HERITAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. MAY - JUNE 2012 ISSUE No. 21 Little Wheeny Creek mill race survives ravages of floods by Frank Holland - former president, Kurrajong - Comleroy Historical Society Inc. SETTLEMENT around Kurrajong can be documented through various land grants the first being 500 acres to William Lawson and then in 1809 a series of grants were made.

However, it is likely that people were in the area prior to that time. It is known that Matthew Everingham carried out exploration in 1795 which took him through the Wheeny Gap and possibly as far as present day Mount Tomah.

In 1810 Governor Macquarie passed through the area, which by then had a number of people living on the land.

Shortly after its incorporation in 2001, Kurrajong - Comleroy Historical Society Inc (KCHS) researched the Singleton mills site Two grinding stones from Singleton’s mill being examined by Dr Martin on Little Wheeny Creek. Gibbs (taking notes) and local historian Les Dolan a member of Kurrajong - Comleroy Historical Society. These mill stones which were recovered from Most of the research focused on the Little Wheeny Creek when council was constructing a new bridge over the location of the mills and attempts to creek are now located in Memorial Park, Kurrajong Village understand the type of construction and plan of the mill. Based on this on the Hawkesbury near This sale did not proceed. It is also research a working model of the mill Wilberforce. unclear as to who held the title to was constructed. the land on which the mill had been In 1809 Benjamin’s elder brother, erected. Over the past 11 years a number of James, joined the family as a free tours of the site have been settler and he and Benjamin were What is clear is that between 1810 undertaken. granted 50 acres each at what is and 1816 Benjamin and James built present day Grose Vale in the or had built two water mills, for Benjamin Singleton with his mother Richmond district. grinding grain, on the banks of Little and younger brother Joseph Wheeny Creek at Kurrajong. accompanied his father William, No evidence has been located who had been convicted in England proving that they actually lived on This creek, although small provided of the theft of some cloth, to Port these grants and it is not until 1816 a safe, permanent water supply Jackson. that documentary evidence can be (and still does). found that at least one mill was in William gained his ticket of leave existence, as it was offered for sale Continued page 3 and later obtained a grant of land that year.

HERITAGE 1 May - June 2012 Contents...... An opinion from the editor...... HERITAGE May - June Local historians and 2012 *P1 Little Wheeny Ck historical societies of mill race survives ravages of floods immense value to heritage *P2 Opinion - Local THE eminent historian and former this site, but so too must be every historians and president of the Royal Australian decent thinking person around historical societies Historical Society, Professor R Ian Australia. of immense value Jack has often expressed a view, to heritage which this writer shares, to the effect If the state government is to have any *P5 Conference that local historical societies and credibility in the area of history and keynote speaker, historians are an extremely valuable heritage it must instruct the Road and professor of public and vital resource in researching and Maritime Services to rethink the history recording our heritage and history. proposal for a new river crossing taking *P6 Rare views of Much of the preservation and into account the formal recognition of Blue Mountains recording of history and heritage in heritage sites listed in the New South on show for first Australia probably would not have Wales Heritage Register. time occurred had it not been for the quiet *P7 Survival and achievers associated with historical And in yet another area of the region at civilisation in a and heritage groups around Australia. Lawson the apparently cavalier actions strange land of the Road and Maritime Services have *P7 Govt moves to In this edition there are several buried a piece of rail heritage dating preserve digital examples that Dr Jack’s views are very back to the laying of the first rail line heritage valid. across the Blue Mountains. With the *P9 Roadworks bury roadwork construction of the Great heritage rail On page one of this edition of Western Highway beside Sydney Rock cutting near HERITAGE is a story of the exemplary near Lawson is a new rerouted railway Sydney Rock, tenacity and perseverance of members cutting. *P10 Grant for Norman of the Kurrajong – Comleroy Historical Lindsay’s studio Society whose research hopefully will The now abandoned original cutting of *P14 Crash of Wirraway lead to having the early industrial site the 1866-67 rail line is in its own right of near Hazelbrook of Singleton’s mills recognised as a some significance as rail heritage but *P13 Plane crash at significant heritage site. apart from the built heritage, there are Glenbrook items of geological and botanical *P15 Managing your As is often the case, this research has interest which need to be recognised. collection/State been supported by academics, in this For many years Father Eugene Records work- case Dr Martin Gibbs and his students Stockton has stressed the importance of shop from Sydney University. this rail cutting and the nearby Sydney *P17 Dave Evans - the Rock as having heritage value. Felixman of Echo This mill was away from the ravages of Point the frequent floods that destroyed There is a school of thought among *P18 Thompson more prominent mills and property many well qualified archaeologists that Square, Windsor: along the banks of the Hawkesbury. some of our heritage is best protected the oldest civic Remnants of the race, stone work and by it being “left in the ground” and this square in Austral- the mill pond are visible today and it is may well be one of those sites. ia under threat possible that up to 30 people may *P20 Management have been housed in the area. However, HERITAGE understands committee following an “11th hour community changes at AGM Elsewhere, in this publication is a protest” at the burying of parts of this *P22 Walking with piece about the untiring efforts of cutting, a compromise has been women heritage enthusiasts to save from suggested by the Road and Maritime *P21 Last chance for oblivion the historic Thompson’s Services. The ham-fisted manner in 150 years to see Square heritage building sightlines at which this compromise appears to have Transit of Venus Windsor. been negotiated leaves a great deal to *P22 Scots Church, Pitt be desired. Town celebrates In this case the proponents seeking to its 150th save this unique heritage precinct Road and Maritime Services must not anniversary have mounted compelling arguments be allowed to tread roughshod over our *P23 History Week against what is an ill conceived heritage as its predecessors have tried *P24 Western crossing bureaucratic solution which flies in the to do in the past. commemoration face of the NSW Heritage Register. *P25 Historic clipper John Leary, OAM - Past president, retires to sun after Not only are locals outraged, by this Blue Mountains Association of 150 years proposal for a new river crossing at Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc.

HERITAGE 2 May - June 2012 Singleton’s mills supplied flour to young colony Continued from page 1 These mills were away from the ravages of the frequent floods that destroyed more prominent mills and property along the banks of the Hawkesbury.

The mills supplied flour to the fledging colonies on the Hawkesbury and at Port Jackson as evidenced by government contracts.

Based on photographs of later mills built by the Singletons they would have been of two levels of slab or weatherboard, constructed on a sandstone base.

A mill pond would have been constructed from which a steady flow of water could be conveyed to the mills by way of a water race. Remnants of the race, stone work and the mill pond are visible today. Remnants of the race, stone work and the mill pond are visible today. James Singleton continued on with scavenged for any useful material his younger brother Joseph but later and the site became overgrown Based on other constructions and a moved on to build tidal mills beside although eye witness accounts state study of the area local artist, Fay the Hawkesbury River near that remnants of buildings were still Edwards, painted an impression of Wiseman’s Ferry. visible in the early 1900’s. the Little Wheeny Creek mill This shortened the travelling time to Today some stone work at the site Benjamin left the area circa 1822 Port Jackson. can be seen with approximately 180 for Patrick Plains, moving his family metres of a water race clearly along the route he played a part in The Singletons built at least one defined (see photograph at top of opening up through his own other mill at the site to later be this page). explorations and in partnership with named Singleton. William Parr and later with John Considerable labour would have Howe. The mills on Little Wheeny Creek been required to build the stone passed through a number of owners wall of the race and it is known that This route was the first European and were operational up to circa convicts were assigned to Benjamin track north to the Hunter River but 1858 before falling into disrepair. Singleton. was soon superseded by the construction of the Great North As the Kurrajong area became It is possible that up to 30 people Road. more settled the buildings were may have been housed in the area.

Eye witness accounts state that a substantial house was erected and it is reasonable to assume that a number of dwellings and out buildings surrounded the mills.

It is possible that other remnants are buried beneath the top soil and debris that has washed down the hillside over the years

In 2009 students from Sydney University under the guidance of Dr. Martin Gibbs, carried out a baseline survey of the site.

Continued page 4

Artist’s impression of Singleton’s mill painted by Fay Edwards

HERITAGE 3 May - June 2012 Sydney University students report on mill site Continued from page 3 A report was prepared by the first approaches to receiving this During this survey some previously students and this document was unanimous support of council and unseen stone work was uncovered made available to the Hawkesbury councillors. together with a piece of a glass City Council when a presentation bottle bearing the initials GR are was made seeking support to have The Kurrajong - Comleroy Historical clearly visible. (Photograph below) the site (on Crown Land Society is grateful for that support administered by council) re-named and will be seeking a similar “Singleton’s Reserve”. response when the society moves to have the site recognised for its At the Council meeting of February historical value as an early 28, 2012, the following resolution industrial site. was adopted by Hawkesbury City Council – “That the name Society members believe it is a Singleton’s Reserve for the reserve significant historical site certainly for located on Mill Road Kurrajong New South Wales, if not for (Lots 285 and 286 DP 751649 be Australia and are currently awaiting supported and application be made formal gazettal. to the Geographical Names Board A number of articles have been for formal gazettal.” produced covering a brief history of As many readers would know the the mills during Ben Singleton’s These items were recovered and process of lobbying is not quick and ownership. The author of this article left on site. a number of years passed from the is currently involved in a KCHS project aimed at documenting the history of the mill site from About the author - Frank Holland construction of the mills through to FRANK and Valerie Holland They remain committed to the present day. moved to Kurrajong in 2000 recording the history of ‘The following Frank’s retirement after Kurrajong’. 35 years in banking and 6 years 50 YEARS EARLIER as a human resource consultant. They both sing with the Sydney Sir, --- In the early 1800s Welsh Choir and Frank is a Benjamin Singleton built mills in the They joined the Kurrajong – volunteer at Hawkesbury Fire Windsor and Wheeny Creek (now Comleroy Historical Society Control – Communications Group Kurrajong) district. shortly after it commenced in where he holds the position of 2001. senior deputy captain. As wheatgrowing declined there and the Wheeny Creek mills fell In his earlier days he served in the Valerie was secretary for 7 years into disuse, our forefathers Citizen Military Forces with the 30th and Frank held a number of painstakingly hauled, probably with Scottish Battalion and later positions before being elected bullock teams, two of the huge circular commissioned as an officer in the president in 2006. stones — splendid examples of the old 17 Battalion Royal New South millwright’s art — up the ridge, and Wales Regiment. They both stood down in laid them on their side at the Comleroy September 2011 to focus more on Road junction. research activities. Here they subsequently served as a base for a 1914-18 war memorial. Then the Bell’s Line of Road was to follow a new alignment, and the Department of Main Roads appeared in the historic district with all the power and modernity of tractors, bulldozers and earthmoving equipment. It became necessary to move the ancient stones.

They now lie spread in a number of shattered segments, apparently ownerless, next to the Kurrajong Park, showing how our ancestor’s loving care was nullified by an unappreciative posterity, despite every mechanical aid at its command.

MacLeod Morgan. Sydney The Sydney Morning Herald March 13, 1954

HERITAGE 4 May - June 2012 CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HISTORY A CO-DIRECTOR of the Australian He was appointed Centre for Public History (ACPH) lecturer in Public and the Centre for Creative Practice History at UTS in and Cultural Economy, Professor 1995. Paul Ashton has accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker From 2002-5, he at the Blue Mountains History was a board conference being staged in October member of the this year. National Council on Public History in the Paul (pictured) is the Professor of USA. Public History at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), Public history is concerned, among He is also the academic director of other things, with UTS Shopfront, a university-wide audience and community engagement program. historical authority.

Paul’s most recent book (co- Thus in the authored with Paula Hamilton) is introduction to History at the Crossroads: History at the Australians and the Past (Halstead Crossroads, Paul Press) and he is a founder and co- and his colleague editor of the refereed journal Public wrote: History Review, now published by Metaphorically, history in the and Co.As.It which ran for five UTSePress. broadest sense might be though of months at Customs House in as a house with many rooms. Circular Quay and is currently Paul commenced his career as a travelling. freelance historian and was an Different groups inhabit the various inaugural member and one-time quarters including local and Another is the landmark Dictionary president of the Professional community historians, genealogists, of Sydney which takes in the Blue Historians Association of NSW. specialist museum practitioners, Mountains. makers of historical films and public He was also closely involved with historians. Paul was part of the team that the formation of the Australian secured an Australian Research Council of Professional Historians Some of these people inhabit more Council grant to develop this cutting Associations and the History than one room while many make edge digital resource which has Council of NSW. occasional visits to other parts of now published almost 900 000 the house. And all of the rooms ‘curated’ words on Sydney’s history. Paul’s work as a freelancer, which have internal divisions. ranged from heritage conservation, He is a member of the Dictionary’s oral and community history to Some residents, however – notably Trust and its editorial management commissioned history, drew him into academic historians – see committee. the broader world of public history themselves as occupying the which emerged in North America in principal room. The Lindsays the 1970s and much later in Britain, though the earlier people’s history Indeed, not a few from the academy at home movement in the UK was a form of insist that they are in possession of public history which was to be the house. 1912-2012 internationally influential. The range and depth of historical AN exhibition at Norman Lindsay activity in Australia, as elsewhere, is which is on until the end of May “... audience enormous. And it stretches back to focuses on the Lindsay house, early colonial society. “Springwood” as a family home mainly in the 1930s. Paul’s interest in Australian public history has seen him become There are over 50 photographs and historical involved in a number of diverse depicting this exciting time in the historical endeavours. family’s life and show the changes that were made to the house and Recently, one of these was its interior over the years as well ‘Sydney’s Italian Fruit Shops’, an as memorabillia that give a authority.” exhibition co-produced by the ACPH ‘glimpse of the past’.

HERITAGE 5 May - June 2012 Rare views of Blue Mountains on show for first time FIFTEEN original watercolours depicting Governor Macquarie’s crossing of the Blue Mountains in 1815 are on display together for the first time ever in the State Library of NSW’s major new exhibition, Lewin: Wild Art.

John William Lewin (1770-1819) carved out a career from humble insect collector to become Australia’s first professional artist, yet his remarkable achievements have mostly gone unrecognised until now!

Lewin: Wild Art is the world’s first comprehensive exhibition of Lewin’s work, featuring over 150 original drawings and watercolours – many never seen by Australian audiences – selected from the Mitchell Library’s renowned collection as well as other major local, national and international collections. Spring Wood by Lewin, JW. State Library of NSW collection Lewin also produced commissioned Among Lewin’s may achievements According to Richard Neville, works for every colonial governor, was his landmark publication, Birds exhibition curator and Mitchell his most notable being the of New South Wales (1813), the first librarian, Lewin was instantly watercolours of the Blue Mountains illustrated book to be published in captivated by the foreign landscape and 12 large natural history works the colony. Only 13 copies survive, and exotic wildlife and was prolific and landscapes for Governor Bligh and the State Library’s copy is on in “giving Australians today an in 1807, just a few months before show in the exhibition. unrivalled visual record of their he was overthrown. past.” Lewin: Wild Art is a free exhibition “When Macquarie decided to take at the State Library of NSW until “During his 19 years in the colony an expedition across the Blue May 27, 2012 then from July 28 to Lewin produced these powerful and Mountains, he was very aware that October 28 at the National Library distinctly Australian works featuring across these plains were important of Australia at Canberra. For those insects, birds and plants in their resources for the future expansion who can not visit the exhibition in natural environment – an approach of the colony, and he wanted a Sydney, they can visit completely at odds with visual record of what he found,” www.sl.nsw.gov.au/lewin and view conventional English methods,” says Mr Neville. John Lewin’s beautiful artwork in says Mr Neville author of John amazing detail using the collection Lewin: Painter & Naturalist Lewin volunteered to join the viewer. Zoom in on over 150 images (NewSouth Publishing). expedition, which commenced on featured in the exhibition and watch April 25, 1815 and made 20 the video commentary which has “beautifully observed Australian been added to selected artworks. landscapes” during the 10 day journey.

The 15 surviving works are held in the State Library’s collection and depict the major views which Governor Macquarie noted in his account of the expedition.

“They are also some of the first European paintings to accurately capture the real characteristics of the Australian bush,” says Mr Blue Mountains by Lewin, JW. Neville. Emu Creek by Lewin, JW. State State Library of NSW collection Library of NSW collection

HERITAGE 6 May - June 2012 Survival and Civilisation in a Strange Land PROFESSIONAL gardener, historian and author Silas Clifford- Smith’s subject for the 2012 Blue Mountains History conference is Survival and Civilisation in a Strange Land, which will highlight the importance of parks, gardens and cemeteries to Australian settlers from the time of settlement up to the early 20th century.

Although born and raised in Silas Clifford-Smith England, Silas has lived in Australia He has also contributed to the for nearly thirty years. Silas has also worked for the Historic Houses Trust at Vaucluse Oxford Companion of Australian Gardens (Oxford University Press, He has qualifications in horticulture House and Elizabeth Farm, and the 2002) and Interwar Gardens from Ryde College of TAFE and art Governor-General at Admiralty (National Trust, 2003). history from the University of House. Sydney. He has written for a broad range of Silas is an active member of the Australian Garden History Society By profession he is a gardener who publications on gardening, heritage and the Marrickville Heritage has specialised in the care and and art themes. He recently wrote Society. restoration of old gardens. Percy Lindsay: artist and bohemian (Australian Scholarly Publishing, Although based in Sydney, Silas is As well as working for many private 2011), a biography which was currently restoring an old railway clients he has been employed by awarded the Isabella Brierley property in the central tablelands. the National Trust at the Norman History Prize for an Lindsay Museum in Faulconbridge unpublished manuscript. and Experiment Farm Cottage. Government moves to preserve digital heritage BLOGS, e-magazines, interactive kept by the National Library of increase in digital content and newspaper articles and more Australia for future generations convergent art forms. could soon be joining the archives The proliferation of electronic of the National Library of Australia readers, smart phones and tablet As writers, publishers and creators to keep them alive for future computers means that publishers move into digital formats, there is generations if proposals released are increasingly making available a need to ensure that the recently by the federal and distributing works in an preservation of cultural content for government are implemented. electronic only format. all Australians to enjoy and appreciate continues. The government recently Currently the Copyright Act requires launched a public consultation publishers to deposit printed works These changes will ensure future paper on the proposed reforms to at the National Library of Australia in generations don’t miss out on the Copyright Act, which are order to preserve Australia’s Australia’s dynamic cultural designed to ensure that digital documented heritage. heritage simply because the work documents are kept by the was created digitally. National Library of Australia for The government is seeking views on future generations. proposed changes that would The consultation paper Extending modernise the current system to Legal Deposit and instructions for Blue Mountains Association of extend to electronic documents by providing submissions are Cultural Heritage Organisations empowering the director-general of available online at http:// Inc. supports the move by the the National Library to request www.ag.gov.au/ Attorney-General Nicola Roxon certain electronic material to be Consultationsreformsandreviews/ and Minister for the Arts Simon deposited. Pages/Extending-Legal- Crean and the proposal to reform Deposit.aspx. the Copyright Act, which will Australia’s cultural landscape is ensure that digital documents are changing dramatically with an

HERITAGE 7 May - June 2012 SAVE 10% on early bird bookings BLUE MOUNTAINS HISTORY CONFERENCE To be held at the historic Carrington Hotel, Katoomba on, Saturday, October 20, 2012 Conference theme: “Colonial Society” with a great line-up of speakers and presenters

PROGRAM 9.30am 11.20am The effect on the 2.15pm Conference Indigenous population with the Colonial to be opened establishment of an European dress by by former colony (Speaker to be confirmed) Glynis president Jones, RAHS, Prof 12.20pm curator Ian Jack. The fashion & Carrington dress Hotel - a design & society, return to the Powerhouse Museum. 9.50am era of grace, The early elegance and years of the charm. A tour colony by guided by 3.45pm keynote Paul Innes. Nature and speaker, Prof role of Paul Ashton, 12.45pm gardens in co-director Lunch to be served in the grand the early Australian dining room of The Carington. settlement Centre for period by Public History. 1.45pm Silas Cliford-Smith archivist at Musical interlude Jim Low, folk the Heritage Centre, UNE singer, historian and writer.

Bookings with full payment before July 30 will be discounted to $45 per person --- Cost includes morning and afternoon tea as well as lunch in the historic grand dining room of Carrington Hotel. For further information and early bookings (capacity limited to 120 participants) contact Jan Koperberg at [email protected] or [email protected]

HERITAGE 8 May - June 2012 Road works bury heritage rail cutting near Sydney Rock, Lawson by Ken Goodlet - local historian and author THERE are grave concerns about a proposal by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS, formerly RTA) to bury some significant mountains historical, geological and botanical items in the now abandoned railway cutting on the southern side of Sydney Rock on the eastern approaches to Lawson.

Last month, a protest demonstration took place on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Somers Street, Lawson to object to the proposal.

The new re-routed railway cutting goes north of Sydney Rock, along with a new alignment of the highway, a major engineering feat. The 1866/67 sandstone abutment on the southern side of the original 1867 rail track. Note the shadow on the left that shows where the 1866-67 stone The rail re-routing overcomes what arch of the Bathurst Road bridge began. Note, too, the roll of cloth to be has been a headache for Railcorp used to cover the wall before its burial and its predecessors ever since the single track rail line began That bridge is to be retained and left This would have been part of the operating in 1867: periodic exposed by the RMS. supports for the original single line subsidence of the ground under the sandstone arch road bridge of line immediately south-east of Second, there is a sandstone wall. 1866-67 over the single track 1867 Sydney Rock. When walking from north to south rail line. over the 1902 Monier arch bridge, The site contains many significant this wall can be seen by peering The Sydney Morning Herald of the features. over its south-western corner. time mentions that there were two ‘in masonry’ bridges built running First, there is the 1902 Monier arch It is the original southern cutting of across the rail line between bridge that carried the Bathurst the 1866-67 railway line, covered Blaxland and Lawson, this being Road, crossing the east-west rail since late April 2012 by a cloth. one of them. line at a north-south orientation It is the remains of a masonry when the line was duplicated in that abutment consisting of eight What I saw on that sandstone wall year. courses of squared sandstone in early April 2012 was the blocks with drafted margins. beginning of the curve in stone of the 1866-67 arch road bridge at the top left when facing the sandstone wall.

This sandstone wall is in the process of being buried. I was informed on numerous occasions we protesters would have needed to register our protest five years ago for it to have been even considered.

Day by day, more rubble from the giant Bullaburra pile on the northern side of the highway is being used to fill in that part of the cutting. Those who took part in the protest on Friday 13 April advocating the establishment of the Sydney Rock and environs heritage reserve to Continued page 10 protect the Rock and the old railway cutting (photograph courtesy The Blue Mountains Gazette, April 18, 2012, p. 10)

HERITAGE 9 May - June 2012 Continued from page 9 spot for holiday-makers and locals. Third, there is the geological It might well have Aboriginal stratification. Father Eugene significance, although there are no Stockton has written of the clear markings visible at the site. contact in this railway cutting ‘between the Narrabeen series and Eugene Stockton remembers it as a the overlying Hawkesbury popular picnic spot in the 1940s and sandstone, a contact not so from there at night he and his accessible for inspection elsewhere friends could see the searchlights in the Blue Mountains’. It is the over Sydney’s skies during World Two of the five flowering farthest west outcrop of War II and the fireworks at the end. Leptospermum rupicola plants high Hawkesbury sandstone in the on the 1902 northern face of the mountains. While it is unlikely to be interfered railway cutting with by the present construction They do not appear to have the efforts, its future remains uncertain. expertise to represent local heritage ‘...very rare stakeholders in the preservation of Eugene Stockton has had a plan for our history. The RMS decision- botanical some time of creating a heritage makers have not been given reserve of this whole area, enabling mandatory effective protocols to species on children and others to appreciate its consult a particular nominated local educational, research and aesthetic heritage organisation that can be worth. held accountable for its advice face of rail about their various projects at an This requires action by council to early enough stage to influence cutting...’ demarcate the whole site as a their decision-making. reserve, to be developed at a time when resources are available to do A photograph in the site survey Useful references around this so. report to the site contractors on subject, offered by archaeologist April 13, 2012 indicates full burial of Eugene Stockton and local We have lost so much of our the cutting from the new highway to studies librarian John Merriman mountains heritage over the years. the 1902 bridge and some 60 on the Blue Mountains City This is partly because all metres east and partial burial for a Council Local Studies blog development has perforce been further 30 metres, leaving 25 website, 2 August 2011: confined to the ridges across the metres uncovered. All significant Ames, K., Reflections of an Engine mountains, and the necessity of geological heritage will be buried. Man, New South Wales Transport maximising the use of those ridges Museum, 1993. Fourth, there are the botanical for infrastructure development has Berger, I., ‘Statement of Heritage features. Eugene Stockton again meant clearing away most of what Impact, Great Western Highway has written: ‘An article I published little Aboriginal, ‘built’, geological Upgrade. Lawson IA, from for the Blue Mountains Conservation and botanical heritage we have. Ferguson Ave to Bass Street. Society (Hut News No. 268, 2010, Proposed Railway Realignment’. p.10) outlined the results of the Where are we now with the Sydney Environmental Technology Branch. botanical survey by Peter and Judy Rock and railway cutting heritage? Road Transport Authority. 2006. Smith, which highlighted the The April 2012 report indicates that, Fox, B., Blue Mountains presence of the unique wet cliff-line while Sydney Rock, less significant Geographical Dictionary, (2nd community on the northern face of geological stratification and possibly edition), 2001 the old railway cutting with some three Cliff Tea Tree plants will Langdon, M., Conquering the Blue rare species particularly of the very survive burial, most of the Mountains, Everleigh Press, 2006 rare Cliff Teatree, Leptospermum significant geology, possibly all the Stockton, E., in Blue Mountains rupicola.It is found in five other significant botany and all the history Dreaming: The Aboriginal Heritage places in the mountains. will be buried and effectively lost to ( 2nd edition). E. Stockton and J. Merriman (eds.), Blue Mountains There is a possibility of at most us. Education and Research Trust, three of the 33 Cliff Tea Tree plants These losses are the latest in a long 2009 in the cutting surviving burial, litany of such losses that go back to Stockton, E. and Whiteman. C., according to the April 2012 report the 1920s, some of them ‘Proposed Blue Mountain Reserve unavoidable, others requiring a little at Sydney Rock’, Hut News, Blue The cutting and its environs’ creativity to save. Mountains Conservation Society, distinctive plant life might well be Wentworth Falls, No 268. March due to the fact that it is the only What have I learnt by this 2010 area on the mountains ridge from experience? The RMS engineers Wylie, R. and Singleton C., ‘The Emu Plains to Hartley that has not and designers and contractors have Railway Crossing of the Blue been burnt out by bushfires since at done a quite remarkable job on Mountains, 2, Faulconbridge to least 1867. what they are trained to do: building Bullaburra’, Australian Railway a highway diversion and rail cutting. Historical Society, Vol. VIII, No. 241, Fifth, there is Sydney Rock itself. 1957, pp 162-172 The name was first used in 1882 and it was a popular stopping-off

HERITAGE 10 May - June 2012 Grant funds for restoration of Norman Lindsay’s painting studio NATIONAL Trust of Australia (NSW) will receive funding under the Community Building Partnership program for restoration of Norman Lindsay’s painting studio at the Norman Lindsay Gallery.

Norman Lindsay’s painting studio was built in 1918 and was in continued use until the 1960s.

It was the space that allowed Lindsay freedom from distraction and was where he created his enormous output of paintings, made his ship models and wrote his books at night.

It was also where he often entertained his favourite guests with readings from his latest writings.

Its preservation and restoration is The Norman Lindsay painting studio important in telling the story of both visitors to continue to view his and Museum the National Trust will Lindsay’s work and of this studio and appreciate Lindsay’s receive the following grants: significant heritage listed property. legacy for many years to come. * Dundullimal church project - $20,000 The restoration will include repairs In addition to the $16,000 grant for * Grossman House external painting to the buildings foundations, stucco restoration work at the painting repairs - $17,000 walls and drainage enabling studio at Norman Lindsay Gallery * Riversdale external painting project - $12,000 * Miss Traill’s House guttering replacement and timberwork - Family History research $12,000 changes * Brough House external painting BLUE Mountains Family History Patou will organise for BMCC to and repairs - $17,000 Society has been re-organising advertise the event and to take the family history section of bookings. Springwood Library for the last 18 months. Blue Mountains Family History Society will also promote the event Orientation is required to use the on the NSW & ACT Association of resources. Family History Societies’ website http://www.nswactfhs.org/ , the In June, orientation of the BMFHS Australasian Federation of Family library volunteers will commence, History Organisations’ National followed by interested members Family History Week website at and the Blue Mountains City http:// Council Library staff. www.familyhistoryweek.org.au/ and in the BMACHO Calendar of Following these orientations Patou Events, once the proposed event is Clerc, the information services co- finalised. Norman Lindsay pictured in his ordinator, BMCC Libraries, has painting studio circa 1930s proposed that Blue Mountains Although there are two BMFHS Family History Society give Library volunteers on duty for Lindsay is widely regarded as one orientation sessions to the general guaranteed sessions Tuesday and of Australia’s greatest artists, public during National Family Thursday, 10am to 1pm to assist producing a vast body of work in History Week. members and the general public, different media, including pen February to November each year, drawing, etching, watercolour, oil These sessions will be held there are also volunteers on duty and sculptures in concrete and Monday to Friday July 30 to most Mondays, Wednesdays and bronze. August 3, 2012, inclusive, from Saturdays (but these are not 10 am to 12noon. guaranteed days).

HERITAGE 11 May - June 2012 Crash of Wirraway near Hazelbrook

HERITAGE has previously published articles from contributors on the subject of the wartime aircraft crashes in the Blue Mountains and for these the editor and BMACHO is grateful, particularly when they open up debate.

The most recent article was in the January – February 2012 edition.

Respected local historian, Brian Fox has written to the editor referring to the Hazelbrook crash stating, “ I have in the past walked to this site a number of times and interviewed the people who were first to reach this site.

“Many published stories were not quite correct. Which is why I set out to dispel the inconsistencies; history does have a way of repeating the errors of past historians.”

Brian hopes his article will clarify this unfortunate tragedy.

HERITAGE is indebted to Brian and thanks him for the following contribution first prepared in August 2005 from oral histories followed up and researched by him.

Brian is pictured in an early photograph of him holding one half of the propeller (the other half was mangled when the plane hit the ground).

By Brian Fox - Local historian WIRRAWAY A20-17 from 22 The Wirraway (Aboriginal for Alternatively access is gained via Squadron RAAF based at Challenge or Challenger) was the Hazelbrook, Terrace Falls Road, Richmond took off for a training first product of the new privately Terrace Falls Reserve and walking flight on August 1, 1940 but not far owned Commonwealth Aircraft across Bedford Creek and up the into the flight the aircraft Corporation (CAC), and was a other side to the crash site. Note in experienced engine trouble. license built derivative of the North 1940 there was no road access via American NA-16 known as the Tableland Road, Wentworth Falls. The weather for that day did not ‘Texan’ or ‘Harvard’. help either as it was a damp and Even today, 65 years later the crash foggy day, hence giving low This explains the parts sourced site still has the remains of the visibility. About 10.30am the plane from America eg the name on the fuselage and struts giving a flew directly over the Campbell’s propeller shows “Hartford permanent reminder and memorial residence, near Hazelbrook Railway Connecticut, Division of United to this tragic event all those years Station and Norm the eldest child Aircraft Corporation.” ago. recalls the engine misfiring and spluttering and then a few moments The location of the crash site is now A number of locals witnessed the later a bang. officially known as Aeroplane Hills plane flying over head and saw the (even though the locals preferred plume of smoke when the Wirraway In running to the back fence of their the name Wirraway Hill), located crashed. One such family was the house they could see smoke in the 3.2km SW of Hazelbrook Post Campbell’s of Hazelbrook. distance from the crashed plane. Office. Oral history from Norm, Mary and As a result of the crash two young One access to the site is via Colin Campbell has helped to piece men, Flying Officer Harry Thomas Wentworth Falls, Tableland Road, together that fateful day. Hopwood and his observer Ingar Fire Trail and along an Sergeant Vincent Charles unnamed fire trail on what is called Norm the eldest of the Campbell Monterola were instantly killed when Wirraway Ridge. children has the most vivid their aircraft sheared the tops of the recollection of this fateful day. trees and hit the wooded ridge At the beginning of this unnamed south of Hazelbrook. fire trail a locked gate provides a Continued page 13 3.4km walk to the crash site.

HERITAGE 12 May - June 2012 Norm again returned to the crash Bedford Creek was running higher site guiding this team of men. The than normal and with the noise of Oral history two bodies covered in tarpaulin the running water they could not were stretchered out to waiting hear each other. helped piece ambulances at James Park. By the next day the crash site had together the As with any major event in a small its souvenir hunters and in a short village a crowd gathered at James period of time a number of houses fateful day Park. In the late afternoon, Norm in Hazelbrook must have sported Continued from page 12 recalls his father setting out to the various pieces of the plane. One of Norm relates that his mother rang crash site but on the way back it the souvenir hunters was Norm and the police and the Richmond was too dark to see so he found a his brother Colin who returned early airbase to inform them of the small overhanging cave near to the crash site as they had accident and at first the airbase Bedford Creek to wait out the night. overheard the local plumber saying denied any of their planes were he was going to get the propeller, flying. (This could be attributed to Meanwhile Norm, who again after so they thought they would beat him war time policy). tea had returned to James Park, to it. said I’m going to find Dad, the Norm immediately jumped on his police said no, but Norm was The propeller (one half of it, as the brothers Harley Davidson motor persistent and for the third time that other half was very mangled) ended bike and charged off down Terrace day set off again towards the crash up residing in Norm’s sister Mary’s Falls Road towards the crash site, site along with three others house until her death in 2004 and in his haste he forgot to turn the fuel including the policeman. being displayed in her front room. stop on so when the fuel in the bikes carburettor ran out the bike With the use of kerosene lamps Mary was only too happy to relate stopped and he could not get it they reached the crash site. In the events from that eventful day and going again. distance they could hear the embellished the part that she Mudgee Mail Train coming up the played to the point that you would Leaving his bike where it was he mountains so they knew it was think that she was the one who led ran the rest of the way, through about 9pm. the search and recovery team to the Terrace Falls Reserve down and crash site instead of being one of a across Bedford Creek and up the Not finding his father John, they few women who supplied the food other side directed by the smoke to returned home; Norm being very and drink to the rescue team. the crash site. familiar with the bush directed the other three back to James Park. Many years after the accident Norm’s memory of what he saw still relatives of Sergeant Monterola remains vivid today, for it was not a Meantime John Campbell had from Melbourne sought out Mary to pretty site for anyone to witness, reached the crash site but on his talk about the accident. Mary would while Sergeant Monterola had been way back it was too dark with out a have liked to place a plaque near thrown out of the plane on impact light so he found an overhang near the site in memory of the two fliers (he had his parachute on and may Bedford Creek to wait out the night but National Parks are not in favour have been intending to use it) while and walked out at first light. of memorials in the park so the the Flying Officer Hopwood’s burnt plaque never eventuated. body still remained in the plane. Norm records that his father had heard and seen their light but as Norm being the first to the crash site could see that both had been killed instantly and not being able to WALK TO KNAPSACK BRIDGE offer any assistance returned back Glenbrook & District Historical The Zig Zag track included a now home to report his findings. conduct regular walk and talk tours abandoned station called Lucasville to historic sites. which was built for the Minister for Nearly home Norm was surrounded Mines, John Lucas who had a by reporters from the local and On Saturday May 26 a walk is holiday home nearby. Sydney newspapers who had heard planned to Duck Hole, Glenbrook about the crash and had reached For further details Doug Knowles Hazelbrook, the one local phone Creek. 4751 3275. box near their house running hot as reporters filed their stories to their On June 16 a walk to Eastern Zig editors. Along with the reporters Zag, Knapsack viaduct (pictured) came the police, RAAF officials, and old mine shaft is being ambulance and local bush fire organise.The Lapstone Zig Zag brigade. was built on the Great Western Railway between 1863 and 1865, James Park at Hazelbrook being to overcome an otherwise the closest vehicular access insurmountable climb up the became the base for the search and eastern side of the Blue recovery team for the two young Mountains. fliers.

HERITAGE 13 May - June 2012 Plane crash at Glenbrook By Shirley Evans --- Springwood Historians

A TWIN engine Avro Anson, used Flying Officer Bailey Middlebrook Eight days before the fatal flight, for training at the Air Navigation Sawyer, 34, married of Parkes, was Flying Officer Sawyer developed the School Parkes was on a mercy the patient. He had a serious middle ear infection and by January, flight transporting a seriously ill middle ear infection and it was 28 it had developed into a mastoid airman to Sydney for urgent medical thought he urgently needed with pus. Squadron Leader treatment when it tragically crashed specialist medical attention. Rainbow warned the station killing all five men commander that a plane might be His service record held by the needed to take the patient to At about 4.45 pm, Tuesday, January National Archives of Australia is Sydney. 28, 1941 the RAAF plane carrying very short on detail – place of birth five airmen crashed in Glenbrook in unknown, place of enlistment the lower Blue Mountains. unknown but date of birth was recorded as June 7, 1906. The plane was piloted by Pilot Officer John Ignatius Newman, 25, The Sydney Morning Herald March single of Toowoomba, Queensland. 25, 1994 reported that the RAAF’s chief of operations at Glenbrook, on He was a prominent rugby union the occasion of unveiling a player and had represented monument at the site of the crash, Queensland on a tour of New South said that Pilot Officer Sawyer was Wales. an American adventurer who was sailing in Australian waters when He helped establish the World War II was declared. He Toowoomba GPS football club and then joined the RAAF. was its first captain. Aircraftsman Charles Richard Aircraftsman Charles Richard His father had been a Brisbane Tyson, 23, single of Geelong West Tyson, 23 killed in crash detective and both parents were was the wireless operator. His At about midday he decided it was dead. Newman had completed over father was a police sergeant. 313 hours of flying training and had an urgent necessity and the plane and crew were prepared. An been assessed as “average” or Avro Anson planes had entered the operation order was prepared but “average plus” on his flying courses. RAAF service in 1935 and were not finished in time to give to the initially used for maritime patrols. pilot who was instructed verbally. Squadron Leader James M By the beginning of the war they Rainbow, 42, single of Double Bay were considered obsolete for this The weather in Parkes was perfect was the station medical officer. type of operation and were and cloudless and he was told to superseded by Lockheed Hudsons. keep below any cloud and to turn Flying Officer Henry Theodore Ansons were then considered ideal back if this was impractical. He was Skillman, 30, married of Parkes, as training aircraft. According to the also told to fly low because of was a qualified navigation instructor RAAF Museum Point Cook web Sawyer’s ear infection. but was not a qualified Anson pilot. page they were known as “Faithful He was undergoing a conversion Annie”. course on Ansons. The plane took off at about 3pm and was in frequent wireless contact until 4.30pm. It was next heard and observed at Glenbrook where the sky was almost completely overcast with clouds hanging fairly low.

Witnesses saw it emerging through the clouds at a fairly steep angle. The port wing was seen to shatter about the middle and pieces fluttered down.

The aircraft tipped onto its left side and dived at great speed towards the ground where it struck an electric light pole and started two small fires.

The five parachutes were found at Avro Ansons similar to the one that crashed at Glenbrook the scene.

HERITAGE 14 May - June 2012 Glenbrook station master, Oliver Mr CG Fallon, Federal Secretary of “The wreckage was examined by Shaw, who lived near the site of the the AWU, had lost a son in an air the Inspectorate at the scene of the crash at the intersection of crash three years ago and accident on 29.1.41. The engines Lucasville Rd and Clifton Ave, said “condemned the practice of blaming and centre section had crashed in he found the bodies of the airmen the crew”, although in that instance the middle of a street in Glenbrook some distance from the wreckage. his son had not been blamed. and were badly smashed. It was Portions of the wing material were however clear that some found scattered throughout the There was a coronial inquiry into disintegration had taken place bush over a wide area. the deaths of the five airmen in the whilst the aircraft was in the air. Penrith Court House on March 4, Portions of the wings and pieces of The story of the crash attracted a 1941, where several Glenbrook fabric were to be seen strewn as far great deal of attention throughout residents, the manager of the back along the course of the aircraft the country. Newspapers from Leonay Golf Club, a resident of as 700 yards from the main Darwin, Queensland, Western Castlereagh St Penrith and several wreckage. The pieces furthest from Australia, Tasmania and various Air Force officers all gave evidence. the wreckage were pieces of the towns in NSW such as Broken Hill The police were represented by port wing suggesting that that was carried the story. On January 30 Sergeant Kennedy and Wing the first portion of the aircraft to the Canberra Times reported that Commander Ellis appeared for the break away. The first piece of the the Minister for Air, Mr McEwen, Air Board. The Coroner, Mr EF port wing, apart from small pieces of stated “that of the last nine air Rule, concluded, “I am unable to three ply and fabric which would accidents investigated it had been say what caused the crash, and naturally float furthest, to be located established beyond question that in would not say that any fault was consisted of approximately 12 feet eight cases personal misjudgement due to the pilot whilst the machine of the front spar together with on the part of the crews had been was under his care.” portion of the leading edge. From the cause.” He also said that the then onwards to the position of the investigation into the Glenbrook A RAAF inquiry was held on main wreckage various pieces of crash had started and that there January, 31 1941, very soon after wreckage from the wing were found would be two independent inquiries. the crash. The plane’s records and in a direct line corresponding to the log book and the airmen’s records path of the aircraft, including portion were examined and conclusions of the outer front spar of the were reached. A copy of the report starboard wing. These portions Workers’ is available in the Local Studies have been salved and instructions Collection of the Blue Mountains have been given for them to be City Library in the Vertical File forwarded to Air Board for further Union under the heading AIR ACCIDENTS examination.” for those who are more technically minded but I will just quote some “The cause of the accident” condemned passages from it which I found significant: (a) The accident was caused by the failure of the port wing which blaming the REPORT NO. 11 REPORT ON shattered about the middle shortly ACCIDENT TO ANSON A4-5 after the aircraft was brought down from or through the clouds. crew “The aircraft had for some considerable time been pegged (b) There are two possible Mr Forde, Deputy Leader of the down in the open and exposed to causes either or both of which may Labor Party, urged for a searching the weather. The riggers in charge have caused or contributed to the inquiry into the system of training in of it stated that the protective failure of the wing. the RAAF and the airworthiness of covering on the plywood was aircraft. He also suggested an inclined to crack, but was kept in (1) It may have been due to enquiry into whether instructors good order by doping (see note 2). the pilot descending at an were being overworked. He thought On 12.9.40 various repairs were excessive speed and so placing that accidents had been all too effected to the port mainplane (see upon the wing a strain which it frequent in the last eighteen note 3) which had been damaged could not withstand. If this were the months. The Advisory War Council when the undercarriage collapsed case the excessive speed may (see note 1) was to meet in while the aircraft was taxying. On have been induced by the pilot Melbourne in the following week 26.9.40 further repairs were desiring to take advantage of some and Labor members intended to effected to the port mainplane as gap in the clouds which he raise these issues. the result of the aircraft being observed, or he may have been involved in a collision on the urged to descend quickly to a lower The annual convention of the ground. Details of these repairs are altitude for some reason connected Australian Workers’ Union opened attached to the report. On 25.11.40 with the patient in the aircraft. in Sydney on January 31, 1941 and repairs were effected to the plywood a searching inquiry into recent Air covering the underside port (2) It may have been due to Force crashes was demanded. The mainplane and a new ply panel was some weakness in the wing union, the largest numerically and fitted.” structure. The salved parts are financially in the Commonwealth, deplored Mr McEwen’s statement. Continued page 16

HERITAGE 15 May - June 2012 Continued from page 15 Our house was very close to the crash site and very close to the Managing your being sent to Melbourne where they home of Mr Shaw, a major witness, will be examined as soon as but never, at any time, did we hear possible in an attempt to discover collection/State of the dreadful accident. We were whether any weakness existed. very surprised to read about the Records Whether the precise cause of monument. I’m not sure what the failure can be narrowed down conclusions to reach from this – workshop still further to one of the above how quickly local history can be forgotten, perhaps. TO help the heritage sector mentioned causes will depend upon increase its skills, the RAHS in the result of that examination. Notes: collaboration with State Records of NSW will bring Managing Your Recommendation It is 1. Advisory War Council: This Records workshops into recommended that the facts of the was “formed under regulations on communities. present case be placed before the October 28 1940 after the Director of Medical Services with a September federal elections that BMACHO has taken up the offer view to consideration by him of year had given the government a and Blue Mountains Historical whether there are types of illness in majority of only one and after Society have agreed for the which it is, because of altitude, attempts to form an all-party workshop to be held at their inadvisable to transport the patient government had failed. The research rooms, Hobby’s Reach, by air. If such types of illness do members were the prime minister Wentworth Falls exist it is recommended that and 3 ministers and 4 members of medical officers be advised the Opposition, and it provided a This is a 3-hour workshop with a accordingly.” place for secret discussion of break in the middle for lunch. defence policy. It met less I have found no evidence of further Some of the subjects to be frequently in the later war years and inquiries. covered are: was abolished on August 31 1945.” Australian Encyclopaedia, 1963 * Compiling and managing databases ... brass 2. Doping: a dressing, varnish or filler used as for protecting the cloth * Digitising records and covering of aeroplane wings.” photographs plaque Webster’s’ Dictionary of the English Language * Paper collection indexing, housing storage, and temperature marks 3. Port mainplane: left wing of control aeroplane * Providing access to records site of Further reading Aston, Nell Glenbrook and Other topics that may be covered District: a History, page 80 are: tragic Le Brereton, Wendy RAAF. Memorial Glenbrook – paper in * Arranging and describing Local Studies Collection, Blue collections crash... Mountains City Library – Vertical File “AIR ACCIDENTS” * Accessioning procedures Miers, Tim eyewitness account in On March 24, 1994 a monument of The Glenbrook of Yesteryear * Do’s and Don’ts of storage carved stone with a brass plaque was erected in Clifton Ave to mark Bibliography The RAHS agreement with State the site of the tragic crash. Two Australian War Museum Records, requires that priority is to brothers of Charles Tyson were able Blue Mountains Gazette, March be given to RAHS members and to attend the unveiling and 30,1994 affiliates. memorial service. National Archives of Australia Nepean Times, various issues The workshop will be held: Postscript In 1956, 15 years later, RAAF Museum Point Cook, When: Saturday November 24, my husband, Jim, and I bought the airforce.gov.au?raafmuseum/ 2012 block of land at 4 Clifton Avenue research Time: 10.00 am for 10.30 am start Glenbrook and built our first home. Sydney Morning Herald, March,25 Where: Hobby’s Reach Research We lived there until the end of 1994 Rooms, 99 – 101 Blaxland Road 1965, having our family, creating a TROVE, various newspapers Wentworth Falls garden, playing tennis and working with the Country Women’s Enquiries and bookings: Contact Association while Jim taught Jan Koperberg at English and history at Penrith and [email protected] , Richmond High Schools. [email protected] or phone Jan on 02 4754 1544

HERITAGE 16 May - June 2012 Dave Evans - the Felixman of Echo Point by John Merriman - local studies librarian, Blue Mountains City Library DAVID (Dave or Dan) Evans, also The early photographs from the called the Felixman, was a widely 1920s and 1930s show the child known local identity at Echo Point, size Felix the Cat mannequin Katoomba from the 1920s to the accompanying one or more children 1950s, with his Felix the Cat and or family groups, some kids needed later, mountain devil props. mother close by as their looks of apprehension suggest. Visitors, mainly families with children, would pose for a souvenir The later images from the 1950s photograph which he show the large Mountain Devil doll. developed while they waited. A This may be a response to the number of these surviving commercial success of Felix and photographs are held in the local concern with copyright. studies collection of the Blue Mountains City Library. The majority of his surviving photographs are taken at Echo One early photograph in the Point and they cover few other collection is a tintype, the rest are subjects but tourist portraits; printed on photographic paper and although he may possibly have also mounted in a card frame. operated at the Scenic Railway and there is a group portrait of working complained to Katoomba Council of Few facts of Dave Evans’ life are men at the Hydro Majestic with a unlicensed persons plying a known; he was apparently Welsh Felix figure. somewhat similar business without and lived in Kurrawan St Katoomba, paying a fee. within walking distance of Echo He was quite unlike a photographer Katoomba shopkeepers were also Point. such as Harry Phillips who took few intimate photographs and published complaining of the many street His income would have been highly widely and commercially on musicians collecting from passers seasonal and dependent on landscape subjects. by – they had become so common weather and holidays, never large as to be quite a nuisance. enough to warrant a shop or staff Evans is not listed as a property The Great Depression produced and professional darkroom setup. owner in council’s rate records and local cemetery records make no many unemployed men who tried One witness says he would be at mention of a David Evans, although their hand at busking for a few Echo Point taking pictures ‘rain, hail he is listed in a 1933 commercial coins. or shine’; so his business address directory as D Evans, photographer In 1962 the “late D Evans” was right there in the open air of Katoomba and he is absent from photographic licence was where his customers were - what a the 1950s Katoomba phone books. transferred to Souvenir Snapshots workplace! A little draughty perhaps of Katoomba. His name is too but in the absence of customers In April 1932 the Blue Mountains common to identify him in any NSW one always has the view, or the Times reported that Mr Evans, the birth, death and marriage records mist, or both. Felixman at Echo Point, had and his final resting place remains a mystery.

Pictured bottom left is a very young Jan Koperberg nee Skulander her mother, Florence Jean Skulander, née Lea and next to her is her sister, Gladys Lea, circa 1949-50 with the mountain devil at Echo Point, Katoomba. At top of page is an image of an original tin type photograph of two unknown children.

Anyone who can can add more information about Dave Evans, The Felixman of Echo Point, or have any of his photographs is asked to contact John Merriman.

© 2009 Blue Mountains City Library, revised 2011

HERITAGE 17 May - June 2012 Thompson Square, Windsor: the oldest civic square in Australia under threat by Jan Barkley-Jack and Ian Jack

WITHIN a year of the first Thompson Square as an European settlement along the eighteenth-century public square in banks of the Upper Hawkesbury in the most immediately successful of 1794, a civic square began to form Macquarie’s eight new country at Hawkesbury, with four wooden towns is a striking part of the buildings on three sides: a wharf, surviving evidence for the store-house, the first soldiers’ governor’s policies. barracks and a granary. No other of Macquarie’s squares in The Macquarie Arms The fourth side was the frontage to new towns such as Richmond or (built between 1812 and the Hawkesbury River, where Wilberforce or Liverpool was 1815) ocean-going boats brought already in existence. supplies and took grain back to feed Sydney. Moreover, although public squares were a commonplace of Georgian The form and extent of the square town planning in Britain and as it is know it today were fixed by elsewhere, the earlier settlements 1800. of Sydney and Parramatta along with Toongabbie had not initially Andrew Thompson received a developed around such defined lease that defined the eastern focal space: no eighteenth century section of the square in 1799. civic square predating Thompson Square now exists. Governor Hunter had added a No 5 Thompson’s Square built watch-house and a cottage for circa 1850 From Macquarie’s time onwards, Thompson when he was constable, fine buildings were erected on the replaced the provision store and three landward sides of the square. the soldiers’ barracks and built two granaries. The suite of nineteenth-century vernacular buildings now adorning All the early Hawkesbury settlers the west side of the square, the from 1795 onwards frequented the Macquarie Arms (built between square regularly to get provisions, 1812 and 1815), Howe’s House store their grain or to seek the help (1820s) and the Doctors’ House of the constables, the military or (1844), has exceptional integrity the magistrate, many landing at the Howe’s House (1820s) now part and architectural distinction. square from their small boats. of the Hawkesbury Regional Museum The continuing aesthetic values of High-ranking visitors, including all Thompson Square are embedded the early governors, also knew the in the relationship and interaction square well. between the built and the natural environment, because a civic The fabric within the square was square consists of both open space steadily improved and amplified and its encapsulating buildings. under King and Bligh, and when Macquarie first visited in 1810 he Because of the wharf and the recognised it as a fully developed bridge built in 1874 (and raised in civic precinct which he called ‘the 1897), Thompson Square has The Doctors’ House (1844) present square’. always been a thoroughfare. They do not interrupt the important sight-lines across the square or The name Thompson Square was The roadways in and across the those from all parts of the square to given by Macquarie in honour of the square have evolved organically the rural land opposite which is still archetypical convict redeemed. from the early tracks down to the readable as the part of the original Achieved through extraordinary punt, and naturally have brought 1794 farmers’ grants. abilities of character, Andrew changes to the contours and Thompson’s entrepreneurial and grassy spaces within the total area, All this is threatened by the current civic successes, culminating as the but they have all remained low- proposal to put a wider, higher-level first emancipist magistrate, make level, sympathetic in bulk and bridge a short distance downstream him a foremost representative of scale, and so have continued from the 1874 bridge. this Australian icon. unobtrusive for 217 years. Continued page 19

HERITAGE 18 May - June 2012 Threat of disruption to historic sightlines Continued from page 18 The approaches to the new bridge would bring a major roadway through the north-eastern part of the square critically close to the buildings, disrupting the historic sight-lines and bringing an intolerable volume of noisy heavy traffic through Windsor’s most popular public space, which is thronged every weekend.

No economic advantage would accrue to local businesses, because through traffic does not stop, and turning off into Windsor A photograph of Thompson Square taken by Ian Jack on March 3, town will be gravely impeded. 2012 from the opposing bank of the river when the water was very high, close to the decking of the existing bridge on the right. It has been alleged that the 1874 bridge is no longer safe. Engineers’ reports, however, make it clear that with judicious conservation the old bridge can continue in use into the 2030s.

The cost of conserving the existing structure is estimated at around $1m, a fraction of the cost of the proposed new bridge, especially one considered for the short term and in isolation from the wider Thompson Square from much the same place, painted by GW Evans needs of a flood-prone district. in 1809, so this is the pre-Macquarie square. It is annotated with red to show the schematic curtilage of the present Thompson Square The Options Report of Road and Conservation Area. Maritime Services, published in mounting local and Australia-wide 2011, acknowledges that the The Thompson Square outrage that the national values of proposed bridge will itself be Conservation Precinct has had a this iconic civic space will be obsolete by 2026. place amongst listings at the top of the New South Wales Heritage destroyed for short-term What is needed on the Upper Register for nearly thirty years, and convenience. Hawkesbury is a new crossing this formal protection is being over- Note: For references to the which will by-pass the historic ridden by the state government. historical evidence which supports towns and other important Now that the value of Thompson this article, please contact heritage places, well away from Square as Australia’s only [email protected]. Windsor. eighteenth-century civic square has been fully documented, there is All bridge sites within the town of Windsor lead from one readily floodable area (McGraths Flats) to another (Wilberforce Road). PUBLIC RALLY It is surely essential to plan a reasonably secure route from Windsor Road to the Hunter for Save Thompson Square, Windsor the long term. Australia’s first public square Such a new bridge elsewhere is more costly, which was, naturally, under threat an important consideration in the preference and given to the Thompson Square option, but it is inevitable and would be good Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 12 noon planning.

HERITAGE 19 May - June 2012 Management committee changes at AGM TWO of the original management Kathie’s bright and breezy approach you brought to your first year as committee members of the Blue to issues was often welcomed president a different style of Mountains Association of Cultural during meetings. leadership, a style that was most Heritage Organisation (BMACHO), welcome and one that ensured Professor Barrie Reynolds and Dr A former president of Kurrajong- members of the organisation were Peter Stanbury, OAM did not seek Comleroy Historical Society she has aware of what the committee was re-election at the recent annual phenomenal knowledge of that doing. general meeting. district; Kathie lives on the same land her ancestors first settled in “Despite a busy life including Barrie and Peter have been 1838. Kathie’s husband, Alex university study, you along with Jan executive members since the passed away last year and Kathie Koperberg have done a tremendous society was formed in April 2006 will spend more time with her family amount of work behind the scenes. leaving John Leary and Ian Jack as some of whom live in Canada. It is indeed pleasing that you have the only other ‘originals’ serving on accepted nomination for a further the committee. Jean a long-time secretary of Mt year and in what will be a busy time Victoria and District Historical including the organisation of the Much of the credit for establishing Society has brought her lifetime of Blue Mountains History the organisation must go to Barrie knowledge concerning local history conference,” John said.. who for 3½ years was the inaugural to the management committee. secretary. During the past 6 years WELCOME TO NEW Barrie has been successful in Although she suffered a serious COMMITTEE MEMBER gaining considerable funds for the road accident last year she still AT the May meeting of BMACHO’s work of BMACHO with more than contributes assistance to the local management committee, Judy $12,000 from successful historical society as well as a Barham accepted a position as a applications in the past financial member of the Blue Mountains City member of the committee for year. Council’s committee for the 2012. Western Crossing’s Peter has filled a number of roles commemoration. Currently Judy is vice president of on the executive in the past 6 years the Blue Mountains Historical including that of treasurer. At the 7th annual general meeting of Society and has been working as BMACHO Pamela Smith, was its librarian for a number of years He has vast experience in various elected unopposed for her second during which she has been aspects of heritage particularly in term as president as was Ian Jack entering the library catalogue onto the area of museums in Australia for a sixth term as vice president, a database. Judy has said this is and overseas and has readily and and Jan Koperberg for a third term a long job and is still not finished. freely provided assistance to as secretary. organisational members throughout “However, I am enjoying it and I the region. His cheery disposition Other members of the committee to now have an excuse to spend has made him popular not only on be re-elected were former president more time in bookshops! While the the committee but also among John Leary, OAM, former treasurer, library budget is small, I have an those with whom he has worked in Joan Kent, Richard Morony, and excuse to buy a few books each the community. Doug Knowles with a newcomer to the management committee being year with someone else’s money! Also to retire from the management Scott Pollock. “I have worked as a high school committee were former treasurer, teacher and for many years in the Kathie McMahon-Nolf and Jean Following the election of office IT Industry as an analyst/ Arthur. The input of both of these bearers and committee, John Leary programmer. History has long members will also be missed. congratulated those elected been a hobby and I went back to Kathie took on the role of treasurer welcoming “on board” Scott Pollock, university as a mature age student in March 2009 when there were the manager of Everglades. and completed by correspondence difficulties in finding someone for a degree in Australian History – this office. Congratulating the president Pamela Smith, he said, “Pamela years I thoroughly enjoyed,” said Judy

From left to right Barrie Reynolds, Kathie McMahon-Nolf, Jean Artrhur,Peter Stanbury and Scott Pollock.

HERITAGE 20 May - June 2012 Last chance for 105 years to see Transit of Venus if missed on June 6, 2012 by John Leary, OAM THE transit of Venus is one of the most famous events in the history of science according to Dr Nick Lomb long-time curator of astronomy at the Powerhouse Museum.

In his book Transit of Venus he states: It occurs when Venus, the planet named after the Roman goddess of love appears to move across the disc of the Sun.

This phenomenon occurs in an unusual pattern, in a pair of 8 years apart, and then not for over a century.

Transits of Venus are of especial Waiting for the transit at Woodford. Photograph from Transit of Venus interest to Australian since it was 9 December 1874 Lieutenant James Cook’s voyage to In December 1874 observation was the National Trust. The Woodford Tahiti to observe the 1769 transit organised by the first Australian- team was led by no lesser person that led to European settlement of born government astronomer Henry than the surveyor-general PF the continent.1. Chamberlain Russell.Four separate Adams. observing parties set up to reduce During a transit, Venus can be seen the chance of cloud disrupting It is likely that in 1874 few would from Earth as a small black disc observations. The sites were have seen the transit other than moving across the face of the Sun. Sydney Observatory, Woodford, trained astronomers. But not so in The duration of such transits is Goulburn and Eden on the south 2004 as the event was transmitted usually measured in hours (the coast. to millions around the world by transit of 2004 lasted six hours). A television as it happened. transit is similar to a solar eclipse by The site at Woodford was the the Moon. Observations of transits property of Sydney businessman At Woodford in 2004 an estimated of Venus helped scientists use the Alfred Fairfax (no relation to The 1000 people watched the transit principle of parallax to calculate the Sydney Morning Herald Fairfax through a series of telescopes and distance between the Sun and the family) later to become the big screens while others were Earth. Woodford Academy now owned by bused from Woodford Academy to a private observatory in Wentworth Hartley 2012 History Workshop Falls for a viewing. Forum with a strong element to HARTLEY District Progress The day culminated with a formal engender a better understanding of Association – 1813 dinner in the historic Woodford the rich Aboriginal culture that was Commemoration committee will Academy where the guest of honour displaced by European settlement. hold the 2012 History Workshop at were Justice Barrie O’Keefe AM , the Hartley School Hall (1881), president, National Trust and After a morning discussion around Middle Hartley Road, Hartley on Warwick Watkins surveyor-general the fire in the Hartley Schoolhouse Saturday, June 2, 2012 of NSW. and a light lunch those attending will disburse to examine a number Continuing in the theme discussed No doubt on June 6, 2012 a few will of heritage treasures within the at last year’s workshop, the gaze into the sky to observe the valley. meeting will focus on 2012 as the Transit of Venus not to be seen bicentenary of the end of the era again until the year 2117. of pre European settlement. This meeting is open to all who would like to attend.To facilitate National Trust – Blue Mountains catering those wishing to attend the Informality will be the keynote for a Branch will conduct a walk on the workshop should advise Jeremy morning discussion around the Transit of Venus Track on May 26. Dawkins at theme of Hartley Valle before the For more information contact Liz [email protected] or coming of the white man. 4757 2694 or Ramsay Moodie at [email protected] [email protected] no Conversation can range broadly End notes later than May 30. Telephone and participants may well discuss 1. Lomb, Dr Nick, Transit of Venus 2004 enquiries to Ramsay Moodie at the best way to enrich the Sydney proposed 2013 Hartley History 0412 283 800

HERITAGE 21 May - June 2012 Walking with women GREAT WORK WALKING with Women – sharing IF YOU CAN the journeys of convict women from trial and transportation to life in the GET IT! female factories is the topic chosen BMACHO member and doyen of by guest speaker Gay Hendriksen heritage and vintage fashion and at BMACHO’s next general meeting. curator of the Darnell Collection, Charlotte Smith will take part in a 10 Also to be discussed is their A day luxury tour of England later connection today and the this year. significance of the Parramatta Female Factory. There will be many special highlights such as afternoon tea Following on the success of the last and cocktail making at Bovey Castle general meeting of BMACHO when entry to Killerton House and dinner the guest speaker was Phil at the world famous River House. Hammon of Scenic World the next general meeting is scheduled for Later those participating in the tour Saturday July 14. will stay at Bath for three nights in Gay Hendriksen that historic city where they can The meeting is scheduled to Factories which has won national stroll through the Bath Vintage Fair. commence at 2pm at the Blue and state awards in excellence last Mountains Historical Society’s year The party will visit Frome a Rooms, Hobby’s Reach, Blaxland delightful and historical market town Road, Wentworth Falls. She is currently president of the that features cobblestone streets Parramatta Female Factory Action and famous quirky vintage shops. Gay Hendriksen is a Blue Group which has the aim of saving Mountains resident and has worked the Greenway designed Parramatta Then it’s on to the Dorset in the gallery and museum Female Factory which was countryside and the beautiful town environment for 21 years including commissioned by Governor of Totness which is the home of the local history museums in Macquarie and making it Museum of Costume, Fashion and Shellharbour and Sydney, Penrith available for all to experience. Textiles. Then follows visits to Regional Gallery, Norman Lindsay several other towns before returning Gallery and Museum and now Afternoon tea will be served and for to London for an exclusive tour of Parramatta Heritage Centre. further information contact Jan Kensington Palace. Koperberg at She also curated the exhibition [email protected] The tours starts at $7099 but Women Transported - Life in airfares to and from UK are not Australia’s Convict Female included. For more information visit Travelling Divas at More accolades for HERITAGE www.travellingdivas.com.au FROM Alison Spencer, Research high standard; I usually forward the Officer, Penrith City Library: Your newsletter to people which they TRAVELLING group has very kindly been sending enjoy in the Shoalhaven Society. a copy of your newsletter to Lorraine. We have decided to put From Andrew Tink former MP in THE SILK ROAD this newsletter into our Local NSW Parliament: Many thanks for STEP back a 1000 years in time Studies magazines collection as it including my Sydney article in to experience the sights, sounds contains many articles relating to Heritage. The high quality of your and stories of the greatest trade something or someone in our area. magazine continues to astound me route of history. and for me, it is indeed a privilege From Dr Peter Rickwood, former to be asked to contribute an article Travelling the Silk Road is an president Blue Mountains Historical to it. exhibition of the ancient pathway Society, editor of Blue Mountains to the modern world on show History Journal: Congratulations on From Wendy Blaxland, great, great, until July 29 at the National yet another informative issue of great, great grand-daughter of Museum of Australia, Canberra. Heritage Newsletter. I have great Gregory Blaxland: Loved the admiration of your work in hunting newsletter; thanks so much. Admission is $10 adults, $8 down so many different authors. concession pass holders, $5 From Ken Goodlet, local historian child or $22 a family. From Alan Clark, secretary and author, Hazelbrook: Shoalhaven Historical Society: Congratulations once again on your For information: Freecall Congratulations on the latest edition latest HERITAGE in March-April. 1800026 132 or of Heritage which is up to its always www.nma.gov.au

HERITAGE 22 May - June 2012 Scots Church, Pitt Town celebrates its 150th anniversary SCOTS Church, Pitt Town will celebrate its 150th anniversary during the weekend May 25-27 and the public are invited to participate in the activities.

A car tour organised by the Hawkesbury Historical Society is part of the sesquicentennial celebrations of Scots Church and will be held on Saturday, May 26

Starting at 10.30am at Scots Church, Bathurst Street, Pitt Town, the tour focuses on the lives of William Hall, the principal donor for the building of the church in 1862 and Rev George Macfie, the The first stop on the tour is at the After visiting various sites in Pitt minister at the time the church was Riverside Oaks Golf Resort, Cattai, Town a Devonshire tea will be built. the original land grant given to the served at the church. pioneer George Hall, where The areas to be toured are Cattai historical sites will be inspected. Bookings are essential. Tickets $25 and Pitt Town. per person, $15 per child 5-16 A sandwich and finger food lunch years with under 5 year olds free. The tour starts with talks given in will be available at Riverside Oaks Scots Church by local historians. before returning to Pitt Town. For bookings contact Kath Wilkins 4577 3842.

On Friday night May 25 a bush dance will be held in the Maraylya Hall, Boundary Road, Maraylya commencing at 6.30pm For further information 4572 3518.

On Sunday, May 27 an anniversary service will commence at 10.30am. The service will be followed by a plaque unveiling, cutting of an anniversary cake, morning tea, entertainment, historical talks and displays.

For further information contact Ted Scots Church circ 1932 Brill 4579 9235. HISTORY WEEK 2012 Theme for this year - “Threads. They wore what!” September 8-15, 2012 LONG before the fashionist as of During History Week, community The History Council of NSW today decided ‘the look’, dress groups, local councils, libraries, encourages groups to register local was an important element of archives, museums, universities, events for History Week on the human expression. cultural institutions, professional internet at and amateur historians across NSW www.historycouncilnsw.org.au/ From status to style, culture to open their doors to present the history-week/history-week professional identity, clothes have latest in today’s historical research defined us. – fascinating stories, artifacts and experiences about both our past History Week events will be History Week 2012 will explore and ourselves today. published on the website from the history of threads and unpick August to September the meaning behind the wardrobes of the past.

HERITAGE 23 May - June 2012 Western crossing commemoration 2013-15 great ideas - thoughts - just being talked about or it’s really going to happen

THE Western the building of the road and the discussions would be about the Crossing perilous journeys of some early area before European settlement; Committee settlers and travellers. These another at the end of May or early continues to aspects will also form part of the June 2013 based on the western meet regularly play, giving a wider perspective on crossings and one in 2014 about under the the central story. surveying and building the road. chairmanship of Emeritus The central season of Crossing! will ABORIGINAL ARTEFACTS. Mt Professor be during May and June 2013. Victoria and District Historical David Carment, Performances will take place at the Society is planning an exhibition in with an ever increasing attendance Blaxland and Wentworth Falls 2013 to include Aboriginal artifacts. of organisations and local govern- Festivals, as well as at other ment from Blacktown to Bathurst. Mountains townships, both in DESCENDANTS’ PARADE. Marcia schools and more public venues. Osterberg-Olsen has advised that PENRITH PLANS. At the most the Mt Victoria & District Historical recent meeting, Lorraine Stacker Partnerships are being forged with Society is planning a parade from reported that Penrith City Council chambers of commerce, local Mt Victoria to Mt York with had released a program and events government, historical societies, descendants depicting the three overview to include community drama departments in schools and explorers, the servants, the horses commemorations and lasting local theatre groups to ensure that and dogs. legacies. the Crossing! project is firmly rooted in the local community. The parade will probably be held on She said there would be a breakfast Sunday May 26 to maximize the function at South Creek Farm, the CONFERENCE. The 2013 RAHS participants rather than the launch of the re-enactment trek, a State History conference will be anniversary, May 28, 2013. family camp out on the banks of the held in the Blue Mountains. Nepean River, a historical festival BLUE WAVE WALK. The Blue and commemoration of the 50th HARTLEY FORUM. Joan Kent has Mountains Blue Wave walk planning anniversary of Emu Plains advised that Hartley District is well advanced. becoming part of Penrith City. Progress Association will hold a forum on June 12, 2012 when The lasting legacies would include a commemorative booklet, Blaxland’s grave site report preparation of supplements for local At the request of Professor newspapers and special Carment, AM, Dr Siobhan Lavelle, memorabilia. OAM has prepared an updated assessment of the headstone and CROSSING! THE PLAY. The gravesite of Gregory Blaxland1 exciting theatrical project, Crossing! the play recreating the crossings of The report indicates: ‘There is the Blue Mountains in a lively and little or no work required on the interactive theatre production is headstone at this time’ following forging ahead well, with generous the repair work carried out to the help and information coming in from site in 1997. many directions, reports Wendy Blaxland. Dr Lavelle reports that ‘…although the reblacking [on the headstone] Deirdre Burges has agreed to be has faded …the inscription the designer and Sarah de Jong remains legible’ composer. Both are experienced and well-regarded theatre ‘If more attractive aesthetic professionals. appearance is desired then minor cleaning could be carried out. Books, documents, individuals, courses and discussion have led to ‘That should be done with water the understanding that while the and a soft bristle brush. ‘It is perfectly appropriate for a 1813 crossing is important, it falls stone of this age to look old and within a continuum of crossings ‘The aim would be to remove show evidence of its history.’ dating from Aboriginal crossings for surface soiling and NOT to 1 thousands of years, a number of achieve a new looking stone. Siobhan Lavelle, Headstone & different explorations in different Gravesite of Gregory Blaxland All areas of the mountains and other Saints’ Cemetery, Parramatta – important later crossings, including Updated Assessment April, 2012

HERITAGE 24 May - June 2012 Historic clipper retires to sun after 150 years IT is the oldest surviving clipper ship in the world apart from the Cutty Sark, and in its heyday carried emigrants from Scotland to Australia where about 250,000 people can trace their origins to its passengers.

For years the City of Adelaide has lain rotting on a slipway in Irvine, Scotland. But now, almost 150 years after it was launched on May 7, 1864 preparations are under way for one last voyage to Adelaide, where the vessel is to become a tourist attraction. The hulk of the City of Adelaide before it is loaded on 100-tonne cradle According to the UK National for shipping to Australia Historic Ships Committee, the 54 laying claim to ownership until a bid to a training ship and renamed HMS metres ship is one of the most from Australia secured its future. Carrick. important in British maritime history, The ship spent 23 years making the last survivor of the timber trade 16,000 km trips to and from Australia It sank in the Clyde in 1991 and between North America and Britain. and, played a fundamental role in after a year under water, it was the development of the young raised by the Scottish Museum and Despite its early splendour and nation. moved to its present site. pedigree, the future had looked bleak for the City of Adelaide after it In 1893, it was converted to a The clipper will become the sank in the River Clyde. It became a hospital ship at Southampton and centrepiece of the maritime heritage political issue, with various parties after being commissioned in the display in Adelaide. Royal Navy in 1924 was converted Source: Guardian News & Media BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. REGISTERED OFFICE 14 Bunnal Ave, Winmalee 2777 MEMBERSHIP The following organisations are members of E-mail: [email protected] or BMACHO: Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah, [email protected] Blue Mountains City Library, Blue Mountains Cultural Heritage Website: www.bluemountains.heritage.com Centre, Blue Mountains Historical Society Inc., Blue ABN 53 994 839 952 Mountains Family History Society Inc., Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon Tourism Limited, Blue Mountains World THE ORGANISATION Blue Mountains Association of Heritage Institute, Cudgegong Museums Group Inc., Eskbank Cultural Organisations Inc. (BMACHO) was established Rail Heritage Centre, Everglades Historic House & Gardens, in April 2006 following a unanimous response to a Friends of Norman Lindsay Gallery, Glenbrook & District proposal from Professor Barrie Reynolds at the 2004 Historical Society Inc., Hartley Valley District Progress Blue Mountains Local History Conference which sought Association, Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society Inc, from Blue Mountains City Council the creation of a Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort, Lithgow and District Family cultural heritage strategy for the city. History Society Inc., Lithgow Mining Museum Inc., Lithgow Regional Library – Local Studies, Lithgow Small Arms Factory BMACHO in its constitution uses the definition: “Cultural Museum Inc, Mt Victoria and District Historical Society Inc., heritage is all aspects of life of the peoples of the Blue Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine History Society Inc. (including Turkish Mountains which was later changed to cover Lithgow and Bath Museum), Mudgee Historical Society Inc., Mudgee the villages along the Bell’s Line of Roads. It therefore Regional Library, National Trust of Australia (NSW) - Blue involves the recording, preserving and interpreting of Mountains Branch, National Trust of Australia (NSW) - information in whatever form: documents, objects, Lithgow Branch, Scenic World – Blue Mountains Limited, recorded memories as well as buildings and sites.” Springwood & District Historical Society Inc., Springwood Historians Inc., Transport Signal and Communication Museum The objectives of the organisation are: Inc., The Darnell Collection Pty Ltd, Valley Heights i. To raise public consciousness of Locomotive Depot and Museum, Woodford Academy the value of cultural heritage. Management Committee, Zig Zag Railway Co-op Ltd. The ii. To encourage and assist cultural following are individual members: Ray Christison, Associate heritage activities of member organisations. Professor Ian Jack, Joan Kent, John Leary OAM, John Low, iii. To initiate and support cultural Ian Milliss, Pastsy Moppett, Professor Barrie Reynolds, Dr heritage activities not already covered by Peter Rickwood and Dr Peter Stanbury OAM. member organisations. COMMITTEE The committee for 2012-13 is: Pamela Smith One of the aims of BMACHO is to bring the various (president), Ian Jack (vice president), Jan Koperberg bodies into closer contact, to encourage them to work (secretary), Judy Barham, Joan Kent, Doug Knowles, John more closely together and to provide a combined voice Leary, Dick Morony (public officer), and Scott Pollock. on matters of importance within the heritage sector. .AFFILIATIONS BMACHO is a member of the Royal HERITAGE BMACHO’s official newsletter is edited by Australian Historical Society Inc. John Leary, OAM. Blue Mountains History Journal is edited by Dr Peter Rickwood.

HERITAGE 25 May - June 2012