HERITHERITHERITAGEAGEAGE NEWSLETTER OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE No. 6 Heritage celebrated at Lilianfels

“Katoomba will in the future be historic from having as a resident one eminent Chief Justice, Sir Frederick Darley and his family at Lilianfels. Sir Frederick has spared no pains in laying the foundation of a fine garden and is said to have trenched a large portion of his property in order to grow fruit successfully.” Illustrated News 1890 From the period in which this article Lucy Forest Brown, from colony. Sir Frederick was knighted excerpt was published in the Melbourne, a daughter of Captain in 1887 and served five times as the Sydney News 1890 to the current Sylvester Brown (master mariner) Lieutenant Governor of NSW. The day, Lilianfels has enjoyed a and his wife Eliza Angell nee longest and most important being prestigious and historically . from January 24, 1900 to May 27, important past that today, thankfully, 1902, spanning the creation of the is not lost but protected and The novelist, T A Brown(e) who was Commonwealth of in 1901. moreover, truly celebrated. The to become a well known author in original owner, Sir Frederick Darley, Australia writing the bush ranging In August 1888, Sir Frederick Darley it is believed would be more than classic “Robbery Under Arms” as purchased more than 11 acres of gratified to learn. Rolf Boldrewood, was the eldest land adjacent to Echo Point in brother of Lucy. It was while Katoomba and enlisted Varney Sir Frederick Matthew Darley was travelling with her brother to Parkes, the architect son of close born on September 18, 1830 in England that she originally met Sir friend, Sir to design Dublin, . The first child of Frederick. Lilianfels as a summer home. Henry Darley of Wingfield, Bray and his wife Maria Darley and his wife came to Pictured above Sir Frederick and Lady Louise nee West. Australia in 1862, on the advice of Darley, family and friends with NSW Sir (the Chief Justice State Governor Duff and Lady Duff on At Hunsdon, Hertfordshire on of NSW) who convinced him that he the verandah of Lilianfels in 1893. December 13, 1860, Darley married would further his career in the Continued on page 2

HERITAGE 1 November - December 2009 Lilianfels of yesteryear restored The Darleys had seven children, six daughters and two sons and it was Lilian, who died at age 22 suffering tuberculosis, for whom the Katoomba property was named: the ending ‘fels’ is German meaning, ‘rocky ground’.

During the years in which Sir Frederick and Lady Darley resided near Echo Point, nearly every noted visitor to Australia accepted their hospitality and enjoyed the magnificent outlook.

Royalty, vice-royalty and princes of statesmanship, jurisprudence, science and art came in turn to view Dine indoors or on Darley’s balcony. Darley’s Restaurant, boasts richly the mountains from the magnificent appointed fittings, stained glass windows, open fireplaces and magnificent vantage point of Lilianfels. views

Before his death, Sir Frederick sold prominent in the activities of the Lilianfels quickly became a popular Lilianfels in October 1908 to George Presbyterian Church and the Red Blue Mountains retreat with many Begg Vickery on a walk out, walk in Cross in Katoomba. They opened guests returning year after year for basis. Vickery was a partner in E. the grounds to the public for fetes their annual holiday. Vickery & Sons, merchants and and charitable fundraising. colliery proprietors who owned Baker sold Lilianfels in 1952 to warehouses in Sydney, the Coal Between 1915 and 1920, the Wladislaw Ujma, a Polish water Cliff and Mount Keira coal mines Kemps subdivided and sold about 2 construction engineer who near Wollongong. acres of the land parcel, and in continued to lease Lilianfels as a November 1920 sold the remaining guest house. Like the Darleys, the Vickerys property to the Hon James Joynton maintained Lilianfels as a summer Smith Trust. After his death in 1964, the property residence. Joyce Vickery, one of was passed to his wife, Zofia who, George’s daughters, became a well Again, the land was subdivided into unfortunately, had little funds for known and distinguished botanist separate lots, sold by auction on upkeep and both the house and attached to the Herbarium of the January 26, 1921. Lilianfels was grounds fell into a state of disrepair. Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens. retained on approximately 2 acres of land. ‘.....Gwen Silvey, Lilianfels was sold by George Vickery in March 1912 to Mr Albert A A Sydney manufacturer, Samuel the then research Kemp of Sydney. This was to be the George Baker, bought Lilianfels in first time that Lilianfels was used as 1923 and between this time to officer of Blue a permanent residence, Mr Kemp around 1952, he leased the and his wife Eliza Jane were property to various people as a Mountains istorical guest house. Society saw the plight of Zofia.....’

Thankfully, Mrs Gwen Silvey, OAM the then research officer of the Blue Mountains Historical Society, saw the plight of Zofia and rallied for the Heritage Section of the Department of Environment and Planning to place a conservation order on the house and grounds under the Heritage Act (Gazetted July 27, 1984), along with a classification by the National Trust.

A grant was made for the restoration of the roof and other Darley’s house balcony circa 1893 stabilising repairs. Continue page 3

HERITAGE 2 November - December 2009 Lilianfels today -- a heritage indulgence Lilianfels was purchased in December 1987 by an Australian company, Derani Pty Ltd, which immediately addressed the security of the house and the restoration of the grounds by hiring caretaker and qualified horticulturist, Colin Slade.

Under his care and expertise, the gardens were restored and with new owners Nara, purchasing Lilianfels in 1992, the plans for a country-style guest house on the adjoining property, was quickly undertaken.

The new complex’s architect, Ron Edgar took many features of the old Lilianfels House and incorporated it into the new Country House with and outdoor swimming pools, tennis both the ceiling structure of many court and a spa and health club MINISTERS’ COUNCIL rooms and the roof line echoing the featuring a herbal bath, which is the CUTS shape and form of the original original deep sided bath taken from summer home. Lilianfels House during the COLLECTION restoration with the words FUNDING Orient-Express purchased Lilianfels ‘Macfarlane Patent, Glasgow’ The Cultural Ministers Council has in 2000 and the company, along engraved on the side. decided funding of the Collections with the hotel manager, Grant Council of Australia will cease in Raubenheimer, are committed to From December 1, Lilianfels will June 2010. the protection and celebration of host a weekly ‘historical high tea’ Lilianfels’ heritage while promoting which will offer guests the chance to Established by the Cultural the property as a premier luxury join a guided tour to learn about the Ministers Council in 2004, the property within the World Heritage property’s history following the old Collections Council has worked to listed Blue Mountains area. historic Garden Amble route. The bring the collections sector - tour ends with an indulgent high tea archives, galleries, libraries and Today, the Country House consists in the lounge of the Country House. museums - together. of: 81 guest rooms and 4 suites with a 19th century-styled décor, reading For more information about Last month it released plans to room, billiards room, lobby lounge Lilianfels or the new Historical High develop and promote a new model overlooking the Jamison Valley, Teas, please visit for sustainable scientific and Darley’s restaurant located within www.lilianfels.com.au cultural collections in Australia. the original summer home, indoor The Collections Council’s chair, HERITAGE is grateful to Grant Noel Turnbull, said that abolishing Raubenheimer, Hotel Manager at the CCA would not help solve Lilianfels who with Ms Kim Salt, significant fundamental problems Orient Express’ Marketing facing the collections sector. Communications Manager (Australia) has provided us with The Collections Council’s material and images for this operations over four and half years article. Mr Raubenheimer has with its four person staff have been been in the hospitality industry for supported by the Cultural Ministers’ 25 years and is a great believer in Council and the Australian the importance of the preservation Government with grants of past eras, as well as protecting totalling$2.1 million. our own current story for our children’s children to admire and Mr Turnbull said: “Australia’s Arts enjoy as much as we do and have Ministers say they won’t spend done. $500,000 on keeping the Collections Council going, yet our At Lilianfels, Grant has a equivalent organisation in Norway, a philosophy of delivering guests Grant Raubenheimer country smaller in area and with a truly unique experience and technology and attentive staff make population than Australia, has 70 the hotel’s heritage coupled with this possible. Lilianfels is a founding employees and an annual budget of the convenience of modern member of BMACHO. 23.5 million Euros.”

HERITAGE 3 November - December 2009 corporate groups this conservation From the president’s pen...... would have been of a lesser quality. HERITAGE Some fund raising and donations is tax deductable but this is not sufficient to encourage large scale PHILANTHROPY support from developers and the entrepreneurs.

The heritage sector is constantly of 38 priceless properties across In other parts of the world, notably on the alert for threats to NSW including three in the Blue Britain and USA there is a Australia’s built heritage and Mountains has no ongoing different approach to heritage hopefully, the “midnight bulldozing government funding relying mainly funding. In these countries the tactics” of developers is now on bequests, membership, community through the corporate something in the past. partnership sponsors and fund sector and philanthropists plays a raising by an army of volunteers. much bigger part in funding But the threat today is lack of conservation. funding which if not arrested will Very occasionally, the corporate see more and more properties fall sector comes along as has But the key to this overseas as they decay and become piles of happened at Lilianfels now owned success seems to be in a better sandstone rubble or termite eaten by Orient-Express, where vast sums system of tax relief for heritage timbers turned to dust. of money have been spent to conservation. conserve the historic and original While government in recent years homestead built for the sixth Chief The recently released Productivity has contributed towards the cost Justice of NSW in 1889. Commission’s draft report, of acquiring, restoring and Contribution of the Not-for-Profit maintaining some heritage In nearby Wolgan Valley rich in Sector claims there has been a properties, there is still a dearth of historical and environmental considerable growth in corporate funding available from the public significance, the $125 million philanthropy in Australia in recent purse. Emirates Resort has through its years. conservation management plan One of the exceptions perhaps is taken its architectural cue from a It is perhaps time that the heritage the iconic group of 10 or so nearby homestead built in 1832, sector started to engage the historic buildings under the which has been restored. Charles Federal Government in debate as management of the NSW Darwin was a visitor to the property to how government support such Government funded Historic in 1836. as taxation breaks might see an Houses Trust which has a increase of this philanthropic respectable income from the State It could be argued that both support being dircected to the Government ($19.3 million in developments although available to conservation of Australia’s built, 2007-8) supplemented by limited the public have limited access natural and cultural heritage. resources from philanthropists. because of commercial restraints. But what is undeniable is that John Leary, OAM - President, By comparison the National Trust without funding from these Blue Mountains Association of of Australia (NSW) with ownership Cultural Heritage Organisations VISITORS TO MUSEUMS AND HISTORIC VENUES: ARE THEY WORTH IT? The Journal of the Museums Even the worst, Barking and In 2008, these overseas visitors Association in the Dagenham, to the east of spent $17 billion in the course of is a mine of interesting information scored 36.6%. The figures for other their visits. on what is going on in the museum Western European countries and field. for North America would I am sure Obviously, museums and other be comparable. heritage venues are popular with The February edition was no internationa l visitors and are of exception. It contained a summary Tourism Australia produces annual substantial financial benefit to of a survey of visitors to English figures on our cultural and heritage Australia. museums, broken down by city and visitors. These comprise 52% of the region. total overseas visitors and the top Perhaps we should two cultural and heritage activities, be giving more I was fascinated to learn that more for both overseas and domestic thought to the than half the population of England Australian visitors, were visiting economic potential visit museums at least once each museums and art galleries and of sites and year. The borough of Kensington visiting heritage buildings, sites or museums. and Chelsea in London was the top- monuments. scorer at 77.8%. Barrie Reynolds

HERITAGE 4 November - December 2009 DIRECTOR OF HERITAGE TO SPEAK AT BMACHO MEETING THIS MONTH Director of NSW Heritage Branch, Department of Planning for nearly ensuring that there is a strong Petula Samios has accepted an 30 years in variety of roles and synergy between heritage and invitation to be the guest speaker at functions: regional planning, planning. a special meeting of BMACHO to be property and development, urban held on Friday, November 20. consolidation, heritage, executive The Branch is also working closely support, planning co-ordination, with the regional planning Branches The meeting will be held at the policy and strategic development. and the assessment teams which Glenbrook Bowling Club are responsible for thePart 3A commencing at 2pm. A charge of Prior to her joining the Heritage applications. $10 per person will be made to Branch in March 2008, she was the cover the cost of afternoon tea. Director of Metropolitan Strategy A new Thematic Listings program Bookings are advisable and Development which oversaw the has been initiated with a strong cheques made payable to BMACHO implementation of the Metropolitan focus for identifying new items on should be mailed to Barrie Strategy and the production of the the State Heritage Register which Reynolds, 40 Hume Avenue, ten metropolitan subregional are part of NSW history. Wentworth Falls 2782 before strategies, and implementation of November 13. Senior Living SEPP, SEPP 70 and Ms Samios is also responsible for SEPP 10. She also held regional overseeing the recent amendments Ms Samios will speak on the director positions in the Sydney to the Heritage Act. workings of the Heritage Branch and North regional team and the Sydney where it fits within the Planning East r egional team. This is the second in a series of Department. She will also speak on public lectures on Heritage policies, recent changes to the Heritage Act. Her current focus has been to organised by the BMACHO. integrate the former Heritage Office Ms Samios has worked for the into the Department of Planning Heritage minister promised by Coalition A promise to give heritage matters levels about the need for a more With one exception, every other an independent voice in a future strategic approach to preservation state and territory ensures heritage Coalition State government was well and conservation of Australia’s has an advocate at the cabinet received by about 30 members of cultural heritage. table by appointing someone other the heritage sector who attended a than the minister for planning as the recent meeting at Wentworth Falls. “The Blue Mountains has a beautiful minister responsible for heritage. inheritance of natural, built and The Shadow Minister for Climate cultural heritage — we need to In most jurisdictions, including Change and Environmental make sure the heritage of places federally, heritage is located within Sustainability, Catherine Cusack, like the Blue Mountains has an the environment portfolio. MLC said a Coalition government in advocate in cabinet,” Ms Cusack NSW would appoint a minister for told the meeting. The NSW Liberal Nationals have heritage separate from the minister promised to ensure that heritage for planning and the minister for “Heritage items are today and conservation will be given a strong environment and climate change. tomorrow’s links to our community’s voice in government and strength yesterday. through Independence. “We will also move the Heritage Council out of the Department of “Conserving them and experiencing Planning where its voice is silenced. them connects our community and future communities to our history – “Our positive, practical plans will and we are culturally and empower communities and ensure educationally richer for it. heritage issues receive the strong advocacy they deserve.” “Currently the cause of heritage conservation lacks an independent Ms Cusack was the first of a advocate within government.” number of politicians from all parties to be invited by BMACHO to speak In 2007, the Heritage Office was about their policies on heritage and relocated into the Department of hear first-hand about local heritage Planning compounding the conflict concerns. of interest faced by the planning minister and adding to the The association has embarked on a perceived lack of independence program to better inform the surrounding heritage conservation community and government at all in NSW. Catherine Cusack, MLC

HERITAGE 5 November - December 2009 CUSTOMS IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS by Peter Chinn Mention customs to anyone and they’ll automatically connect with the modern image of the organisation so successfully portrayed in the television series “Border Security”.

Control of our borders and economic zone to prevent smuggling and entry of illegal immigrants is undoubtedly the principal function of the organisation which is now known as the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service but up until fairly recent times there were many other operational responsibilities away from the traditional customs areas of seaports and airports. One such was excise. A steam engine pulls tankers of fuel oil from Newnes shale oil refinery on the Wolan Excise, at least so far as Australia is Valley railway line circa 1910. Photograph courtesy Peter Chinn. concerned, has its origins in excise duties were under the Petroleum products were to be England when it was introduced as physical control of officers of the extracted from the abundant shale a temporary tax to help fund the Customs Department. Premises deposits found there, as had been Civil War in the 1640s. Samuel where customable goods were kept previously been done at the large Johnson, in his 1755 dictionary or excisable goods were refinery in the adjacent Wolgan described excise as: ‘A hateful tax manufactured were required to be Valley at Newnes which had finally levied upon commodities, and licensed in accordance with the ceased production in 1934. adjudged not by the common relevant acts and regulations. judges of property, but by wretches A town – Glen Davis - was hired by those to whom excise is If an importer did not wish to established in the Capertee Valley paid.’ immediately pay customs duty at and the refinery built, commencing the time of importation the goods operations in 1940. Excise is a duty levied on certain would go into a bonded warehouse locally-produced goods intended for where a customs officer, known as As Glen Davis was remote from the home consumption. The main “locker” was stationed. This officer nearest railhead on the Mudgee sources of this revenue today are kept the keys and controlled all the line, fuel was pumped 65 kilometres petroleum products, beer, spirits secured areas of the bond (as these to storage tanks at Newnes and tobacco but in times past it was premises are known) and would Junction via a five centimetre also payable on coal, playing cards, release the goods when duty was pipeline that ran from the refinery matches and sugar – to name but a paid. across the mountain range to the few items – indeed a motley site of the abandoned Newnes assortment. In establishments producing refinery and then along the route of excisable goods such as breweries, the long-disused Wolgan Valley The collection of customs and distilleries and oil refineries there railway line. excise duties has commonly been was an excise officer, similarly the responsibility of the one having custody of the keys to all At Newnes Junction there were two government agency in many storage places, who would 2,000,000 gallon tanks as well as countries of the world including authorise release of goods when several smaller tanks where fuel Australia until 1998 when the excise duty was paid. was stored until shipped to Sydney function was transferred to the by rail tank wagons. During World Australian Taxation Office. Which is by way of introduction to War II five armed soldiers guarded the reason for the stationing of a this facility. In the United Kingdom, Australia’s customs officer at Newnes Junction, sister organisation was Her near Bell, in the early 1940s. It appears that the need for the Majesty’s Customs and Excise and military presence was not dictated in Australia excise was specifically In 1938 with war on the horizon the by the threat of imminent Japanese acknowledged in the title from 1956 Commonwealth and New South invasion of this remote place but to 1975: the Department of Wales governments saw the need because of previous attempts (and Customs and Excise. for ensuring local supplies of fuel oil some successes) by thieves tapping and backed National Oil Pty. Ltd. in into the pipeline to steal the In Australia, until about forty years their project to establish an oil precious rationed fuel. ago, goods subject to customs or refinery in the Capertee Valley.

HERITAGE 6 November - December 2009 Customs officer at Newnes Junction However, ultimate control of under The Collector reported on the shopping centre… electric light and bond fuel lay with the Department of locker’s deplorable situation as power are available but as storms Trade and Customs not only to follows: ‘...first he had to camp, then are a frequent occurrence during ensure that the correct duties were he got board for a period and later some seasons the power service collected but also in enforcement of obtained a furnished house, which sometimes breaks down and the wartime regulations governing he has had to vacate as the owner recourse would have to be made to the rationing of petroleum products. has returned to Newnes Junction.’ fuel stoves and fire places for cooking and warmth. For these reasons the bulk storage Added to this the locker’s wife had facility at Newnes Junction was been obliged to return to Sydney to ‘If slow combustion heaters were licensed as a warehouse under the live alone as their son had been provided instead of fire places for Customs Act and a locker had to be called up for military service. warmth provision would have to be stationed there. made for coke supplies. Not surprisingly, due to the Nowadays, Newnes Junction exigencies of the war effort, no ‘With no fuel merchants in close consists of the old railway station, action was taken to improve the proximity and firewood scarce and officially abandoned as a station, locker’s accommodation there in hard to collect an officer would find without any identifying signage but 1942 or indeed during the it difficult but not absolutely which seems to serve some control succeeding years of the war. impossible to obtain necessary function in relation to the nearby supplies of fuel.’ heavily-used coal-loading loop line. Subsequently, in a document dated There are one or two houses in the August 2, 1945 relating to Post War The file also noted: ‘...the bond is nearby road and it would seem that Public Works and proposing the situated at an altitude of 3500 feet the situation has probably not provision of accommodation at and weather conditions run to altered much over all the years. It Newnes Junction the officer in extremes. If an officer is to be could be scarcely called a charge of Customs warehouses had stationed at such an isolated place, settlement. this to say: ‘The climate of Newnes a fair degree of comfort is Junction is one of extremes from essential.’ The early years for the Customs exceptionally cold weather in the officer stationed at Newnes Junction winter to very hot days in the Petrol rationing was abolished when could only be described as summer. the Menzies Government was “Spartan” from reports contained in elected in 1949 and the need for official records. Early in 1942 the ‘During the summer months heavily subsidised local fuel officer was impelled to request the blowflies and other flies and declined in the face of free Collector of Customs (chief officer mosquitoes are very prevalent and availability of the imported product. of Customs for NSW) for provision gauze protection to windows is of a departmental residence. essential. The government withdrew its assistance to Glen Davis refinery The bureaucratic protocol of the ‘The bond [licensed warehouse] is and amid considerable controversy time necessitated the Collector’s situated at a small siding in the the operation closed in 1952. representations to the Comptroller- bush about 12 miles from Mt. General of Customs in Canberra for Victoria and 8 from Lithgow with a Today, Newnes Junction in its approval. very limited train service to either splendid isolation and anonymity slumbers on. There are no old local identities around to tell tales of the customs officer unlocking fuel tanks, checking the loaded rail tank wagons or complaining about blowflies and mosquitoes.

Peter Chinn is President of the Springwood Historical Society Inc and author of “The Thin Blue and Red Line” - A history of the military and police presence in the Blue Mountains between the Nepean and Cox’s Rivers 1814- 2005.

After a 40 year career with Customs, Peter retired then soon after returned as History Officer for Australian Customs and Newnes railway station circa 1938, after the line had closed. Border Protection Service where Photograph courtesy Peter Chinn. he now works part time.

HERITAGE 7 November - December 2009 ANZAC HERO GET NEW HEADSTONE The Lawson Cemetery grave of It was found that Henry James Henry James Hunter a World War 1 Hunter had three grandchildren. veteran is to be re-dedicated with Sadly his descendants were not the headstone reflecting his war aware of their grandfather, let service record service. alone any knowledge of his World War 1 service record. Recently members of the Blue Mountains Family History Society, Henry James Hunter enlisted on Lynne Tocher and Suzanne Voytas September 24, 1914 at the age of were involved with the project of 46 years and his service number updating the cemetery records at was 1066, with a rank of private. He was promoted several times in the Lawson Public Cemetery. His unit 1st Battalion, C Company the field and was Temporary embarked from Sydney on Regimental Sergeant Major when While checking data they came Transport A19 Afric on October, 18 he applied for discharge. On his across a badly neglected grave 1914. return to Australia he was and the inscription on the discharged on June 6, 1918 with headstone stated that the person Henry James Hunter was at the rank of corporal. was an ANZAC. There was no Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 and official emblem displayed and the was evacuated from Lone Pine Henry James Hunter was living at researchers felt that if the person August 16, 1915 suffering from Linden Lodge, Linden when he was an ANZAC he deserved a fever and pulmonary TB. died on November 16, 1923. better memorial. In December 1915 he was The Office of the Australian War When they contacted the Office of discharged cured from hospital Graves Commission found that he the Australian War Graves and in May 1916 he joined the met the criteria to have his grave Commission, they were told that 1st ANZAC Entrenching Battalion maintained by the department. before any work could be done to serving with this unit at the restore the grave, it was Somme, near Ypres. On November 7, 2009, the grave necessary to find any living will be rededicated, with his descendants and obtain their While serving with this unit he grandchildren and great permission. received the Meritorious Service grandchildren present. One Medal. The citation read;- person will be travelling from Alice For family history researchers that For devotion to duty and disregard Springs, NT. was easy. of personal safety during Pictured above is a plaque intermittent shelling of Bapaume bearing the AIF Rising Sun badge for two months and energetic and the inscription 1066 [his army meritorious service in the service No.] Corporal HJ Hunter 1 organization of a) Brickfields area, ANZAC Entrenching Battalion 16 b) Bapaume area, c) Blequin area, November 1923 Age 53 has been and d) Reinforcement Camps set in the headstone. Pictured at area. His conduct and bearing in left the original grave. the A.I.F. since September 1914 Photographs John Leary, OAM has set a fine example. and Lynne Tocher. Peter Stanbury volunteers for Cambodian museum work BMACHO committee member, Dr The glass in the glass plates Both manifestations appeared on Peter Stanbury, recently spent over appeared to be breaking down. the glass side; by and large the two months working in the National On some of the plates a white emulsion side was not affected. The Museum of Cambodia in Phnom powdery substance was being plates had been stored horizontally Penh as a volunteer in the deposited and many other plates in boxes containing about 8 - 12 Australian Business Volunteers appeared damp. plates. scheme (see website http:// www.abv.org.au/).

One of his tasks was to assess and provide conservation advice about their photographic collections. These consist of about 4000 glass negatives of whole plate size dating from about 1890 - 1920; 5000 21/4 square film negatives dating from 1930 - 50 and many thousands of prints. Pictured is Dr Stanbury stacking the glass plates, cleaned, rewrapped and boxed.

HERITAGE 8 November - December 2009 UNESCO Australian Memory of the World Register contribution Congratulations are due to Lois Lois Sabine is a member of the Sabine of Springwood who after Blue Mountains Historical Society, beavering away for over a year on a the Society of Australian project, on October 16, 2009, saw it Genealogists and the NSW added to the UNESCO Australian Writers Centre. Memory of the World Register where it will accompany just 30 She has worked weekly for the carefully selected items incuding past 8 years as a volunteer James Cook’s Endeavour Journal indexing all kinds of records at the and the Mabo case manuscripts. City of Sydney Archives. In (http://www.amw.org.au/register/ addition for the past seven years amw_reg06.htm ) she has volunteered at State Records at Kingswood working on Working full-time for the Soldier Settlement Records. Department of Lands, Lois has indexed the ‘Old Register 1-9’ Lois does research for others. Lois which are nine volumes of assorted has recently concluded the very records of agreements made large index for Jan’Barkley Jack’s between 1798 and 1825. new book “Hawkesbury Revealed” Lois Sabine which has just been launched. Those agreements range through This work is now available on the sales of land, division of property When the City of Sydney Council council website. between individuals, powers of boundaries were extended Shirley attorney, promissory notes, sales of Fitzgerald’s book “Sydney’s It was due to her connection with articles including live-stock and Streets” became out of date. that publication that the Dept of crops, hire of ships, building Lands became aware of her work contracts, leases, apprenticeships Lois was invited to research and and asked her to do the index for as well as pre-nuptial and index all of the additional suburbs. the Old Registers. separation agreements. our earliest settlers held within President of Blue Mountains within a single DVD containing pdf them. Historical Society Inc., Dr Peter files of indexes and images of Rickwood in alerting HERITAGE to scanned pages from the original “Almost a year later, on completion Ms Sabine’s achievement said, registers. of my work transcribing and “What a variety and all to be found “What a treasure for historians indexing the entries from the interested in the founding years of original registers, the work was the Colony! Moreover, the files can transformed by the Department of be electronically searched for a Lands into a searchable DVD, particular person – maybe an covering registration dates which ancestor!” , said Dr Rickwood range from 1802 to 1825.

Ms Sabine said, when she was “It is important to note that the dates asked by the Department of Lands in the Register are those of to create an entirely new and document registration only, not complete index for these most necessarily the date on which the important historical records she was agreement took place which could thrilled. be years earlier.”

The DVD is in two parts. Part one is “The original index was misplaced the index to the complete nine when the Old Register was volumes. Part two repeats the transferred from the custody of the index, but a click on the entry slowly Image No. 1 is from Book 5, Page Supreme Court to the re- reveals the image of the original 10, Entries 402 to 404 are from established office of the Registrar page. 1811 and include a bill of Sale, General in 1857. Bargain and Sale and a Deed of Gift Index columns ‘From’, ‘To’ and from William Packer to his son “Despite the Registers being ‘Details’ are listed alphabetically. To William James Packer. thought of as showing land get an overview of the wealth of transactions only, I was aware of information available, a search of Reproduced with the permission of the wealth of other personal the ‘Details’ column will be found Land and Property Management information concerning the lives of very rewarding. All streets, Authority. townships and locations are listed.

HERITAGE 9 November - December 2009 Australian Memory of the World Register Continued from page 9 Shipping. William Freeman was Slotted in between are Affidavits, engaged by Henry Kable & Co as a Agreements, Arbitrations Bonds, cooper to King Island in the Articles of Agreements, schooner Governor King to cooper Assignments, Debts, Deeds of for 300 tons of oil. Bk 1. P 63a. Trust, Letters and Powers of entry 289 Attorney, Gifts, Indenture of Apprenticeships, Marriage and Wills. Joseph Hatton bequeathed Separation Agreements, Promissory his wife Rosamond Hatton one Notes, Sealing, Shipping, with all shilling. His Jones Farm of 30 acres Public Houses easily found under at Kissing Point together with the ‘Sign of —’ house, goods & chattels and stock he left to Ann Smith. Bk 9, P 69, While many of the entries are entry 113. connected to land, the following entries are some of the more Lois Sabine writes, “If my school personal examples. history lessons had been based on the stories in the Registers, I would Agreements. William Nash agreed not have been numb with boredom. to give Eleanor Logan one half of all that he possessed in this country. Image No 2 is from Book 1, Page “The entries reflect everything in an Bk 1, P 154, entry 1177. 76, entries 358 to 365. They include emerging, stratified society Agreements, a Will, Power of containing violence, greed, guilt, Bonds. Edward Wills signed a Attorney and an Assignment to sell matrimonial infidelities, family love Bond to William Bennett for Wills to a house. and separation, sudden death, oh keep the peace. Bk 1, P 83, entry yes, and land. Reproduced with the permission of 426. Land and Property Management “Recognition of the Old Register Debt. William Gore, Provost Authority. One to Nine for inclusion for Marshall, sold John Bowman’s farm inscription on the UNESCO Archerfield to John Reddington for arranged for her to regain her Australian Memory of the World debt. Bk 5, P 230, entry 998. dwelling house and coach house Register shows these records, at occupied by Sarah prior to her last fully revealed, to be of national Gifts. Thomas Rickerby gave to his marriage to Waples. Bk 8, P 294, and international importance. godson William Gray an allotment entry 469. of land of 054½ rods, part of “A copy of the DVD should be in Catherine Farm [Windsor]. It was to Power of Attorney. Eber Bunker every local library, historical society, be held in Trust by William’s father gave Margaret Bunker and William family history society, university John Gray until William’s maturity. Broughton Power of Attorney to be library, and school library,” Ms Bk 8, P 29, entry 39. used in the case of Eber Bunker’s Sabine said. death. Bk 6, P 24, entry 1335. John Coffee gave to Ann Kinsela No 4 Cumberland Street, skillion and ground on condition that she did not annoy him. Bk 5, P 248, entry 1047.

Indenture of Apprenticeships. These were given for blacksmiths, cabinet makers, pipe makers, rope makers, seamen, shipwrights, shoemakers, engineers, wheelwrights and navigators.

Marriage Agreements. Thomas Broadhurst acted as Trustee for Sarah Packer, widow, to make arrangements for her to retain her property left to her by her late husband William upon her marriage to Robert Waples. Bk 8, P 161, Pictured from left: Lois Sabine, Tony Kelly, NSW Minister for Lands with entry 237. Madi Maclean and Nicola Forbes, both from the Land and Property Management Authority on the presentation of the inscription of The Old Marriage Separations. Trustees for Register One to Nine to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Robert Waples and Trustees for Sarah Waples [nee Packer]

HERITAGE 10 November - December 2009 Hawkesbury Settlement Revealed by Jan Barkley-Jack Thousands of present-day Australians, including many in the Blue Mountains, trace their forebears to the early farmers on the banks of the Upper Hawkesbury River.

The European settlement there, known initially as the District of Mulgrave Place, began in the eighteenth century.

In my latest book I seek to transport readers to an intimate experience of that first decade.

Hawkesbury Settlement Revealed: a new look at Australia’s third mainland settlement, 1793-1802 is ‘Saunderson’s Farm. Looking down the River’, engraving by William Lowry, a re-evaluation of the early apparently from original by , in D. Collins, An Account of the Hawkesbury farms, dismantling the English Colony in vol.I, 1798. This is the only picture of 1794 cultural bias evident in most of the Hawkesbury farms in existence, thought to have been sketched in 1795 or contemporary chroniclers. 1796. By courtesy of Royal Australian Historical Society.

As I explore the conventional Sarah developed the highest profile Careful selection of coloured prints contention that the settlers as a of all the early Hawkesbury female and modern photographs illustrate group created and earned their own ex-convicts. graphically how these and other notoriety, the stereotypical image of farms were periodically almost them as lazy, lawless drunkards is Part of the local significance of totally submerged under the flood severely modified. (a well-known waters. name) and the less familiar Sarah Exciting new material from witness Cobcroft and Ann Blady comes from Yet despite adversity, 58% of the statements in court cases, from land their role as midwives, while Mary earliest settler families were still transaction records and from the Archer deserves to be remembered farming on the Hawkesbury as the settlers’ own writings has been used for her bravery in speaking out first decade of the nineteenth to produce an original and at times against the European men who century dawned and over 70% were startling re-evaluation. murdered two Aboriginal youths. cultivating at least the six acres that constituted John Macarthur’s The evidence used The instability and violence which definition of a sustainable family comprehensively for the first time arose from the new European farms farm. allows the people to inhabit the impinging on Aboriginal lands and book’s pages and to emerge as traditional food supplies created I have resurrected a forgotten ex- personalities, a lively and for the threats for the Indigenous people convict, the most successful of all most part likeable parade, in which and settlers alike. the early Hawkesbury settlers, John the achievements of high-flying Stogdell, rich in his own right, who transportees stand alongside those The women of both cultures knew was the agent for the powerful of the ordinary impoverished ex- fear while also displaying fortitude, Commissary General, John Palmer. convicts and free settlers. and many cases of both Indigenous people and European settlers Stogdell met an untimely end in the Characters can be given, for showing humanity and compassion 1801 flood, but he had already example, to the eleven, hitherto have been documented. established consolidated farms invisible female landholders. One previously thought impossibly grand of their number, Sarah Cooley, was Recurrent floods created misery. for the early frontier and had also at home both in Sydney and on the William Aspinall wrote of his family supervised the completion of Hawkesbury. being left ‘helpless spectators only Palmer’s handsome Sydney estate of our stacks, barns, houses and of ‘Woollomooloo’. She emerges not just as the long- stock swimming down the current’. time partner of the military Patrick Hynes had had ‘to go in One hundred pages of court commandant, Neil McKellar, but Debt to seed and crop his ground proceedings have revealed all this also as the person who ran … and before …[he] could in startling detail, which is McKellar’s farm, raised their Discharge his Debt all … would be presented as a separate case study. children and made wide and astute sweepted away … his grain, pigs, business dealings. fowls, his furniture, Beds, Beding and wearing Aperal’. Continued page 12

HERITAGE 11 November - December 2009 Hawkesbury Settlement Revealed Continued from page 11 The John Harris may have escaped floods but he did not escape the wrath of another military commandant, Anthony Fenn Kemp.

Harris set his dogs on trespassing pigs belonging to the irascible commandant and later in court claimed to be a ‘free man … and a Citizen of the World’, using the terminology of the French Revolution.

Samuel Marsden’s evidence is shown to have kept Harris’s good character intact, whilst demonstrating that early Hawkesbury politics were more sophisticated than is currently believed. Detail of ‘A View of Part of the Town of Windsor’, drawn and engraved by One of the features of this book is Philip Slager or Slaeger, published by Absalom West, Sydney 4 June 1813. the full and detailed listing, The detail shows retailing activity and delivery of stores in what is now including map locations, of the land Thompson Square, Windsor, typical of the river trade on the Upper promised in 1794 to 1796, tied to Hawkesbury in the 1790s. The cottage is likely to have been occupied by appendices which recite every land Andrew Thompson up to 1800. Taken from the author’s copy of the original title granted in the district up to print. 1802. Modern digital technology makes it The illustrations in the book are To illustrate the localised domain of possible for the first time to make unhackneyed and are presented in these first Hawkesburyites, I have legible enlargements of tiny colour wherever appropriate. ransacked the drawings, paintings incidental images of individual farm and prints surviving from the period buildings and ordinary people going They are an important part of the before 1820 and especially before about their work in the first two revelation of the earliest 1805. decades of settlement. Hawkesbury settlement. MAP CARE AND The author - Jan Barkley-Jack, BA (Hons) Jan Barkley Jack, BA (Hons) is a and 2001(unofficially carrying out CONSERVATION historian who was educated in that role for ten years previously). Plans are now well advanced for a Sydney and at the University of Jan has presented Community workshop to be held at the Land New England, obtaining a major in Link courses for the University of and Property Management Authority both history and archaeology in Western Sydney and was a of NSW at Bathurst on Friday, her degree. recipient of a Commonwealth February 19, 2010. Centenary Medal in 2003 for She co-authored the Hawkesbury ‘service to the community through The workshop will look at the City Council’s Bicentennial history the history and heritage of the techniques for restoring damaged and has written articles and Hawkesbury’. maps, and methods of storing and chapters in publications on a catologuing maps. variety of historical topics relating In 2005 she was an advisor to SBS to the Hawkesbury and other Television on historical content in Participants in the workshop will areas. their Living History series ‘The visit the scanning and restoration Colony’. For her current PhD, area, cadastral, topographic and As a resident of Windsor, she has being undertaken with the surveying sections. been actively involved there in University of Western Sydney, she promoting history through being is seeking to extend understanding Time will be spent in the graphic on Hawkesbury Historical Society, of the dynamics of early farming services section which includes National Trust and Hawkesbury settlement in New South Wales, bookbinding, digital imagery and City Council Heritage and especially in frontier districts like pre digital mapping. celebration committees, and as the Hawkesbury, in the years that Participants will also see the latest Hon. Curator of Hawkesbury led up to the Macquarie period. Museum between the mid-1980s technology and glimpse of historical map making.

HERITAGE 12 November - December 2009 Railway station home for Mt Victoria Historical Society’s museum Historical societies often are located may have been called, Glen Ogie copied and are organised in folders, in heritage buildings and some even by then. 230 framed pictures, 260 research end up in railway properties, which files,160 maps, survey plans, is the case for Mt Victoria Historical Outings to places of local interest drawings etc. Society Inc. which has operated a were organised. In the late 1960s museum in the former railway dining the name was changed to Mt The old kitchen which has been and refreshment rooms part of the Victoria Historical Society, following only recently cleared out by State Mt Victoria railway station for almost confusion with the Mt York Natural Rail is currently being set up for 40 years. History Museum which operated in research. the “Kiosk” building at Mt York. The station building itself is a Some years ago curators heritage listed building, and The railway station premises have embarked on spread-sheet data collected railway material is provided the museum with a range entries for much of the accession nationally significant of room sizes. The dining room has collection - some 1700 items each mostly glass display cabinets, under approx 20 headings- donor, It is one of the few sandstone vertical and horizontal, for smaller origin, details ; and much of the buildings of State Rail. It was items and documents. The large photographic collection - some 500, opened in 1868 as a very small refreshment room has been used again under numerous headings. station, and significant additions for a wide range of medium to large built in 1872, 1884 including the objects from farm machinery, tools, After a lull in updating the data, this first floor, and 1911. horse buggy, furniture display etc. has been re-commenced. Material arranged in subject groups. held relates primarily, but not Numerous photographs and exclusively to the villages and area research material are held of staff, There are 11 smaller rooms, most between Katoomba and Hartley. and stories documented of their used for displays and most of these work and social life. At least four have a specific theme; - Mel Ward It has been suggested the people still living in the village, Natural History; Photographic - collection is significant it being worked when they were young, in items and notable photographers possibly, the only collection the dining rooms. pictures; Gowns; Trains; Mt Victoria; recording the exploration, surveying Osborne Ladies College and building of the first roads and Early freight was sent to Sydney for Blackheath - Ron Brasier collection railway across the Blue Mountains. supplies and export - livestock, and the Old- time school room. meat, and wool, because the early It is significant in encompassing the mountain roads were too steep for The collections include; about 2600 story of convict labour, the trucks so animals were herded up artefacts 350 books 700 historic development of farms, villages and to Mt Victoria. photographs, of which 500 are towns, and the extensive number of Continued page 14 In 1971 the historical society opened its museum under a lease agreement with State Rail.

More recently the old manager’s flat on the first floor and the old ground floor kitchen have been added to the lease. All society activities, monthly meetings etc. are held on these premises.

The society, then named Mt York Historical Society was formed in 1966 by residents of the Blue Mountains villages of Mt Victoria, Blackheath and Hartley.

The collections were initially housed in members’ homes, where regular meetings were held, often with a guest speaker.

For a time some were also held in Mr Rienits Private School in Montgomery St, Mt Victoria which A phaeton (buggy) circa early 1900s. This carriage is 2-seater, pulled by two horse for light duties in country or town.

HERITAGE 13 November - December 2009 The volcanic geology of Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine Mt Wilson and Mt Irvine Historical their various projects and since then Science at the University of NSW Society Inc. will hold its annual a book on Blackheath and other and president of the Blue Mountains general meeting on Saturday, topics of historical research have Historical Society Inc. November 14, 2009 at the Mt not given me adequate time to mull Wilson Village Hall, The Avenue, Mt over this material - until now! Morning tea will be served at Wilson, to which members and 10.30am, the annual meeting will friends are invited. “The talk will dwell on the volcanic commence at 11am followed by an geology of the area and the address by Dr Rickwood. A light The guest speaker will be Dr Peter wonderful welcome given to the lunch will be served following the Rickwood who arguably knows students by many of the presentation. more than anyone about the landowners,” said Peter. geology of the Mt Wilson and Mt For catering purposes please Irvine area. advise Mary Reynolds 4756 2006 Dr Rickwood is a visiting senior Florence Smart 4756 2063 or Helen “A connection with Mt Wilson research fellow at the School of Cardy 9871 3661 or e-mail commenced shortly after buying a Biological, Earth & Environmental [email protected] house at Blackheath in 1979,” says Dr Peter Rickwood Mt Victoria station museum “Our neighbour was the daughter of Peter and Johnny Kirk and they were quickly ‘adopted’ by our home to bush tools children as surrogate grandparents Continued from page 13 in lieu of the real ones who were early agricultural implements. Most plains with better soil was needed resident in England and seldom of these were gifted from the and explorers, surveyors including seen. descendents of people who made Wentworth, Blaxland, Lawson, and used them, and individual Evans came to Mt Victoria, and “Accordingly visits to Mt Wilson accounts have also been recorded. nearby. became frequent and Peter verbally directed me to various places to get After the first convict colony was Information for this article has samples of basalt. established in Sydney, early been provided by Roy Bennett, farming for food was started on the curator of the Mt Victoria Historical “Revision of the geology courses at Sydney basin plains, (often Society Museum. UNSW in the late 1970s brought to unsuccessful) and travel beyond me the need to find a field area for not encouraged or allowed without Roy moved from Sydney to Mt the Year 4 students who needed to permission. Victoria about 4 years ago soon get samples for a geochemistry after joining the society, its project. The Blue Mountains were a natural committee and became its barrier welcomed by authority, voluntary curator 2 or 3 years ago. “What better than to take them to a especially for the convicts. When Most of the information comes place that I was starting to know food became a problem, farm from an application he prepared for quite well so in 1981 the first group animals began arriving, broader an application for a National collected from sites ranging from Mt Library Special Significance grant. Hay to Mt Tootie.

“Later the groups worked at either Mt Wilson or Mt Irvine and the collecting became an annual event until 1997 when I retired.

“The students worked in small groups of 3 or 4 and each group was accompanied by a qualified geologist; on many occasions Bill Smart alsoaccompanied one of the groups and his guidance to concealed access routes was invaluable.

“While the students were still investigating these rocks it was not possible to write up the outcome of Bush saws and other farm tools used in timber getting and land clearing.

HERITAGE 14 November - December 2009 Tyldesley the village that disappeared The spine of the Great Dividing Range leading north from Wallerawang to Mudgee is rich in minerals. Since the late 19th century the region along the “Mudgee Line” has seen gold, coal and oil shale mining, limestone quarrying, and the manufacture of petroleum products and cement. Following the construction of the Wallerawang to Mudgee branch line railway from the early 1880s coal mining commenced at various places including Cullen Bullen.

Between 1888 and 1960 the area around Cullen Bullen hosted six underground coal mines. Two of these mines, Tyldesley and Invincible were major producers and employers in the early to mid Pictured is water bailer, Harry McAlpine, colliery engineer, James 20th century. To alleviate coal Wilson and the colliery dog Rex at Tyldesley in the early 1950s. Harry shortages experienced immediately and his wife Annie also ran the post office and general store at after World War II the Joint Coal Tyldesley. Board encouraged the development coal mining around Cullen Bullen Pre-publication order form and a of open cut coal mining in the area. and Tyldesley. The book is reseller order form can be The open cut mines were worked by illustrated with 19 maps and plans, downloaded from the City of the army and air force during the and over 70 photographs of the Greater Lithgow Mining Museum 1949 coal strike. district’s mines and the village of website www.statemine.org.au Tyldesley. The village of Tyldesley grew around the headworks of the Great BULL’S CAMP Western Colliery and its successor The new book, focuses on the story Tyldesley Colliery from 1904. of the Great Western/Tyldesley MYTHS Colliery that operated from 1904 to 1960 and the village that grew DEBUNKED Like many coal communities the When Major Thomas Mitchell around the mine’s headworks. village consisted of shanties built on began his road deviation works a colliery land using a mixture of depot was set up in the 1830s at traditional building methods such as It also includes a brief history of the a site known as Twenty-Mile wattle and daub and found neighbouring village of Cullen Hollow [now Woodford]. Convicts materials including sacking, Bullen and the collieries that engaged in road construction kerosene tins and explosives boxes. operated in the Cullen Bullen were camped here, as well as district, including: their military guards. Tyldesley Colliery ceased operation Cullen Bullen Colliery 1888- in 1960 and the village was largely 1900, Shepherd and Massey’s In 1842 Captain Bull was placed abandoned by the mid 1960s. Little Mine1888, Invincible Colliery 1905- in charge of the camp. Two store remained of the village by the time 1957, Renown Colliery 1921-1929, rooms were excavated in the soft a new open cut mine was 1940-1954, Invincible No.2 Colliery sandstone; these were not cells, developed on the site from 2001. 1925-1931, Ben Bullen Colliery as the popular notion has it. The village has all but disappeared 1926-1929, Wattle Mount Colliery from the landscape. 1929, 1949-1950s, Ben Bullen Nor were parallel grooves in the nearby rock surface cut to give The City of Greater Lithgow Mining Open Cut 1946-1955, Red Springs Open Cut 1947-1955, the flagellator a foothold [or to Museum Inc is preparing to print drain away the blood of the Ray Christison’s latest book on the Cullen Main Open Cut 1948-1952 , Beaumaris Open Cut 1949-1953. convict being flogged]; they were history of coalmining in the Western on a path to a nearby kitchen and Coalfield. This book will be in a were most likely put there to similar format to Lithgow State Coal It is planned to release the book by prevent slipping on the sloping Mine a pictorial history published in November 30, 2009. rock surface. Source: Places of May this year. Historic Interest on the Blue Mountains published by the The book uses a mixture of The City of Greater Lithgow Mining Springwood Historical Society historical records, newspaper Museum is offering a pre- from data provided the Society’s reports and the memories of former publication discount for orders researcher Allan Searle 1977. residents to present the story of placed before this date.

HERITAGE 15 November - December 2009 ADVENTURE Historic Mt. York cemetery The Blue Mountains Family History CHALLENGE Society’s latest publication, Historic Everglades at Leura and the Mount York Cemetery, Hartley Vale, Norman Lindsay Gallery at was launched on September 18, Faulconbridge are among National 2009 at the annual conference of Trust of Australia (NSW) properties the NSW & ACT Association of participating in the Premier’s Family History Societies at Wyong. Adventure Challenge. It is not the usual cemetery update, but a compilation from four known The idea of the challenge is to lists, no two of which are identical. encourage children and their families to visit and enjoy the state’s The cemetery dates from the early museums and galleries which will 1830s, on Pierce Collit’s land, not provide free entry to primary far from the base of Lawson’s Long students participating on weekends, Alley, the steep western descent public and school holidays until from Mt. York. January 27, 2010. President of the Blue Mountains Their adventure begins when they Family History Society, Joan pick up their free Kid’s Adventure Edwards writes that the closed Passport from any participating cemetery has a Lithgow LGA museum or gallery in NSW. Heritage Order, and is controlled by Later many were families the Hartley Vale and Mt Blaxland associated with the local shale oil They can then explore the many Trust. It is no longer on private land, mine.” treasures found within the listed but accessible on foot in daylight One conference delegate provided properties. hours. evidence that one of her family was Once the students have collected “Time, vandalism and neglect have one of the unknown, unrecorded three stamps they can apply for an played their part in destroying burials. “Hopefully with this official certificate from the Premier’s tangible evidence. Many burials publication, evidence of more of the Department, which recognises their were prior to civil registrations and unrecorded will be added to our achievement. not listed in NSW BDMs,” claims Ms knowledge,” Ms Edwards stated. Edwards. For details on where to collect a The book of known burials includes passport and start the challenge go “Early burials include Pierce and inscriptions, some recorded 45 to www.arts.nsw.gov.au Mary Collit, family members, local years ago and no longer legible, workers and travellers. and illustrated with 50 B & W photos. It is available from the Blue Mountains Family History Society All the president’s pennies PO Box 97 Springwood 2777 or One day in 1791 George servants and slaves are scattered [email protected]. at a cost Washington received a bill for 60 around institutions in the US. In of $20 plus postage. pounds, 1 shilling and 7 pence most cases they have never been from his friend Dr James Craik. transcribed or published in accessible form. The invoice ran to two pages: BMACHO MEETING [“Anodyne Pills for Breachy… That archival quandary lured 25 CO-ORDINATORS Laxative pills for Ruth…syphilic scholars, some of them ‘forensic The former secretary of Lithgow Pills for Maria…oz accountants” to Mt Vernon, recently Branch National Trust, Lyn Fowler, Antiphlogistie Anodyne Tincture… for a workshop to plan how to get and Doug Knowles of Glenbrook Bleeding Charlotte……oz 4 records on-line. Historical Society both members of Powdered Rhubarb… Extracting BMACHO’s committee have taken one of your Negroes tooth… A Joyce Chaplin, Harvard historian, on the role of meeting coordinators. Mercurial Purge for Cook Jack…”] said the papers offered a picture of “material culture”. Secretary, Barrie Reynolds said this Washington was extraordinarily would spread the work load of the careful with his accounts detailing Among the papers are chilling committee. every penny in ledgers using passages for the modern reader for double entry bookeeping. example, Washington recorded They will take on the administrative buying, at public auction “Ned a girl and management of meetings, such This brief glimpse is contained in “Murria””, “Old Abner” “a Wench as annual general meeting, mid what historians say is a vast cache Dinah” and her four children. year meetings and various of financial documents from the seminars and workshops. The life of the first US president. As Washington aged, he was selection of speakers will continue Documenting lives of ordinary increasingly repulsed by slavery. to be a responsibility of the whole people – merchants, tradesmen, The Washington Times committee.

HERITAGE 16 November - December 2009 National Trust registers industrial past In a quiet show of support for the these ventures was refrigerated appreciation of Sydney’s industrial transport of produce for which he heritage, the National Trust has built one of the earliest chilling added one of Sydney Harbour’s works at Bowenfels near Lithgow. mightiest tools to its register – an 85 year old shipyard crane. The Trust listing coincides with calls for a return to harbour open spaces The colossal machine spent much including Goat Island, to their pre- of its working life at the now-defunct colonial state and the demolition of Mort’s Dockyard in Balmain, hauling the industrial features. ferries and World War 2 navy ships from the sea for repair, but was later The industrial heritage officer at the moved to its present location on National Trust, Tony Brassil, said Goat Island. that there is always a tendency to see heritage in terms of its beauty. A mighty tool the 85-year old Mort’s Dock at Balmain was opened shipyard crane in 1856. Thomas Sutcliffe Mort “These are not necessarily things of While a listing on the Trust’s came to Australia in 1838 as a clerk classical beauty, but they certainly register has no legal force, Mr and soon became involved in a things of engineering beauty, “ Mr Brassil said he hoped it would wide range of commerce. Among Brassil said. underscore the crane’s significance. BLUE MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ORGANISATIONS INC. REGISTERED OFFICE 40 Hume Avenue, MEMBERSHIP The following organisations are Wentworth Falls 2782 members of BMACHO: Blue Mountains City Library, E-mail: [email protected] Blue Mountains Historical Society Inc., Blue Mountains Website: www.bluemountains.heritage Family History Society Inc., Blue Mountains Tourism THE ORGANISATION Blue Mountains Limited, Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Association of Cultural Organisations Inc. Cudgegong Museums Group, Friends of Everglades, (BMACHO) was established in April 2006 following Friends of Norman Lindsay Gallery, Glenbrook & a unanimous response to a proposal from Prof. District Historical Society, Kurrajong-Comleroy Barrie Reynolds at the 2004 Blue Mountains Local Historical Society Inc, Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort, History Conference which sought from Blue Lithgow Mining Museum, Lithgow Regional Library – Mountains City Council the creation of a cultural Local Studies, Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum, heritage strategy for the city. Mid-Mountains Historical Society, Mid Western Regional Council Library, Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens, BMACHO in its constitution uses the definition: Mt Victoria and District Historical Society Inc., Mt “Cultural heritage is all aspects of life of the peoples Wilson and Mt Irvine History Society (including Turkish of the Blue Mountains which was later changed to Bath Museum), Mudgee Historical Society, Mudgee cover Lithgow and the villages along the Bell’s Line Regional Library, National Trust of Australia (NSW) - of Roads. It therefore involves the recording, Blue Mountains Branch (including Woodford Academy), preserving and interpreting of information in National Trust of Australia (NSW) - Lithgow Branch), whatever form: documents, objects, recorded Scenic World – Blue Mountains Limited, Springwood & memories as well as buildings and sites.” District Historical Society Inc., Springwood Historians, Two Centuries of Elegance, Valley Heights Locomotive The objectives of the organisation are Depot and Museum, Zig Zag Railway. The following are individual members: Wendy Carlson, Ray Christison, i. To raise public consciousness of Ms Pamela Hubert, Associate Professor Ian Jack, Joan the value of cultural heritage. Kent, John Leary OAM, John Low, Professor Barrie Reynolds, and Dr Peter Stanbury OAM. ii. To encourage and assist cultural heritage activities of member COMMITTEE The committee for 2009-10 is: John organisations. Leary, (president) Ian Jack (vice president), Barrie Reynolds (secretary), Kathie McMahon (treasurer), iii. To initiate and support cultural Jean Arthur, Ray Christison, Lyn Fowler, Doug Knowles, heritage activities not already covered by and Dick Morony (public officer), Peter Stanbury. member organisations. AUDITOR: Sue McMahon, B Comm CPA One of the aims of BMACHO is to bring the various bodies into closer contact, to encourage them to AFFILIATIONS BMACHO is a member of the Royal work more closely together and to provide a Australian Historical Society Inc. combined voice on matters of importance within the heritage sector. HERITAGE is BMACHO’s official newsletter.

HERITAGE 17 November - December 2009