Gunning & District Historical Society

NSW Government Gazette - Issue 312 Page 12 - 02 January 1838 - Trove Article 230385467 This is the official notification that formed the township of Gunning on 1st January 1838. See the full article on Trove ( http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230385467 )

The Australian Star, 23 February 1891, If you get the chance to enjoy a beer or wine at the Gunning Show, spare a thought for the patrons at the 1891 show. It would seem, from the above article, that the showground committee had a strong contingent of Temperance "Brothers" who were successful in declaring it an alcohol-free zone. The impact was not as significant as initially suggested - the article notes that the show was " on the whole a success " with " nearly 800 entries " and daily attendance of " between 700 and 800 ". (I have found no records to compare with other years of the period.) The Temperance movement was quite strong in Australia in the late 19th century. The Gunning Division of The Sons of Temperance was formed in 1874 and when the Temperance Hall was opened in 1882 (cnr Warrataw St and Biala St) there were 73 members. There is also mention of the Independant Order of Good Templars (Eureka Lodge) from 1883 and a bran...

Photo from Mardi Lees' post in Gunning Community Announcements and Events Facebook group. The Gunning Community Announcements and Events Facebook group is a great forum for all sorts of discussions, notifications and requests.  With over 760 members, there is always something of interest being posted and enthusiastic engagement by the community. On 10 February, Mardi Lees posted two photos of a trophy found by "local fossicking fanatic Michael Brown".  The inscription on the trophy said: G.D.S.A.A.A. Champ Girl Under 6 J. Lees Mardi asked for clues to the age of the trophy and who J. Lees might be (not her sister, Jennifer). Responses to the thread soon focused on the meaning of G.D.S.A.A.A.; the consensus being Gunning District Schools Annual Athletics Association.  A further post suggested that it was from 1952 or 1953 (a remarkably accurate estimate as it turns out). After a couple of days, the urge to research this got the bette...

Notorious bushranger’s grave may be uncovered in Goulburn’s CBD-The RiotACT https://t.co/pEJoLCYbUM — Gunning History (@GunningHistory) February 9, 2017

Garry Smith (left) presents Arthur's Photograph to Peter Morgan at the Australian War Memorial In 2009 I had the great honour and excitement to be able to provide a photograph of Arthur Montague Alchin to the Australian War Memorial. 2027 Private A.M. Alchin 35th Australian Infantry Battalion  Arthur’s photograph was discovered among many other family images left by my aunt Daphne Brocklehurst (nee Alchin); she had “inherited” them from her mother Doris Alchin (nee Thompson). Fortunately Daphne was quite a hoarder – she even had her first-ever pay slip from 1948! Such behaviour is a real positive for the family historian. Arthur Montague Alchin (1898-1917) was a faithful son to his parents – Albert Noah Alchin and especially his mother, Louisa Susannah Alchin (nee Borman). He sent a postcard from France to his widowed mother in 1917 with kisses inscribed by his own hand, just months before he was killed at Passchendaele, Belgium on 12 October 1917. Arthur’s uncle...