The Parramatta Female Factory Friends presents: Clothing of Australia's Transported Convicts The early days of the convict colony were plagued by supply problems; clothing was in short supply for decades, as were skilled tailors and seamstresses. In this talk, Rosemary Rope will give an account of the supply issues and the basic outfits worn by male and female convicts. Reproductions of female clothes will be presented and available for close examination. Rosemary has relied on historical...

Mosman Historical Society presents: Ryde Railway Precinct by Stephen Palmer Stephen Palmer will speak about his ongoing research on the history of the Ryde Railway Precinct. Three significant elements of Sydney's infrastructure met at the Ryde Railway Precinct: the northern railway line to Newcastle and beyond; the Ryde Pumping Station supplying water to Sydney's northern suburbs, and, until 1936, a connection to the tramway system. Stephen will describe how he is comparing photographic images...

Ku-ring-gai Historical Society presents: Skippy's Tragic Star by Peter Hobbins What does a helicopter crash have to do with Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, filmed in Ku-ring-gai National Park? Find out on Saturday, 21 March 2026, when Peter Hobbins presents Skippy’s Tragic Star. Just days before Christmas in 1966, a helicopter plummeted into downtown Sydney, killing everyone on board. But what made this disaster truly chilling is that the ABC film crew inside recorded their own final moments, while...

Bathurst's Nurses of the Great War 1914–1919 Bathurst’s Nurses of the Great War 1914–1919 details the contributions of 26 nurses born in the Bathurst District, offering insight into their backgrounds, training, wartime service, and post-war lives, and demonstrating their resilience and dedication. It includes sections on Australian nurses’ service, uniforms, equipment, hospitals, medals, and individual biographies. Key highlights include: The book profiles 26 nurses born in the Bathurst...

The Randwick District Historical Society presents: The Federation House Revealed: How it Really Came to Be Join Mark Sabolch for a free history talk exploring the origins of the Federation period house in Sydney. As Australia looks ahead to the 125th anniversary of Federation in 2026, this is the perfect time to rediscover the charm and significance of the Federation house – a defining feature of our national heritage. These much-loved homes are more than beautiful architecture; they are...

Mosman Historical Society presents: Intrepid Explorer Matthew Flinders by Paul Brunton OAM The State Library of NSW recently acquired a very rare collection of letters and documents relating to the life of explorer and cartographer Captain Matthew Flinders (1774–1814). The collection came from Flinders’ descendants and includes original handwritten love letters as well as correspondence with family and friends, business documents, invoices from the HMS Investigator voyage around Australia...

Welcome to Our New Affiliated Societies Blog This new blog is part of a wider initiative to support conversation, shared learning, and collaboration across the RAHS affiliated societies network. The idea grew out of our recent Affiliated Societies Survey, which highlighted how valuable it is for societies to exchange practical advice and hear how others approach similar challenges. The strength of this network was evident during the Collections and Community: Trove and NSW Historical Societies...