at the Anzac Memorial at Hyde Park to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

This year, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied landings in Normandy on 6 June 1944. Operation Overlord was the greatest amphibious assault in history, a crucial turning point in World War II, and a miracle of planning, logistics, coordination and supply.

The Moruya and District Historical Society are hosting a presentation by the authors of a new Sydney University Press publication on the letters of poet Charles Harpur (1813–1868), who had a close association with the Eurobodalla region.

The Letters of Charles Harpur and His Circle, selected and edited by Paul Eggert and Chris Vening, is the first collection in print of the letters of Australian colonial poet Charles Harpur and his circle – including the poet Henry Kendall and future premier of NSW, Henry Parkes.

Presented by Gay Hendriksen (Rowan Tree Heritage and Cultural Services)

Do you have special objects you want to preserve into the future? Whether you are a family historian, private collector or have special objects you want to know how to care for, there is something in this workshop for you. Learn about organising, preserving and sharing to a professional standard so that you can ensure your shoebox of papers or photos or a house or shed filled with your favourite objects will survive. Bring along small objects, photos and documents (or images if they are too large or fragile) for professional advice and clues to help you discover the best ways to identify and care for them.

Join the Dural and District Historical Society for the 2024 June Roughley Memorial Lecture in August.

Professor Grace Karskens’ highly acclaimed book, People of the River: Lost Worlds of Early Australia, is a history of both the Aboriginal people and the settlers on Dyarubbin, the Hawkesbury/Nepean River, from deep time to the nineteenth century.

Sydney's Condemnation and Demolition Books: A talk by Laila Ellmoos, City Historian In this talk for the City of Sydney Historical Association, City Historian Laila Ellmoos will talk about the history of the City of Sydney's Condemnation and Demolition Books, a key photographic collection held in the City Archives comprising almost 5,000 photographs and associated glass plate negatives. The City Building Surveyor’s department used photographs to document the city’s profound transformation in...

St. George Historical Society's Historic House and Museum reopens to the public One of the oldest homes in the St George area has reopened to the public. The NSW State Heritage-listed Lydham Hall is a sandstone villa built in the Victorian era. The home contains a unique collection of heritage items. After a stroll through the museum, relax on the verandah with freshly baked scones and a pot of Twinings tea in vintage cups and saucers while the kids play old-fashioned games on the lawn. The...

A History Milestone Is Being Celebrated! Hambledon Cottage will be celebrating its Bicentenary on 13th April. This is a significant milestone for this remarkable Parramatta landmark, once owned by pioneers John Macarthur and Elizabeth Macarthur, founders of the fine wool industry in Australia. Parramatta and District Historical Society, custodians of this extraordinary colonial heritage site, will present a week of community activities, including a Bicentennial Day celebration, house tours, a...

Paterson Historical Society to launch new book: Vacy to Gresford – People and Places The Paterson Historical Society's new book, Vacy to Gresford – People and Places, will be launched on Sunday, 17 March 2024, by Mr Dave Layzell MP, Member for Upper Hunter. The book was written by Society member and long-time historian Dr Brian Walsh. It covers the people and places along the Paterson and Allyn Rivers between Vacy and Gresford. The book reveals how a whole new European society emerged along...

Written by Christine Gavin (President, Griffith Genealogical and Historical Society) There was an end of an era when the Griffith Genealogical and Historical Society closed its doors at the end of December 2023 after 42 years. Over time, it became more and more difficult to get members to run the Society due to the ages and medical issues of the active members, and our membership was dwindling. The majority of our assets and resources have been donated to the Griffith City Library. Many...

The Woollahra History and Heritage Society invite you to the anniversary of the first landing The Woollahra History and Heritage Society (WHHS) invites you to the anniversary of the first landing of Captain Arthur Phillip RN on 21st January 1788 in Sydney Harbour at Camp Cove after rowing from Botany Bay. This event is on Sunday, 21st January 2024 at 6.00 pm, at Governor Phillip’s Memorial Monument*, top end Pacific Street, Laings Point, Camp Cove, Watsons Bay. Join us, bring friends, a rug...