heritage newsletter jan-feb...

1HERITAGE November - December 2011

HERITAGENEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION

OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2011 ISSUE No. 18

Earlier this year the NSW HeritageOffice concluded it will listrepresentative portions of Cox’sRoad as part of the 1813bicentennial celebrations of thecrossing of the Blue Mountains inrecognition of the importance of theroad in the history of opening upwestern NSW.

In April 2011 the NSW HeritageOffice notified the Cox Road ProjectCommittee, the nomination forlisting of the Cox’s Road on theState Heritage Register under theHeritage Act 1977 had beensuccessful.

The Listings Committee advisedthat it was very enthusiastic aboutthe proposal and considers theroute a significant part of NSW’shistory and heritage.

After considering its options thecommittee concluded that listing ofrepresentative portions of Cox’sRoad would be undertaken as partof the1813 bicentennialcelebrations.

This will require further extensiveconsultation with owners and otherrelevant stakeholders.

At least since the 1960s it has beenacknowledged that there aresignificant remnants of the original

Cox’s Road remnants to be listed onState Heritage Register

colonial Cox’s Road all along theGreat Western Highway through theBlue Mountains and in the Lithgowand Bathurst local governmentareas.

Very little of the alignment has beenrecognised for its significance byany of the relevant localgovernment bodies.

The Cox’s Road SteeringCommittee was formed in July 2006to look at long term objectives andmechanisms to preserve the 1814Cox’s Road alignment betweenEmu Plains and the Blue Mountainsand Bathurst.

Convenor of the committee, PatsyMoppett has told HERITAGE, thecommittee was formed withdelegates from the Lithgow, BlueMountains and Bathurst branches ofthe National Trust, and operatesunder the auspices of the Trust asan informal committee.

“The committee sought toeventually establish a heritage walkor trail over parts of this routethrough some of the most beautifulcountryside in Australia, and iscurrently seeking to have theremnants of the road listed on theState Heritage Register.

“The committee originally sourcedinput from various persons who hadcarried out research work on theCox’s Road including Alan Careyand Kevin Boole of the Land &Property Management Authority(LPMA), Siobhan Lavelle of NSWHeritage Office, Grace Karskens(Cox’s Road Trust) and Bill Evans(RTA). These people still haveassociations with the committee.

“The committee’s main objective isto facilitate the identification,conservation and management ofthe Cox’s Road, Ms Moppett said.

Continued page 3

Retaining wall on a deviation of the Cox’s Road off the end of Cut HillRoad, Sodwalls, near Tarana.

Road formation carved as kerbedcarriageway along the Woodford

Ridge near the Woodford Trig.


An opinion from the editor.......

John Leary, OAM - Past president,Blue Mountains Association ofCultural Heritage Organisations Inc.

Contents.........HERITAGE

November--December Industrial heritagethe Cinderella ofcultural heritage

*P1 Cox’s Road remnantsto be listed on StateHeritage Register

*P2 Industrial heritage theCinderella of culturalheritage

*P3 Heritage advisorycommittee named

*P4 Powerhouse curatorto present fashions atBlue MountainsHistory conference

*P4 Norman Lindsay’sNovel Drawingsexhibition

*P5 Naval comrades give‘Inflexible’ sailor fittingburial

*P7 The Robert HowardMemorial Award

*P8 Govett’s ‘Leap’debunked as a myth

*P9 Life and practice artat Eveglades

*P10 Caroline Mallett in herown right

*P12 New Windsor bridgeproposal

*P13 Mine owners gift toLithgow heritage

*P14 New Guinea lifecreated interest incultural values

*P15 Kurrajong-ComleroyHistorical Society hasnew president

*P16 Grants workshop*P16 Land records

workshop wellattended

*P17 Louise Markus first tosupport conference

*P17 Professor Ian Jack toopen conference

*P17 Greater BlueMountains WorldHeritage Centre

*P18 Santa to arrive bysteam tram

*P18 New members*P19 BlueMountains

History Journal*P20 First Waltzing Matilda

manuscript on showas National Libraryunveils some of itstreasures

*P21 Western crossingcommemoration

*P22 Australia’s firsthospital celebrates200 years

Industrial or engineering heritagebecause it usually has neither charmnor beauty is often seen as theCinderella of our cultural heritage.

Industry is an important part of ourcultural heritage. As well as havingobvious heritage value, it can: * demonstrate stages oftechnological development; * aid understanding of the historyof society and the influences on itsgrowth and development; * demonstrate the nature of workand changes in working conditions andpractices.

Around the nation there aresteelworks, power stations, transportsystems and other works built forspecific uses now lying neglected anddecaying.

These structures once held andsometimes still do hide machinery andother industrial objects and systems,but because of their concealmentwithin a building and the fact that theyare worn out they tend to be discarded;their heritage value easily overlooked.,

Industrial heritage in the field ofagriculture fares a little better, primarilybecause those on the land tend toplace a greater value on heritage andas a result many towns conserve farmmachinery, its manuals of use andother knowledge, in local museums.

Once the purpose is no longer requiredthere may be little other use for theitems; a smelting furnace can be usedfor little else than smelting.

Regrettably, this means, materials andthe skills to create and construct theworks may disappear, along with theknowledge to conserve them. Forexample, riveted steam boilers are nowdifficult to maintain because theappropriate trade skills are becomingrare.

Engineers Australia, the National Trustof Australia RAHS and several otherbodies in Australia have recognisedthe importance of industrial heritageas part of Australia’s social history.

While a great deal of potential forconservation and restoration of industrialheritage is being lost around the nation,this is not the case within the BlueMountains-Lithgow regions.

In this region there are at least four goodexamples of where industrial heritage isbeing brought into adaptive re-use andthe efforts of those involved, who aremainly volunteers with these challengingprojects need to be applauded.

The first is the scenic railway at ScenicWorld, Katoomba where the Hammonfamily have not only created theinfrastructure for a major tourist attractionaround the steep incline railway thathauled the coal and oil shale mined inthe Jamison Valley, but they havecollected and conserved a wide range ofimplements, cables etc. associated withmining in the region. To this can beadded the outstanding Philip Hammonand Philip Pells book The Burning Mistsof Time – A technological and SocialHistory of Mining at Katoomba.

Next and no less significant in its scopeis the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Parkand Railway run by a non-profit body.After taking control of the site City ofGreater Lithgow Mining Museum Inc.began restorations and started to gatherartifacts and stories.

The museum is working to tell the storiesof the mine’s workers and their industry.The organisation has published a numberof books well researched and written byRay Christenson about the westerncoalfields and the men and women wholived and worked these mines. The mineowners Dick Austen and Angelo Buttawho donated the site of the formerLithgow State Coal Mine to the people ofLithgow also need recognition for theircontribution to the region’s heritage.

The other two outstanding contributionsto the preservation of industrial heritageare the operators of the Valley HeightsRail Museum and the Zig Zag RailwayCo-op Ltd.

.


Continued from page 1The steering committee became theCox’s Road Project Committee in2008 and has sought support fromthe Blue Mountains, Lithgow,Oberon, Penrith and Bathurstcouncils.

“We have asked them to considerinclusion of the Cox’s Road forheritage listing in future reviews ofthe various councils’ localenvironmental plans (LEPs), andreferral to the committee of anydevelopment applications or otherproposals in the five LGAs, so thatthe committee may make commentin the context of the projectobjectives.

“The assessment process hashighlighted many features of theestablishment of the heritage trail,which provide challenges toinception and management of eachsite, and present restrictive criteriaupon which to base future siteinterpretation.

“This includes the fact that manysites are on private land, and on-going access is all but non-existent.

“Sites on public land are the mostobvious ones to be exploited by theproject, but must be in accordancewith local and state agency liabilityrestrictions and safety of the public,at the same time making the sitesavailable and able to be interpretedby future generations, with minimalagency management.

Local government asked to include Cox’s Roadin future heritage reviews

“Over the next few months ourcommittee will be undertakingworkshops to investigate theserepresentative portions with theassistance of members of thecommunity in each precinct,commencing in November 2011.

“Once the final listing is established,this should open the funding doorsto resources and finance to employa project manager in a similarformat to the Great North RoadProject. Our task would then passto that person.

“The committee acknowledges theassistance of a large number ofpeople, without whose assistancethe research, actions and outcomescould not be achieved.

“These include: Kevin Boole, GraceKarskens, Alan Carey, Col Roberts,Leonie Knapman, Siobhan Lavelle,Kevin Webb and Lyn Wood, KerryBartlett, Bill Evans, Nicole Secomb,Alan Bardsley, Bill Evans andBMACHO’s inaugural president,John Leary,” Ms Moppett said.

Cox’s Road descent at Mt York

A view of the stone cutting and carriageway at the beginning of thedescent from Mt York to Hartley Vale on the original Cox’s

Road. Railing that used to stretch across the drop to the rock in thebackground, was erected to keep the stock on the road. Photograph

courtesy Jan Koperberg

Blue Mountains City Council at itslast meeting endorsed thenomination of 10 communitymembers to its heritage advisorycommittee. They are:

*Dr Naomi Parry a former LithgowCity Council cultural developmentofficer and resident of Katoomba,*David Turner deputy chairmanNational Trust of Australia (BlueMountains Branch of Katoomba,*Ron Powell an architect andlandscape architect of Leura,*Juliana Swatko a lecturer inphotography and design UWS ofWoodford,

*John Leary, OAM, past presidentof BMACHO, past chair Friends ofWoodford Academy of Woodford,*Pamela Smith, presidentBMACHO of Springwood,*Shirley Evans, member of BlueMountains Family History Societyand Springwood Historians ofWinmalee,*Suzanne Mitchell a member ofProfessional Historians Societyand RAHS of Springwood,*Kate Matthews historian ofWarrimoo,*Fiona Carruthers member of MtWilson Historical Society of MtWilson.

Blue Mountains heritage advisorycommittee named


A POWERHOUSE MUSEUMcurator Glynis Jones has acceptedan invitation to be presenter oftextiles and fashions in the earlycolonial era at the Blue MountainsHistory conference being plannedfor October 2012 in the heritagelisted Carrington Hotel, Katoomba.

Glynis is a curator in the design &society department of thePowerhouse Museum withresponsibility for the museum’sholdings of fashion and dress.

She looks after a very diversecollection area covering men’s,women’s and children’s clothing andaccessories ranging from elaborate18th century embroidered waistcoatsto the work of contemporaryinternational and Australian fashionlabels including Louis Vuitton, AkiraIsogawa and Romance Was Born.

The museum also holds importantdesigner archives from Jenny Keeand Linda Jackson includingoriginal artwork for textiles andgarments, stunning fashionphotography and even businessrecords.

In addition there are significantmanufacturer’s archives fromSpeedo which document theevolution of competitive swimwearfrom the racer back woolenSpeedos of the 1930s to today’shigh tech suits.

Through filmed interviews andphotography Glynis has beencollecting and documenting therichness and diversity of subculturaland alternative dressing inAustralia, from Mods to Metalheadsand Goths to DIY punks.

In 2006 Glynis developed thepopular online ElectronicSwatchbook project, a publicdomain archive of high resolutionimages of fabric swatches from themuseum’s collection.

Over 900 swatches have beenmade available in digital form to beused freely by fashion and textiledesigners, graphic designers andstudents- http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/electronicswatchbook/

Powerhouse curator to present fashionsat Blue Mountains History conference

Glynis has curated a number ofexhibitions including Frock Stars:Inside Australian Fashion Week(2010) exploring the history,purpose, highlights, controversiesand achievements of AustralianFashion Week to Sourcing the Muse(2002) in which she invited eightAustralian designers to look throughthe museum’s textile and dresscollection and select items to use asa source of inspiration for a newwork; providing a fascinating insightto the designers creative process.

Glynis has also contributed tovarious publications includingSubcultural and alternative style inAustralia for the The BergEncyclopedia of World dress andFashion(2010) and Jenny Kee andLinda Jackson for Yesterday’sTomorrows, The PowerhouseMuseum and its precursors 1880-2005 (Powerhouse Publishing inassociation with UNSW Press2005).

Glynis Jones with some of her favourite things from the museum’scollection including the first pair of elastic sided boots invented byJoseph Sparkes Hall in 1837, photograph entitled ‘Craig’ by Ilana

Rose, 1992 and a 1950s cocktail dress by Jacques Fath. Photographby Sotha Bourn

Norman Lindsay’s Novel Drawingsexhibition

Over a period of 55 years NormanLindsay wrote 14 novels many ofwhich he also illustrated.

Novel Drawings — original bookillustrations by Norman Lindsay anexhibition of the works will run untilthe end of December at theNorman Lindsay Gallery,Faulconbridge.

Lindsay considered his fictionwriting a diversion from the serious

business of his art making andenjoyed embellishing his novelswith lively drawings purely for hisown and the reader’s enjoyment.

The exhibition includes over 50 penand ink or wash that will appeal toall ages.

The exhibition is free with normalgallery admission.


Naval comrades give ‘Inflexible’sailor a fitting burial at Katoomba

by Jan KoperbergThomas Dixon, RN, d.o.b. July

24, 1892, Byker, Northumberland,UK

IN SEPTEMBER 2007 I received anemail from Heather Smeatom, wholives in Newcastle-upon-Tyne,England. She was researching herfamily tree and had found that hergreat-uncle Thomas Dixon wasburied in Katoomba Cemetery in theBlue Mountains region of Australia.

Tom had served in the Royal Navyand his RN Records state that hewas medically discharged from theRoyal Navy in 1920 and spentnearly two years in Wentworth[Falls] Sanatorium in New SouthWales, where he died on November29, 1921.

Heather had obtained death detailsfrom NSW BMD Registry and hadalso obtained details of his burialfrom the Blue Mountains CityCouncil Cemetery Register, whichstates that he is buried in KatoombaCemetery, in Section KPR1, Row 1,Plot 15. Heather had tried, withoutsuccess, to discover if anyphotographs of KatoombaCemetery were available, perhapslocation maps of the graves andalso if the grave is (or was) marked.

I checked the Wood Coffill(Katoomba) Burial Index 1916 to1945, Volume 1 and found thefollowing entry:Deceased:DIXON, Thomas MrIdentification No: 589Date of Death: Wednesday, 30NovemberAge at Death: 30 yrsDate of Burial: Thursday, 1December 1921Place of Burial: KatoombaReligion:PRCemetery Section: 1Plot Details: 15Minister: MackieInformant: La Touche Medical SuptAddress of Informant: Bodington,Wentworth FallsOther details: (none)Vehicles: 2 horse hearse only(OPBM Vol 11) 1.

I then checked another publication,Our Past Blue Mountaineers, Vol XIand found the following entry forTom:

“DIXON Thomas Katoomba,Presbyterian, Old Section, Row 1,No 15.

Scrolled grey marble headstone onsandstone surround, with whitepebbled deck

‘IN LOVING MEMORY OFTHOMAS DIXON R.N.DIED 29th NOV. 1921

AGED 30 YEARS

(Engraving of ships anchor)

“FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH’

ERECTED BY HIS SHIPMATESOFH.M.A.S. MELBOURNE AND

H.M.A.S. SYDNEY2.

DIXON THOMAS: Tom was an ex-leading stoker on HMAS Sydney,who was a patient at BodingtonHospital, Wentworth Falls.

He had been there only six days asa TB patient when he died.

By some misunderstanding therewas no official naval funeral party,so that several other naval inmatesat Bodington attended thegraveside.

They were Petty Officer Andersonand AB Hanley of HMAS Torrens,Stoker Malone of HMAS Brisbaneand Signalman Wallace of HMASAustralia.

I went to Katoomba Cemetery,found the grave, and although worn,I photographed it for Heather, closeup and at a distance, to show thatTom’s grave is nestled under a tree.

Heather was very touched thatTom’s shipmates had seen fit togive him a decent burial and to payfor a headstone and surround (thewhite pebbles are no longer there).

She wrote again in February 2008to say that she had just returned toher research after a long break andthought she would write.

A cousin had come over fromFrance a few weeks previously andhad brought a letter and postcardfrom Tom, which she had found in abox of archives belonging to theirsecond cousin. She was thrilledand thought it was a lovely letter,and attached a copy for me.

The postcard records,‘Engagements H.M.S. Inflexible.The action off the Falkland Isles,Decr, 8, 1914, The Dardanelles.The Outer Ports, Feb, 19. TheInner Forts, March, 4-5. TheChanak Ports, March, 18, 1915.’Continued page 6

The postcord recording events up to 1915 in which the HMS Inflexibleparticipated. The Inflexible launched in 1907 saw considerable action in

World War 1 but was deemed obsolete in 1921 and sold for scrap.


Continued from page 5Unfortunately the letter is not datedand the postmark on the envelopeis not clear, but the postcardrecords events up to 1915, listedabove, and Tom’s Naval Recordstates that he served on HMSInflexible between 1915 and 1919,so it is difficult to know exactly whenit would have been sent.

The second cousin was born in1907, so Heather thinks thatperhaps it was sent around 1917/1918, when the cousin would havebeen around 10 years old.

The letter was from ‘6 Mess, HMS.Inflexible, C/o G.P.O., Londonstates: Dear NorahI am just writing you a few lines tolet you know that I am still thinkingof you. And I hope you arebeheaving (sic) yourself while I amaway, and when I come home againI will come and see you. I amsending you in this letter a photo ofmy ship. Well I cannot tell you anynews, as I am not allowed to[because of war censorship]. Ihope this letter finds you a goodlittle girl, and give my best respectto all, as I am keeping fairly well.Your Sailor, Tom, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.’

In the same box among dozens ofphotographs, there were two of ayoung man in naval uniform andHeather was hoping that they werephotographs of Tom, but she hadbeen unable to confirm.

She was trying to discover if theuniform he was wearing would havebeen the type Tom would have wornduring his time in the Royal Navy,but had not been successful.

The only thing she could come upwith is a picture of the badge on hiscap, which apparently is a RN pettyofficer’s bullion cap badge.

This lead Heather to believe that itwas not a photograph of Tom, asthe last entry on his Royal Navyrecord states that he was a leadingstoker, and there is no reference tohim being a petty officer.

She had not given up hopealtogether and thought it would bewonderful if it was Tom.

I received a copy of the ‘Date andPeriod of Engagement’ fromHeather, which had a notation in theRemarks’ - RAN agreement 2 yearsfrom January 12, 1920.

I looked up the National Archives ofAustralia for Navy Personnel 1911-1979, trawled through and foundTom’s Record of Service. (PettyOfficers and Men), stating he was“lent’ from RN from January 12,1920, which stated he had been onthe Melbourne and the Sydney,which I referred to Heather.3.

Heather wrote again in August 2008wanting to share some wonderfulnews.

Her uncle, who is 88, had rung tosay that while clearing out some ofher aunt’s things, he found someold family photographs andwondered if she would like to havea look at them.

There was a photograph of theDixon family, which included Tom.She said at last she could put aface to the name and such ahandsome, young man.

She thinks the photograph wouldhave been taken around 1910/11,when Tom was about 18 years oldand is in pretty good condition,considering its age and the fact thatit had been stored away in a box forsuch a long time.

She attached the photo and Tom isin his Royal Navy uniform.

Heather’s grandmother (Annie) isstanding at the back with Tom andtheir younger brother (George DixonJnr) is seated on the right.

They are pictured with their father(George Dixon Snr) and their step-mother (Mary). (Tom’s mother haddied when he was six years). Therest of the children are their halfbrothers and sisters (l-r) Mary, Ellenand Robert, but Heather did notknow the name of the little boy nextto his mother and did not even knowof his existence.

What made this photograph specialfor Heather was a story hergrandmother had told her when shewas young, about the familyphotograph she had taken whenshe was about 16/17 years old.

She had arrived at the studio andremoved her hat.

Her step-mother slapped her andcalled her a name because she hadtied a scarlet ribbon in the back ofher hair. Heather smiled back ather grandmother when she saw theoffending ribbon.Continued page 7

‘... a boxcontaining

dozensof old

photos...’

The Dixon family which includes Tom in his naval uniform


Continued from page 6Heather is still plodding on with herresearch, although does not get tospend as much time as she wouldlike, and we still send photos of ourcoat-hanger bridges to one anotherat Christmas time, Heather’s of theNewcastle upon Tyne bridge andmine of the Sydney Harbour bridge.

Sources:1.Wood Coffill (Katoomba) BurialIndex 1916 to 1945, Volume 1,published by Blue Mountains FamilyHistory Society, ISBN 09756788 2 52.Our Past Blue Mountaineers, VolXI, published by Blue MountainsFamily History Society, ISBN 0 64624216 43.National Archives of Australia,Navy Personnel Records, 1911-1979, Series A6770, Digital Imagewith barcode 4416473

Robert Grove Howard 1924 – 1995The Robert Howard Memorial Award

The Bob Howard Award for 2010has been won by Vicki Wilson, forher article “Private Joseph HaroldNevill, Service No. 269”, publishedin The Explorers’ Tree, No. 83, June2010 and was awarded to Vicki atthe September 2011 BlueMountains Family History Society(BMFHS) general meeting.

Vicki’s name is now on the shield inthe family history society section ofSpringwood Library.

The competition was judged byLorraine Stacker, library services,Penrith City Library and member ofNepean Family History Society Inc.

Background to the AwardWhen Bob Howard died on May 10,1995, the late Colin Slade waspresident of Blue Mountains FamilyHistory Society.

He was asked to deliver a eulogy atBob’s funeral.

In The Explorers’ Tree magazine,No. 35, August 1995, Colin wrotethat he was delivering the eulogy asa friend, rather than as president ofthe society.

He and other members of thesociety were there to pay their lastrespects, offer their heartfeltempathy and understanding to hiswife, Pat and other members of theHoward family and to say farewell toa much loved and respected friend.

Bob was a foundation member ofthe society, which was inauguratedin 1986 and he enthusiasticallyparticipated in working bees andfund raising activities.

Bob wrote many and varied articlesfor The Explorers’ Tree magazine.Colin Slade noted that it was veryhard to remember an issue thatdidn’t have a Howard article.

Bob was co-opted to the committeein 1988 as cemetery officer,attending most cemeterytranscription days and wasresponsible for compiling data forthe cemetery publications, whichbecame a consuming passion.

Bob was also treasurer from 1989for two years.

Search for“Inflexible”

sailor

Bob would spend many hours in theSpringwood Library, looking throughthe microfilms of the old localnewspapers to glean anyinformation to add to the cemeterytranscriptions.

These publications were wellrespected and sold well, stampedwith that little extra, “the Howardtouch”.

In 1991 Bob Howard and DonWilson, were awarded the well-earned honour of becoming the firstlife members of the society.

In his eulogy, Colin Slade said:“Indeed it is an honour for thesociety, as Bob’s wishes were fordonations to be given to the societyin lieu of flowers; and I will proposethat an annual memorial award andtrophy for research be set up.”

A judging committee of three wasformed to judge the bestresearched article for each year,from The Explorers’ Tree magazineand John Low, (historian, formerBMCC Local Studies Librarian), wason the original committee.

BMFHS minutes of general meetingDecember 11,1995, Jennifer Burrell,representing the judging panel forthe Bob Howard Award for 1995,read the judges report, commendedCarol Bailey as editor formaintaining the newsletter’s highstandard, and announced the

winning article: “Names InGenealogy” by Audrey King.

BMFHS minutes of the generalmeeting February 12, 1996 notethat the Bob Howard Award shield isnow hanging in the library.

Contributed by Jan Koperberg,President, Blue Mountains FamilyHistory Society Inc.

Pictured while in Fromelles, Vickie Wilson and the Duchess of Cornwall


THE STORY OF GOVETT and his‘leap’ belongs more to mythologythan to fact.

It is claimed that a bushrangernamed Govett, being chased by thepolice, spurred his horse on anddied rather than surrender as hedisappeared off the waterfall whichdrops 450 m into the Grose Valley.

Unfortunately, even though the storydeserves to become part ofAustralian history Govett’s Leapwas named after William RomaineGovett, a young surveyor whoarrived in Sydney in 1827, spentmany years surveying the BlueMountains and the Hawkesburyarea, and returned to England in1834 after the government hadreduced his surveyingestablishment.

The evidence for the ‘leap’ beingsimply named after Govett thesurveyor is overwhelming.

Coming now to the word “leap”. Theword “leap” is Scottish for waterfallor cataract.

In the early 1830s the Three Sisterswere known as Govett’s Point,suggesting that he was well knownand admired in the area.

Govett’s ‘Leap’ debunked as a myth

In a letter to the editor of TheSydney Morning Herald of April24,1930 the correspondent B.A.R.suggested the bushranger storyunder the heading ‘The BlueMountains’ had erroneouslyappeared in a by then defunctSydney weekly newspaper, morethan 45 years earlier.

In 1835, by then back in England,Govett wrote in the SaturdayMagazine: ‘The bold broken natureof the country on either side isparticularly grand, and the streamswhich at first commence in swamps

And therein lies another mystery. Inthe Saturday Magazine article,Govett himself places Govett’s Leapclearly in the correct area, aboveGovett’s Creek and the GroseValley near Blackheath, but thereference to the WeatherboardedHut means one of two things.

Either Govett in his writing wasconfusing the Weatherboard Hutnear Wentworth Falls or there wasat the time of his surveying aweatherboarded hut near Govett’sLeap.

William Romaine Govett (1807-1848), surveyor, was born atTiverton, Devon, England, the thirdson of John Govett, surgeon, andhis wife Susanna Price, née Owen.He was at Blundell’s School,Tiverton, from 1817 to 1820.

He was appointed assistantsurveyor in the Surveyor-General’sDepartment of New South Wales onJuly 10, 1827 at £240 a year,reached Sydney in the Asia nextDecember and began work on (Sir)Thomas Mitchell’s staff.

Part of his work included surveyingon the old Bathurst road, duringwhich he discovered Govett’s Leapin the Blue Mountains, which wasnamed by Mitchell in his honour.

Mitchell was pleased with Govettand described him in a report on thedepartment in 1832 as a wild youngman who needed control, who hadcome to the colony ignorant ofsurveying but with much natural

The view from Govett’s Leap looking towards Govett’s Creek and theGrose Valley with its spectacular sandstone cliffs.

William Romaine Govett, dry plate photographcourtesy Image courtesy Mitchell Library, State

Library of NSW [Original: DG 223]

soon make theirway into inacces-sible gullies, untilthey arrive at thecliffs of the mainchannel wherethey fall incascades... Themost remarkableof thesecascades is theone near theWeatherboardedHut and thatwhich falls intothe head of theGrose River,which thesurveyor generalnamed ‘Govett’sleap’ from thecircumstances ofmy first havingcome upon thespot whensurveying with MrRusden.’

Continued page 9


Continued from page 8talent had become perhaps theablest delineator of ground in thedepartment, and who wasremarkably clever at dealing withunexplored country.

In February 1829, Govett was sentto the Hawkesbury River, wheremany farms required measurement,but in 1833 his career endedabruptly when the department wasreduced.

Govett returned to England in theAnn in March 1834 with a letter ofrecommendation from Mitchell tothe British government.

After his return to England, Govettlived at Tiverton, where he wroteseveral articles on New SouthWales which were published in theSaturday Magazine between May 7,1836 and September 2 ,1837 underthe title ‘Sketches of New SouthWales’.

‘...the ablestdelineator of

ground...’

Like so many of the early explorers and adventurers who worked in theearly days of the colony, Govett appears to have been an accomplished

artist with many of his works being published and a substantialcollection of his works in the State Library of NSW and the NationalLibrary of Austtralia. This ink on verso drawing titled View of of the

Grose River from a cataract named Govett’s Leap by Govett isreproduced courtesy of National Library of Australia nla –an3364840

They dealt with such topics as thenature of the country he had helped

to survey, the habits of theAboriginals, and life in Sydney; theywere illustrated with twelvepaintings by Govett, which werelater advertised for sale by G.Michelmore & Co.

Govett appears to have undergonea personal crisis after his return andrepented of his wild early life, butalthough he considered goingabroad again and making a freshbeginning he did not live long anddied on August 22, 1848 in London.

Material for this article sourcedand compiled by John Leary,OAM.I also thank, Jan Koperbergfor her continued assistance insourcing images from the NSWState Library, the National Library ofAustralia and elsewhere. jkl

1.Parsons, Vivienne, ‘Govett,William Romaine (1807-1848)’,Australian Dictionary of Biography,National Centre of Biography,Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/govett-william-romaine-2115/text2671,accessed 1 October 2011.2. Sydney Morning Herald, August15, 2007.3. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/18223449.

REFERENCES

AN ART EXHIBITION, Life andPractice featuring the works ofJurgis Miksevicius will be stagedat Everglades House andGardens, Leura between Sunday,November 20 2011 and SaturdayJanuary 28, 2012

This solo exhibition surveysexamples of his extraordinarybody of work which shows but aglimpse of the artist’s legacy.

It is the life-gift of a creativeindividual who came to Australiaas a young man escaping thehorrors of war and violentdislocation from his homeland,Lithuania.

Woven into the display of JurgisMiksevicius’ paintings anddrawings is a narrative of aspectsof his life and creative process.

This is further illustrated by interiorphotos of his home of 50 yearsdecorated with extraordinarymurals; photos of his studios andpieces of furniture

Life and Practice art at Everglades

The Student 1958 oil onhardboard 78 x 63 cm

Art works will be for sale. Dates:November 20, 2011 – January 28,2012 (closed December 18 –January 6). Gallery hours: Thursday– Sunday, 11am – 4pm and byappointment

Cost: Free NT Members / $8 Adult /$6 Concession / $4 Child.Enquiries: (02) 4784 1938


THE DIGITISATION and availability online of national newspapers, as well as magazines like theAustralian Women’s Weekly, are providing family and social historians with a clearer picture of pastevents. Thus, it is through this medium that we have a more personal view of the appointment ofCara Mallett to Hurlstone Women’s Training School. In 1882, the Sydney Morning Herald publishedcorrespondence written by Sir Henry Parkes, and the Right Hon A.J Mundella MP who recommendedCara for the appointment.1 This is the story of a remarkable woman who has been described as oneof the earliest ‘forward thinking’ educators to come to this country in the 19th century.

Caroline (Cara) Mallett: in her own rightBy Pamela Smith - Springwood Historians

The Reverend JB Faunthorpe, whowas principal of Whitelands (thecollege Cara trained at prior to herAustralian position) gave her aglowing reference as did theInspector of Training Colleges inEngland, Canon Warburton.

The two gentlemen considered shewas highly capable and Mundella,an English minister of parliament,suggested that although young,Cara possessed a better knowledgeof ‘modern’ teaching methods thanolder teachers long in theprofession.2

In her short career Cara had earneda first class Archbishop’s certificatefor religious knowledge, a first classcertificate for advanced botany, asecond class advanced certificatefor physical geography, a fulldrawing certificate, first classadvanced animal physiology, a firstclass merit certificate and the LadySudely prize for proficiency indomestic sanitation and a certificatefrom the St John’s AmbulanceAssociation.3

Faunthorpe stated, in histestimonial, that she was anexcellent teacher, disciplinarian andmanager, with some knowledge ofthe kindergarten system.4 He alsomentioned that Cara had more thana fair knowledge of Greek, Latin andFrench.5

The testimonials however alsoillustrated their regret at losing sucha talented teacher. Another letterwritten by Saul Samuel, agent-general, stated that a berth hadbeen secured for Miss Cara Malletton the Potosi which sailed fromEngland on the October 5, 1882.6

Eventful that voyage would prove tobe because it was aboard thePotosi that Cara first encounteredTannant William Edgeworth David

(later Sir) who of course was herfuture husband.7

Cara began life as Caroline MarthaMallett. She was born April 26,1856 at Southwold, Suffolk inEngland and was the daughter offisherman, Samuel Mallett and wifePamela (nee Wright).8

Cara, as she preferred to be called,is said to have been orphaned at ayoung age and then raised by hergrandmother.9

However, the 1871 census forEngland showed that at the age of14, Cara was living with George andMary Hurr.10

George was also a Suffolkfisherman and the census notedshe was the couple’s niece. Shewas a pupil teacher.11

Jennifer Horsfield, who exploredCara’s life in some detail,suggested Cara exemplified what‘women could achieve’ when theywere ‘empowered by education.’12

Horsfield confirmed that Cara, withan annual salary of £300, became‘one of the colony’s firstindependent, highly qualifiedprofessional women.’13

As an avowal of her standing shewas accepted into the RoyalCollege of Preceptors in 1884,which allowed her to ‘use the initialsMRCP after her name.’14

Horsfield saw this event as notinsignificant in a colony thatremained wedded to the idea that a‘British stamp of approval’ was theideal.15

Cara proved to be a formidableprincipal and her active pursuit ofhigher standards and better trainingfor student teachers often led to

conflict with senior bureaucrats inthe Department of PublicInstruction.16

Horsfield suggested Cara was bothoutspoken and innovative andpromoted Friedrich Froebel’s radicalkindergarten theories for teachingyoung children.

It is easy to see why Cara wasimpressed with German educatorFriedrich Froebel (1782-1852)because he was quoted as saying:

“The destiny of nations lies far morein the hands of women, themothers, than in the possessors ofpower, or those of innovators whofor the most part do not understandthemselves. We must cultivatewomen, who are the educators ofthe human race, else the newgeneration cannot accomplish itstask.”

Froebel’s methods had an appeal toforward thinking educators like Carabecause ‘play’ was considered as vitalas more structured activities in theeducation of small children.17

Froebel even suggested thatchildhood play was the ‘highestexpression of human development’because it allowed the ‘freeexpression of the child’s soul.’18

Froebel was not interested inturning out clones but in the‘wholeness’ of the individual.19

Cara embraced Froebel’senlightened teaching methods andopposed rote learning which wastaught by most teachers in the‘Victorian-era.’20

Froebel’s methods are still beingused to this day. While Cara was astrong advocate for the schoolcurriculum to include the teaching ofpractical and domestic arts, shewas equally supportive of girlsbeing taught science.21

Continued page 11


Continued from page 10When Cara married miningsurveyor, TW Edgeworth David, in1885 she was required, as was theunequal tradition then, to resign herHurlstone position.22

Horsfield implied that Cara’s earlymarried life, while dedicated toraising three young children, wassomewhat lonely in many respectsbecause her husband travelledfrequently to ‘far-flung geologicalfield camps.’23

However, Carol Cantrell paintedrather a different story bysuggesting that Cara and thechildren often accompaniedEdgeworth David.24

Cantrell described a trip they madeto Funafuti in 1897, where Caraforged a friendship with locals whilesuffering the discomfort of ‘rain,mouldy clothes and lack of privacy’quite cheerfully25

This trip obviously provided thematerial for Mission work inFunafuti, which Cara wrote whenshe returned home.26

Life gained a more normal paceafter Edgeworth David wasappointed Professor of Geology atthe University of Sydney in 1891.27

The couple explored their ownsocial and educational projects butequally, were at the centre of a‘group of liberal intellectuals whodominated Sydney’s cultural life.’28

Thus, the Edgeworth David’s couldcount among their friends peoplelike William Windeyer and hisfeminist-campaigner wife, Mary; andProfessors Scott, Anderson and

MacCallum (academics from theUniversity of Sydney).

The group founded the AustralianHome Reading Union (AHRU) in1892 that aimed to provide coursesin science, history and generalliterature for people who had aninterest but otherwise lacked highereducation.29

The AHRU failed in its bid to attractthe interest of working class peoplewho, according to Horsfield,considered it was a club for the ‘richand privileged.’30

Together with friends like LouisaMacDonald (the first principal of theUniversity Women’s College) andfeminist, Maybanke Wolstenholme,Cara supported the setting up offree kindergartens in the inner city.31

Cara put her skills to good use inthe early decades of the twentieth-century when she lectured on topicslike ‘Foreign missions & the effectthey had on natives,’ ‘NationalEfficiency,’ and ‘Women WarWorkers.’32

Newspapers of the day confirm thatshe was involved with the ‘Women’sProhibition Movement’ which was abody formed from the amalgamationof the ‘Women’s ChristianTemperance Union’ and other likesocieties.33

As president Cara addressed alarge gathering at Katoomba inAugust 1920.34 She stated that‘they had been unable to lift thedead weight of apathy from thegeneral public’ when she addressedanother gathering later that sameyear.35

It is not clear whether they took upa suggestion made at that meetingthat in order to rouse the apathy theladies should go about ringing bellswhile carrying large placardsdeclaring the benefits of Prohibition.

When the ‘Wattle Day League’formed c1910, Cara and feminist

campaigner, Rose Scott, becamethe vice presidents.36

The League president was JosephHenry Maiden who was director ofSydney’s Botanical Gardens.

Among other organisations Maidenwas one-time president of theLinnean Society 1901-2; presidentof the Royal Australian HistoricalSociety 1905-07 and president ofthe Horticultural Society 1903-17.

The objective of the Wattle League,in its formative years, was to instil asense of national pride andpatriotism for their country inAustralian citizens.

Rose Scott’s tireless campaign toimprove women and children’srights also inspired Cara to becomea devoted advocate.

Cara founded her own branch of the‘Women’s Political EducationalLeague,’ begun by Scott in 1904, inan effort to alert women to their newresponsibilities after gaining thevote.37

Edith Fry (1858-1940) anotherdevotee of the Women’s Leaguewas related to Woodford Academyprincipal John McManamey.

During World War One Cara turnedthe David’s Woodford cottage (Tyn-y-coed) into a Red Crossconvalescent home for soldiers.38

She was president of the ‘Women’sNational Movement,’ which aimed atsocial reform, like sex education foryoung children and the eradicationof venereal disease.

Cara, given her involvement withthe ‘Women’s ProhibitionMovement’, strongly supportedprohibition and endorsed anymeasure to bring about six-o’clockclosing.39

During World War 1 Cara turnedthe David’s Woodford cottageinto a convalescent home for

soldiers

Continued on page 12


Continued from page 11Cara was divisional commander(1920) and then State commander(1928-38) of the NSW branch of theGirl Guides and organised thepurchase of Glengarry atTurramurra for use as trainingheadquarters.40

This amazing woman spun fleeceinto wool to knit hundreds of socksfor World War Two servicemen andshe even had a hybrid tea rosenamed in her honour.41

Edgeworth David once said of hiswife ‘Whatever success I may haveachieved in life is due chiefly to mywife.’42

That testimony, glowing as it mightbe, only sums up a portion of theimportant contributions made byCara or Lady Edgeworth David.

ENDNOTES1 Sydney Morning Herald, 30 October1882, p. 5, copies of correspondenceParkes & Mundella, testimonials &correspondence from Mallett toMundella, reference from Rev. J.B.Faunthorpe Principal of WhitelandsCollege to Sir Henry Parkes, referencefrom Mrs. Newton, SuperintendentWhitelands College & Miss KateStanley, Governess of WhitelandsCollege, correspondence from Mallett toParkes, Saul Samuel to ColonialSecretary.

2 Sydney Morning Herald,Mundella to Parkes (3).3 Sydney Morning Herald,copy of reports.4 Sydney Morning Herald,testimonial Rev.JB Faunthorpe.5 Ibid.6 Sydney Morning Herald,Saul Samuel to Colonial Secretary.University Press, Volume 13, 1993, pp.575-576.8 Ibid.9 Ibid.10 English Census records, 1871Southwold Suffolk.11 Ibid.12 Jennifer Horsfield, ‘Cara David AForgotten Feminist,’ in The NationalLibrary Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 1, March2011, p. 24.13 Ibid.14 Ibid.15 Ibid.16 Ibid.17 Froebel Web,‘Friedrich Froebel created Kindergarten,’http://www.froebelweb.org/, updatedregularly, accessed 24.7.2011.18 Ibid.19 Ibid.20 Jennifer Horsfield.

21 Ibid.22 Ibid.23 Ibid.24 Carol Cantwell.25 Ibid.26 Ibid.27 Jennifer Horsfield.28 Ibid.29 Ibid.30 Ibid.31 Ibid.32 Sydney Morning Herald, 7.8.1900,p. 9; 9.11.1915, p. 5; 31.7.1920, p. 15.33 Sydney Morning Herald,10.7.1920, p. 13.

Sir Edgeworth’s testimony to his wife, Lady Cara

THE AUTHOR of this article, Pamela Smith’s interest in the suffragettemovement and early feminism was initiated when she first becameaware that women, and their role in the national narrative, had largelybeen ignored until the rise of the feminist movement in Australia in the1970s.

Since then she has endeavoured todo her small part by writing womenback into Blue Mountains history.She carried out extensive researchand presented a thesis on thewomen (and men) that operatedearly private venture schools in theBlue Mountains. Currently, she isinterested in the women whocontributed in the early years oflocal government in the BlueMountains. Pamlea is currently thepresident of the Blue MountainsAssociation of Cultural HeitageOrganisations (BMACHO)

Pamela Smith

About the author

34 Ibid, 27.9.1920, p. 4.35 Sydney Morning Herald, Prohibition,Women Fighters, Picturesque Ideas Forthe Campaign, 24.11.1920, p. 10.36 Ibid, 2.9.1914, p. 8.37 Jennifer Horsefield.38 Carol Cantrell39 Ibid.40 Ibid.41Australian Women’s Weekly,27.6.1942.42 Carol Cantrell.

New Windsor bridge proposalTHE RAHS WOULD LIKE to informmembers of a current issuesurrounding Thompson Square atWindsor that has proved to be acause for concern.

The RAHS regards ThompsonSquare as a significant heritage andhistoric landmark and is deeplyalarmed by any Roads and TrafficAuthority (RTA) bridge proposalswhich would affect it.

Thompson Square was establishedin the 18th century, making it theoldest urban space in Australia.

Thompson Square also hassignificant links to GovernorMacquarie, who gave the space anew name and appearance whenhe created Windsor as one of hisfive planned towns along theHawkesbury-Nepean.

The Council of the RAHS has sent aletter to the RTA raising concernsregarding the current preferredoption (Option 1). Option 1 involvesa high level bridge 35 metresdownstream of the existing bridge.

Individuals and societies are beingencouraged to support the RAHS’sstand against the new WindsorBridge proposal to contact theRoads and Traffic Authority [email protected]

Mt Wilson & Mt IrvineHistorical Society Inc.

ANNUAL GENERALMEETING

Saturday November 5,2011 at 10.30am


Mine owners gift to Lithgow heritageIN 1990 COAL MININGentrepreneurs Dick Austen andAngelo Butta donated the site of theformer Lithgow State Coal Mine tothe people of Lithgow.

The City of Greater Lithgow MiningMuseum Incorporated was formedto develop a mining museum in thecomplex of buildings on the site.

The museum’s volunteers haverestored industrial buildings,undertaken complete replacementof electrical and plumbing serviceson the four hectare site, foughtbushfires, undertaken majorenvironmental and flood mitigationprojects, gathered Australia’s mostcomprehensive collection of coalmining artefacts, developedinterpretive displays, hosted tens ofthousands of visitors, publishedthree coal mining histories andarticulated a vision for regionalheritage tourism.

The Lithgow State Coal Mine wasthe first colliery developed by theNew South Wales Government afterthe passage of enabling legislationin 1912.

After a faltering start the minerapidly developed into one of thelargest collieries in the state.

During the 1920s shafts were sunk,massive brick buildings constructedto house workshops, a power houseand stables, and a large coalhandling plant and weatherboardoffice were built.

By 1930 over 700 men wereworking at the mine.

The mine was intended to be anindustry leader in the application oftechnology and the development ofgood working conditions.

It supplied coal to the NSWDepartment of Railways and itsproduct was railed across thewestern districts of New SouthWales.

Small coal, unusable in railwaylocomotives, was sent across thegully to the Lithgow Power Station.

This power station, constructed in1927, supplied electricity fromLawson to Wellington.

During the 1920s the mine becamea pivotal point of the Miners’Federation of Australia MilitantMinority Movement.

This activist group was led byCommunist miners Bill Orr andCharlie Nelson.

These men met at the State Mineand it was here that they recruitedyoung miners like Alfred Airey to theCommunist cause.

Alfred, having studied at the LeninSchool in Moscow and taken theCommunist Party name Jack Blake,became one of the key leaders ofthe Communist Party of Australiabetween the 1930s and 1950s.

Bill Orr and Charlie Nelson becameleaders of the Miners’ Federation.Together they raised the morale ofembattled mine workers and helpedset new workplace standards for thecoal industry.

As the State Mine struggled throughthe Great Depression its workersdeveloped strong co-operative andsocial ventures.

The rich social life of the collieryincluded a brass band, footballteams, a ladies’ auxiliary, abodybuilders’ club, a boxing cluband numerous other social groups.

The mine’s blacksmith boxersbecame legendary. Blacksmith’sstriker Billy Boyce representedAustralia in the 1948 Olympics.

The colliery’s workers recalled astrong bond of comradeship thatdeveloped in the mine’s vastunderground workings.

Like all coalminers they knew thewonder of working in the depths ofthe earth, feeling it move and pulseas they worked to hew the coal.

They experienced the drama ofrescuing mates from roof falls anddealing with the effects ofmechanical accidents.

They volunteered to fight bushfires,to search for children lost in thebush and rallied to support thefamilies of men killed in other pits.

In July 1964, on the day the Beatleslanded in Sydney, heavy rains led tothe flooding of a number ofabandoned collieries in Lithgow.

As the flooding continued the StateCoal Mine came under increasingthreat.

Lithgow State Mine, 1920. Photograph

by Ray Christison

Continued page 14


Continued from page 14Theclosure of the Lithgow PowerStation four years earlier and thedecline of steam locomotion on theNSW Government Railways hadseverely affected the mine’sviability.

The decision was taken to close themine and its shafts were finallysealed on October 13, 1964.

Following closure much of themine’s surface infrastructure wasdemolished leaving only theworkshop, former power house(later used as a bath house), officebuilding and powder magazinesstanding.

Many of these buildings were usedas storage and the office buildingwas rented as a dwelling.

After taking control of the site, Cityof Greater Lithgow Mining MuseumInc. began restorations and startedto gather artefacts and stories.

The museum is working to tell thestories of the mine’s workers andtheir industry.

A director of the City of GreaterLithgow Mining Museum, RayChistison said, “We have workedwith the buildings, respecting theirintegrity while enhancing theircapabilities.

“The massive scale of buildingssuch as the former power househas allowed us to host majorcommunity events, festivals andcelebrations.”

THE NEW CULTURALdevelopment officer for LithgowCity Council, Wendy Hawkesinterest in culture began as a childwhen she moved with her family toPapua New Guinea and spent herchildhood and teenage yearsamongst a culture that values art,dance and music highly.

Returning to Australia at the end ofhigh school she completed ateaching degree and has taught inthe Blue Mountains and Lithgowareas since 2001.

Wendy began her Masters of ArtAdministration in 2006 at theCollege of Fine Arts, UNSW whenshe realised she wanted to pursuea career helping others enjoy artas much as she does.

Wendy was especially interestedin rural areas as that is where sheenjoys living the most. She movedto Lithgow 3 years ago and addeda love of history to her love of artas she began exploring the areawith the local photographic group.

“Beginning my new career ascultural development officer atLithgow City Council is a fantasticopportunity as it allows me to fulfillmy ambition of helping othersaccess culture and history, eitherby creating it or experiencing it,while being surrounded by cultureand history myself,” Wendy said.

New Guinea life createdinterest in cultural values

“Eskbank House and Museum, atwhich I will be based part of thetime, is an excellent venue forstoring knowledge and history andfrom which to share it.

“I hope to make Eskbank Houseand Museum a place that thecommunity calls home and in whichit feels a real sense of ownership aswell as a place people like to cometo visit from outside Lithgow. I lookforward to forming links with othercommunity cultural organisations.

“There are other exciting culturalprojects outside the museum that Iwill be involved in and I am verymuch looking forward to sharing inthe exciting cultural future ofLithgow,” said Wendy.

Wendy Hawkes

Mine closurecomes with

decline in steamlocomotion

Union banners exhibition 2009

Lithgow State Mine, 1950s. Photograph


Kurrajong-Comleroy HistoricalSociety has new president

A country boy who always wanted tobe a steam train driver and endedup being the curator of a railmuseum has recently been electedas the president of Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Societyfollowing the retirement of FrankHolland.

He is John Cooper who was bornon the Richmond River in 1938 theproduct of a dairy farmer and hiswife.

John‘s mother contracted ParkinsonDisease after his birth and spentmany months at a time in hospitaluntil her passing in 1950.

John recalls that following hismother’s death, his two sisters andhe spent some years with theirgrandparents before returning to thefarm to help his father on the dairy.

“I used to milk the cows beforeriding five miles to school atWoodburn,” John told HERITAGE.

“I never excelled at school and onNew Year’s Eve 1955 departed thebush for Sydney.

“I lived with my Aunty Bid (mymum’s sister) and joined therailways on January 6, 1955. Iwanted to be a steam train driverbut in 1958 was struck down withtuberculosis which put me inhospital for 13 months.

“By this time I had not long beenmarried. After returning to work inJanuary 1960, I was put on lightduties and later became a shunter.

“In January 1961 I had an accidentshunting and lost four of my toeswith another year unable to work.”

In 1970 he was elected a director ofthe Railway Credit Union, holdingthat position until 2008.

In the time he was a director theorganisation went from the RailwayStaff Credit Union with assets ofabout $600,000 to EncompassCredit Union with assets of over$230 million.

He also became involved with theproposal to create a steam touristrailway on the original great Zig ZagRailway formation.

He was a founding member and thefirst chairman of Zig Zag RailwayCo-op Limited holding that positionfor over ten years.

“I have also been chairman of theAustralian Railway PreservationSociety and on the committee ofmanagement of the Co opFederation of Australia.

“I have three children two of themhave the same disease, MotorNeuron that took their mother in1981. My son Peter passed awaylast year and his sister Donna is ina very advanced state.

“I remarried in 1996 to my now wife,Carolynne whom I met through therailway movement. “

John founded the Transport Signal& Communications Museum(TSCM) in 1990 at Cabramatta.

Carolynne joined the museum backthen and they have worked togetherover the years in the restoration andthe setting up of the museum whichis now on their Kurrajong property.

John is now the curator of TSCMand Carolynne is secretary, and hesays they have a terrific committeewhich is now working towards the reopening of TSCM to the public byOctober 2012.

John and Carolynne are bothpresident and secretary of theAustralasian Telephone CollectorsSociety and have held thosepositions for some years. Carolynnehas been on the Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Societycommittee since 2008 and also isthe coordinator of the family historygroup.

John says his position withinKurrajong-Comleroy HistoricalSociety is very much to support themany dedicated members who arecompiling family trees and thehistory of the early settlers of thelocal area.

“The Hawkesbury is indeedextremely rich in the very early daysof our colony. After listening to ourpast president Frank Holland statingprior to his moving to Kurrajong hehad shown no great interest in earlyhistory, so my view is if he can do itthen possibly I can,“ said the newpresident, John Cooper.

John Cooper dressed as RichardFitzgerald a convict, publicservant and settler when he

attended the formal dinner tocelebrate 200 years since the visit

of Governor Macquarie toKurrajong in 2010. Lachlan

Macquarie recognised Fitzgeraldfor his ability and praised the

‘zeal, vigilance and integrity’ ofthis ‘most honest upright man’.

Bob Clarke re- elected as chairman NationalTrust - Blue Mountains Branch

The popular Bob Clarke has beenre-elected as chairman, NationalTrust - Blue Mountains Branch.

Other members of the committeeinclude Rhona Leach (vice chair),John Partridge (secretary), Liz vanReyswoud (treasurer), DavidDonald Turner (heritage andadvocacy adviser), Sandra

Partridge (bookings and assistanttreasurer), Bronwyn Mansfield(newsletter), Sarah Wray(catering), Elizabeth Saxton(assistant secretary), JohnDikeman (walks co-ordinator),Laurel Anthony (functions) andMichael Blakeney (data baseofficer).


Grants workshop successA very successful BMACHOworkshop was conducted lastmonth with the aim of encouraginga higher standard of grantapplications.

The seminar held at the BlueMountains Historical Society’sHobby’s Reach at Wentworth Fallswas designed to give basic practicaladvice to the grants officers of(primarily heritage) societies andorganisations.

The workshop designed andconducted by BMACHO’s grantsofficer, Prof Barrie Reynoldsfocused on administrative andequipment grant programs thatinvolve an actual application form.

“The principles expounded would,however, also be of help for capital,sponsorship and ‘political’ grantsubmissions.

“Topics covered were the planningand preparation involved prior toapplication, the completion of theapplication forms themselves andthe aftermath: the handling of theproject and legal and otherresponsibilities relating to a grant,”Barrie said.

Some 21 participants attending fromthe following 10 BMACHOorganisations: Blue MountainsHistorical Society, GlenbrookHistorical Society, SpringwoodHistorical Society, SpringwoodHistorians, Kurrajong-ComleroyHistorical Society, Valley HeightsRailway Museum, Blue MountainsFamily History Society, LithgowFamily History Society, BlueMountains Branch of National Trust,Lithgow Branch National Trust ; aswell as six other non-BMACHOgroups: Blue Mountains Probus,Cox’s Road Project Committee,

Nepean Family History Society,Hartley District ProgressAssociation, Blue Mountains,Wildplant Rescue and The WritersRoom.

Barrie Reynolds has offered tocomment on any draft applicationsthat the participants plan to make.

He also said it is hoped to conductthe seminar again in Lithgow.

The occasion gave opportunities toencourage interest in the EasyGrants newsletter distributed onlineby BMACHO and the series of fourworkshops on the use of theinternet for heritage purposesplanned for early 2012.

These intended workshops aresupported by a generous grant fromthe Telstra Connected SeniorsGrant Program.

For further information on theproposed or expressions of interestin attending the Telstra internetworkshop, e-mail: e-mail:[email protected] go to the BMACHO contactspage on the website,www.bluemountainsheritage.com.au

Barrie Reynolds

The Land Records workshopheld at Blue MountainsHistorical Society’s Hobby’sReach Research Rooms onSunday, October 16, 2011, waswell attended, by members ofsocieties from all over the BlueMountains.

The workshop was designedfor local and family historians

Lesley Muir and Carol Liston,on behalf of the RAHS, havepresented this workshop tohistorians and members of itsaffiliated societies, in locationsacross NSW, due to thegenerosity of a benefactor, whobelieves in the importance ofcommunity history.

There was a large amount ofinformation to digest in oneafternoon, but most enthusiastspurchased a copy of thepresentation on a RAHS USBstick, and no doubt will bespending many hours online.

BMACHO would like to thankthe RAHS and Lesley andCarol for giving up theirSunday afternoon, to bring thepresentation to the BlueMountains.

Thank you also to BlueMountains Historical Societyfor the use of their premises.

Contributed by Jan KoperbergSecretary BMACHO

LAND RECORDSWORKSHOP

WELLATTENDED

Following a minutes silence tocommemorate Remembrance Day -at 11am on Friday, November 11, ahigh tea will be held in the houseand grounds of Woodford Academy.

Enjoy a delicious home cooked hightea, with a variety of teas and coffeeon offer.

Have a look around the house andgrounds of this historic property.

Once an inn, it progressed to aprivate home, a guest house andthen an exclusive boy’s boardingschool.

Astronomers from all over Australiacame to view the Transit of Venusfrom here in 1874.

Cost $25 for entry and high tea. Forenquiries Marilyn Wright (02) 47587809.

Remembrance Day high tea at Woodford Academy

Woodford Academy


Louise Markus first tosupport conference

LOUISE MARKUS MP, the FederalMember for Macquarie is the firstperson to come forward andfinancially support the 2012 BlueMountains History Conference –Colonial Society to be held at theheritage listed Carrington HotelKatoomba.

The organising committee has sofar concentrated its efforts in findinginteresting and some of the

countrY’s top heritage experts to bespeakers at the conference.

The committee last month started tolook for sponsors and Mrs Markuswas the first to come forward andundertake the printing of thebrochure needed to promote theconference.

John Leary, OAM, the formerpresident of the Blue MountainsAssociation of Cultural HeritageOrganisations Inc. (BMACHO) inwelcoming Louise’s support saidthat since she had become the localmember, Mrs Markus had shownconsiderable interest in the work ofBMACHO and the heritage of thisregion.

“I am delighted to be able to supportthe great work the Blue MountainsAssociation of Cultural HeritageOrganisations does in promotingthe heritage of the region,” LouiseMarkus said.

Anyone interested in becoming asponsor of the 2012 HistoryConference is asked to contactJohn Leary [email protected] ortelephone 4758 8584.

.

Louise Markus, MP

The Blue Mountains BotanicGarden, Mount Tomah hasopened a new 155 square metreexhibition centre to help visitorsenjoy a heightened experienceand understanding of the GreaterBlue Mountains World HeritageArea.

Visitors will be excited andinspired by this world-classattraction. Visitors may engagein a virtual journey through thecanyons and ridges of 1,000,000hectares of wilderness.

These inaccessible treasuresmay be experienced in thecomfort of the exhibition centre,leaving these remote wildernessareas protected and intact.

Through the display, visitors canmarvel at plant and animaldiversity, experience the 14,000years of Aboriginal culture thatso lightly touched the land andunderstand the long geologicalforces which have shaped thiswonderland.

The experience is hands-on withactivity based learning suitablefor all ages and languages.

Groups will be provided withopportunities to revel in thisvirtual wilderness and then walkthrough the 28 hectare BotanicGarden showcasing many of therare plants of the World HeritageArea.

The centre has a gentleeducational message promotingminimum impact eco-tourism and

Greater BlueMountains

World HeritageCentre

Blue Mountains Botanic Garden,Mount Tomah is a foundation

member of BMACHO

Professor Ian Jack to openconference

A CONSUMATE SCHOLAR, and aman who has devoted a large partof his professional life to workingwith volunteers in the history andheritage sector, Associate ProfessorR. Ian Jack, MA, PhD, FRHistS,FRAHS has accepted an invitationto officially open the Blue MountainsHeritage Conference 2012.

Dr Jack last year stood down after11 years in office as president of theRoyal Australian Historical Society.

Former president of BMACHO, JohnLeary, OAM, said, “Ian’s clarity ofmind and communications arerecognised and admired not only atacademic institutions such as theUniversity of Sydney, but throughoutAustralia by all levels of the heritageand history sector.

“Ian has a talent for encouragingothers to engage in activities which

“He is a prolific researcher andwriter of Australian history.

“Dr Jack has been and remains, anactive exponent and promoter ofAustralian history and of heritage ofthe built environment,” John Learysaid.

enhance the conservation andpreservation of heritage and is ableto summarize a range of opinionsand views with precision andinsight.


SANTA WILL ARRIVE EARLY in theBlue Mountains when aboard theheritage steam tram 103A he makeshis appearance at the ValleyHeights Rail Museum on SundaysNovember 27 and December 11.

Santa will arrive on both days at11am and then later at 2pm.

He will have the usual bag ofgoodies for the children and looksforward to having his photographtaken with young children by mumsand dads who bring their cameras.

Morning and afternoon tea will beavailable.

As a special treat on SundayNovember 27 the NSW RailwayBand will perform between 10.30amand 2.30pm.

Standard entrance charges willapply. For further information(02) 4751 4638 orwww.infobluemountains.net.au/locdepot

Santa to arrive by steam tram

WOODFORD ACADEMY will beopen to the public on November 11,19 and January 21 between 10amand 4pm

This National Trust property reflectsits colourful history from its earliestdays as an inn, to its years as amodel boys’ school.

Enjoy the special atmosphere of theproperty which includes a fineexample of a colonial kitchen andrare segmented arch over thefireplace (pictured below,photograph by John Leary 2007)

Then relax over a home-mademorning tea on the balcony with itsBlue Mountains vistas.

Cost: Free NT Members / $6 Adults/$4 Concession / $3 Child Enquiries:Marilyn Wright (02) 4758 7809

Woodford Academyopen to public

Welcome to newmembers

BMACHO welcomes the EskbankRail Heritage Centre at Lithgow as anew member.

The Eskbank Railway precinct is ofstate significance as an earlyrailway precinct, important in thecourse of NSW’s history because ofits key role in the industrial develop-ment of the Lithgow Valley.

Meanwhile, the National Trust ofAustralia (NSW) has appointed amanagement committee for it’sWoodford Academy property andBMACHO now welcomes theWoodford Academy ManagementCommittee to full membership.

Woodford Academy is the oldestsurviving property in the BlueMountains.

Bradman scored a century for Blackheath80 years ago this month, DonBradman played for Blackheathagainst the Lithgow Pottery XIscoring an amazing century offthree overs.

In a new book to commemoratethe anniversary, the historianRonald Cardwell and IreneMcKilligan, the daughter of one ofBradman’s team mates that day,have uncovered new materialabout Bradman’s visit to the BlueMountains.

Bradman had been invited to playfor Blackheath in a game onNovember 2, 1931, by OscarWendell Bill, a journalist andformer NSW player.

The ‘Blackheath bat”, whichBradman broke two months afterthe local game, became a

significant item of memorabilia afterhe gave it to Blackheath mayor,Peter Sutton.

The bat is now displayed in theBradman Museum in Bowral after achequered history during which itlived in Blackheath councilchambers, survived a burglary andresurfaced in the BlackheathBowling Club.

Lithgow coalminer and openingbatsman Bob Nicholson, a baritonesinger so impressed Bradman,at apost match concert that the ‘Don’invited him to sing at his wedding

Bradman at Blackheath ispublished by The CricketPublishing Company.


A few copies of the Inaugural ISSUE 1 of the Journal are also available (price $27 post free).This contains four articles:

* North Springwood in the Nineteenth Century: the site of St. Columba’s Seminary andHigh School by Ian Jack* Joseph Hay: One of Lawson’s Pioneers by Brian Fox* Dr William Bell (1815-1871): Experiences of a 19th Century Doctor on either side ofthe Blue Mountains by Lois Sabine* Aboriginal Prehistory of the Blue Mountains by Eugene Stockton

ISSUE 1 is 44 pages in length and illustrated with 26 historical prints, many incolour, tables, plans and other illustrations.

Enquiries for further information and expressions of interest insubmitting manuscripts for publication are welcomed by the Journaleditor (Dr. Peter Rickwood) through the Association’s website.

BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGEORGANISATIONS INCORPORATED

BLUE MOUNTAINS HISTORY JOURNAL

A brain storming sessions forpresidents, members of executives,committee members or thosewishing to stand for positions oncommittees will be conducting onTuesday, November 8.

The activity will commence at 9amin the Frazer Memorial PresbyterianHall, Macquarie Street, Springwood.

This session will be facilitated byDoug Knowles, a committeemember of Blue MountainsAssociation of Cultural HeritageOrganisations and currentlypresident of Glenbrook & DistrictHistorical Society.

BRAIN STORMING AT SPRINGWOOD

ISSUE 2 of the Blue Mountains History Journal is nowavailable on the Blue Mountains Association of CulturalHeritage Organisation Inc. website(www.bluemountainsheritage.com.au) and may bedown-loaded for private use without charge. It can also bepurchased in hard copy.

ISSUE 2 contains articles by distinguished local historians fromthe Blue Mountains: * The Martindale Family and the Sketchbook of Mary

Elizabeth Martindale by John Low* Over a Century of Worship at Medlow Bath by ClairIsbister,Robert King and Peter Rickwood* A History of the Postal and Telephone Services of MountWilson by Mary Reynolds* A Secret Army in the Blue Mountains? by Pamela Smith

ISSUE 2 is 58 pages in length and profusely illustrated with 67historical prints, maps and plans. Many of the prints are in colour.A limited number of hard copies are available post-free, for $27each. Interested readers are invited to send their cheques (madepayable to BMACHO) to The Secretary, Blue Mountains Associationof Cultural Heritage Organisations Incorporated, 14 Burral Street,Winmalee, NSW 2777, before 20 November 2007.

Ideas will beput forward,questionsasked, andhopefullyanswered, butif answers arenotforthcomingon the day,they will besought.

INTERESTINGNEWSLETTERS

Anyone wishing to attend, shouldcontact BMACHO’s secretary, JanKoperberg by phone 02 4754 1544or [email protected]

Doug Knowles

HERITAGE’s editor receivesregularly a number of first classnewsletters from societies andcorporations within the heritagesector. Sometimes a really gooditem of news or a wellresearched article deserving of awider publicity is to be found inthese newsletters.

If your newsletter is not beingsent to the editor of HERITAGEhe would appreciate receiving acopy, either by e-mail [email protected] by post to John Leary, OAM,31 Lysiana Road, WOODFORD2778.


First Waltzing Matilda manuscript on show asNational Library unveils some of its treasures

Pictured at left isthe original

Waltzing Matildamanuscript

The purchase of theEndeavour journal of JamesCook in 1923 is one of the

most significant acquisitionsmade by the National Library

of Australia. The journalcovers the three-year voyageof the sailing ship Endeavour(1768 to 1771), captained by

James Cook, when itcircumnavigated the globe in

the name of scientificadvancement

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY ofAustralia in Canberra has unveileda new permanent galleryshowcasing some of the treasuresof its collection.

The Treasures Gallery brings someof the library’s valuable gems out ofthe vaults, with some on show forthe first time.

It is an eclectic display includingrare manuscripts and CaptainJames Cook’s Endeavour journal,along with Doncker’s exquisiteatlas, that pre-dates Abel Tasman,showing a very different map ofAustralia.

There is a handwritten letter fromJane Austen to her sisterCassandra, William Bligh’snotebook listing the bountymutineers, and the original WaltzingMatilda manuscript.

There are also some veryunexpected items. When a box ofwriter, Patrick White’s notebookswas donated to the library, thecurators found his reading glassesand beret inside.

Beside them are Jorn Utzon’soriginal models for the sails of theSydney Opera House.

Exhibitions director Nat Williamssays the diverse collectionhighlights different aspects ofAustralia’s history.

“We’re an interesting country.We’ve been faced with all sorts ofdilemmas. People have beencourageous, they’ve explored,they’ve invented, they’ve innovated,they’ve advocated - they’ve done anextraordinary sort of range ofthings,” he said.

“A lot of those things are reflected inhere, from the first draft of WaltzingMatilda to Edward Mabo’s papers.

“People can walk in, and in half anhour or an hour, walk around thisgallery here and get a real sense ofwhat Australia’s about and how it’scome to be where it is now.”

The National Library has more than12 million items in its collection, andthe new gallery will constantlychange to reflect that.

About every 16 weeks the librarywill turn the pages in some of thebooks and some of the sensitiveitems will be replaced with otheritems that cannot be on display forlong periods of time.

“That’s part of our culture I think, ashumans, to marvel at what peoplehave created and what people havebeen able to achieve.”

The $7 million gallery has been 10years in the making, with half of thefunds coming from public donations.Mr Williams says visitors willappreciate the extensive collection.

“They’re really enjoying it, they’refinding it diverse, they’re seeing thesort of richness of our collectionwhich is boundless,” he said.

“It really is one of the greatcollections in the world. It certainlydocuments Australian documentaryheritage in an extraordinary way.”Alison Ramage

There is stillsomething aboutthe one-off thatreally speaks topeople,” saidcurator SusannahHelman.

“People want tocome and see theoriginal thing, theywant to come andsee people’shandwriting, theywant to come andsee somethingthat’s unique.

A page in Austrlia’s heritage -James Cook’s journal. Imagecourtesy National Library ofAustralia nla.ms-ms1-s256r


Western crossing commemoration 2013-15great ideas - thoughts - just being talked about or its really going to happen

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIANHistorical Society’s (RAHS)Western Crossings Committee wasestablished in 2010.

It provides a forum for the exchangeof information and ideas oncommemorating the bicentenary ofthe first crossings of the BlueMountains, including theinvolvement of Aboriginal people,the ‘three explorers’ in 1813, thesurvey and construction of the firstroad across the Blue Mountains in1813-1815, and GovernorMacquarie’s selection of the site ofBathurst in 1815.

All these events are of considerableand cumulative historicalsignificance. The RAHS believesthat commemorative projects oughtto be of long-term benefit.

Meetings have been held atSydney, Penrith, Woodford, Lithgowand Katoomba. The next meeting isat Emu Plains.

Participants in meetings representcommunity heritage and historyassociations, local governments,state government departments andAboriginal traditional owners.

There was discussion at allmeetings of proposals to interpretsections of the original Cox’s Road.

At the Katoomba meeting on August12, Bill Evans from the Roads andTraffic Authority gave a fascinatingpresentation on the heritage andhistory of surveying and roadbuilding in the Blue Mountainsregion, devoting special attention tothe first road.

He showed and discussed rarelyseen maps, photographs andsurvey books.

Bill offered during his presentationto show interested committeemembers Cox’s Road nearWoodford.

This inspection occurred on August28, when a group of about 20people walked to parts of the roadthat are still clearly visible andeasily reached.

Also at Katoomba, I reported on myAugust 11 meeting with the Premierof New South Wales, BarryO’Farrell and the Member for BlueMountains, Roza Sage,

The Premier expressed in principlesupport for a state coordinatingcommittee similar to that formed forthe Macquarie 2010commemoration. I also argued for aspecial competitive grants program.DAVID CARMENT

A REPORTFROMPROFESSORDAVIDCARMENT,CHAIRWESTERNCROSSINGSCOMMITTEE

MACQUARIE MONUMENTSPRINGWOOD HISTORIANSthought Lynn Collins’ suggestion of“a small corner for a ‘running sheet’of what folk from say Penrith orParramatta to Bathurst are thinkingof doing” for the Western CrossingCommemoration was an excellentidea so we would like to tell you ofour project.

Springwood already has aMacquarie Monument (seeHERITAGE Newsletter May/June,2010) but we fear it is a neglectedpart of Springwood and indeed BlueMountains and NSW history.

We decided to visit it individuallyand then meet to consider itsproblems. All except one of ourmembers (and she lives inGlenbrook) knew where it was, hadwalked or driven past it many timesand knew what it commemorated.

But we all agreed it was shabby,and, after talking to other people,mostly unnoticed.

Positioned on the site identified bythe RAHS as Macquarie’s campingplace on his journey over Cox’sroad to Bathurst in 1815 and thesite of the first Military Barracks inSpringwood, it could be called thebirthplace of Springwood.

So our project is to see it restored,refurbished and given moreprominence.

The land on which it stands isowned by Blue Mountains CityCouncil so our first step was tocontact them. Patrick Williams,recreation coordinator met us at themonument and agreed that it wasan important historic site withpriorities for action being”the fencessurrounding the monument andinterpretation of the monument”.

Other possibilities were “treating theexisting plaque on the monument toresist weathering and providingdirectional signage to the site”.

Council financing for this type ofproject in the 2012/3 financial yearwould have to be assessed againstother identified projects and thetotal amount set aside was only$15,000.

Obviously more money would beneeded to see our projectsuccessfully completed. Our smallgroup is not incorporated andunable to apply for grants so we arelooking for partners.

As a further disappointment, on thenew Springwood information signerected on the Springwood TownSquare, the monument is noted onthe map simply as “monument’!Monument to what?SHIRLEY EVANS

LOCALbusinessmanTom Colless istrying to secureagreement forminting a holeydollar anddump, to bechildren.

HOLEY DOLLAR AND DUMP

issued to school

When the colony of New SouthWales was founded, it soon had alack of coinage. Governor LachlanMacquarie took the initiative ofusing £10,000 in Spanish dollarssent by the British government toproduce coins known as the holeydollar and the dump being the piecestamped from the centre.


THE ORGANISATION Blue Mountains Association ofCultural Organisations Inc. (BMACHO) was establishedin April 2006 following a unanimous response to aproposal from Professor Barrie Reynolds at the 2004Blue Mountains Local History Conference which soughtfrom Blue Mountains City Council the creation of acultural heritage strategy for the city.

BMACHO in its constitution uses the definition: “Culturalheritage is all aspects of life of the peoples of the BlueMountains which was later changed to cover Lithgow andthe villages along the Bell’s Line of Roads. It thereforeinvolves the recording, preserving and interpreting ofinformation in whatever form: documents, objects,recorded memories as well as buildings and sites.”

The objectives of the organisation are: i. To raise public consciousness of

the value of cultural heritage. ii. To encourage and assist culturalheritage activities of member organisations. iii. To initiate and support culturalheritage activities not already covered bymember organisations.

One of the aims of BMACHO is to bring the variousbodies into closer contact, to encourage them to workmore closely together and to provide a combined voiceon matters of importance within the heritage sector.

HERITAGE BMACHO’s official newsletter is edited byJohn Leary, OAM.

MEMBERSHIP The following organisations are members ofBMACHO: Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah,Blue Mountains City Library, Blue Mountains Cultural HeritageCentre, Blue Mountains Historical Society Inc., BlueMountains Family History Society Inc., Blue MountainsTourism Limited, Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute,Cudgegong Museums Group Inc., Eskbank Rail HeritageCentre, Everglades Historic House & Gardens, Friends ofNorman Lindsay Gallery, Glenbrook & District HistoricalSociety Inc., Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society Inc,Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort, Lithgow and District FamilyHistory Society Inc., Lithgow Mining Museum Inc., LithgowRegional Library – Local Studies, Lithgow Small Arms FactoryMuseum Inc, Mid-Mountains Historical Society Inc, Mt Victoriaand District Historical Society Inc., Mt Wilson and Mt IrvineHistory Society Inc. (including Turkish Bath Museum),Mudgee Historical Society Inc., Mudgee Regional Library,National Trust of Australia (NSW) - Blue Mountains Branch,National Trust of Australia (NSW) - Lithgow Branch, ScenicWorld – Blue Mountains Limited, Springwood & DistrictHistorical Society Inc., Springwood Historians Inc., TransportSignal and Communication Museum Inc., The DarnellCollection Pty Ltd, Valley Heights Locomotive Depot andMuseum, Woodford Academy Management Committee, ZigZag Railway Co-op Ltd. The following are individual members:Ray Christison, Associate Professor Ian Jack, Joan Kent,John Leary OAM, John Low, Ian Milliss, Professor BarrieReynolds, Dr Peter Rickwood and Dr Peter Stanbury OAM.

COMMITTEE The committee for 2011-12 is: Pamela Smith(president), Ian Jack (vice president), Jan Koperberg(secretary), Joan Kent (treasurer), Jean Arthur, DougKnowles, John Leary, Dick Morony (public officer), KathieMcMahon-Nolf, Barrie Reynolds and Peter Stanbury.

HONORARY AUDITOR: Sue McMahon, B Comm CPA.

AFFILIATIONS BMACHO is a member of the RoyalAustralian Historical Society Inc.

BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURALHERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC.

REGISTERED OFFICE 14 Bunnal Ave, Winmalee 2777E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]: www.bluemountains.heritage.comABN 53 994 839 952

Blue Mountains History Journal is edited byDr Peter Rickwood.

Australia’s first hospital celebrates 200 yearsThe buildings facing MacquarieStreet are an imposing group ofhigh Victorian institutional buildings,which form an integral part of thehistoric streetscape of MacquarieStreet, as well as being important tothe early history of medicine inAustralia.

But it is not the heritage buildingswhich attract most attention. It is abronze boar.

Few people fail to notice him!People from all over the world havesolemnly stood in Macquarie Street,Sydney and rubbed his nose, madea wish, dropped a coin in his basketand had a photograph takenstanding near him.

His name is Il Porcellino. He is not apig; he is a wild boar.

The original Il Porcellino statue isestimated to be over 500 years old,and was unearthed in Rome afterhaving stood for over 100 years inthe Uffizi Galleries in Florence.

The Sydney Hospital and SydneyEye Hospital Il Porcellino, which is acopy of the original, was presentedto the hospital in l968 by theMarchessa Clarissa Torrigiani inmemory of her father and brother –Dr Thomas Fiaschi who died in1928 and Dr Piero Fiaschi who diedin 1948. Both had been renownedsurgeons at the Sydney hospital.

SYDNEY HOSPITAL Australia’sfirst hospital celebrated 200 yearslast month on its Macquarie Streetsites.

Sydney Hospital dates from thearrival of the First Fleet in 1788 andhas been on its present site inMacquarie Street since 1811.

The oldest building now standing onthe site is the Nightingale Buildingwhich dates from 1868, and thesandstone buildings on theMacquarie Street frontage, datingfrom 1894.

The new Clinical Services Buildingof the hospital was opened in 1996and has been built to harmonisewith the historic buildings on thesite.

The complex of buildings providesan important monument to thehistory of medicine and nursing inAustralia, and continues to providehigh quality healthcare services.

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