Gunning & District Historical Society

John Alchin (1821-1901) This article, about a publican who was also an adherent of a religion which abhorred the demon drink, is by guest blogger and Alchin family chronicler, Garry Smith. In the early years of the Australian colonies alcohol consumption was heavy but is shown to be lower than in some other countries at that time. The decade of the 1830s saw the highest per capita consumption although the gold rush period of the 1850s was probably comparable. From 1860 to 1900 consumption fell strongly. John Alchin (originally John Waters Gaynes) arrived in the colony of New South Wales in 1838 with his “adoptive” family – Ambrose and Ann Alchin and their six children. Although Ann Alchin, John’s natural mother, and Ambrose Alchin were recorded as “Baptist” on the passenger list of the arrivals aboard the Palmyra, the family lived their lives as staunch Wesleyans. There are many uses of the word Wesleyan over time. When the Alchins arrived in the colony, Wesleyans were...

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924), celebrated French composer and musician, at the piano.  His music, believed to have been first performed locally at a concert in Dalton in 1932, is to get another run in July this year in Gunning.   Photo Wikipedia Commons In November 1932 the Gunning Literary Institute Dramatic Company toured a three act comedy, "It Looks Like Rain”, to the citizens of Dalton. Their performance attracted a very favourable review in the Goulburn Penny Post.  Music by the Gunning orchestra under the baton of Mr McNutt also added greatly to the audience's enjoyment. The numbers rendered included “Legion Americana" (Lavelle) "The Palms" (Faure), "Sanctuary of the Heart" (Ketelby) with a vocal solo by Miss Tully and "National Guard's March" (Ryder). The orchestra comprised Mr J Power and Misses F Southwell and J Rodrom (violins), Mr Gordon (cornet), Mr S A Beer (piano), Miss D Beer (triangle) and Mr J E. Caldwell (drums). ...

 On the site of Chain of Ponds School. (l-r) author Garry Smith, GDHS archivist Keith Brown, Harold Hazell & Lyn Polsen (nee Hazell) This article is by guest blogger and Alchin family chronicler Garry Smith When the Chain of Ponds School burned down in October 1916 only the stone chimney and the water tank were left standing. The children still in attendance in that year were transferred to Lade Vale School. Among the many local names in attendance at the school during its history were Alchin, Hinds, King, Robinson, Waters, Bayley, Hately and Hazell; I am related to some of these families. Among the recent visitors to the site of the long gone school was Harold Hazell and his daughter Lyn Polsen (nee Hazell). Although I was there to represent the Alchin family, it is noteworthy that Harold’s grandmother, Mary Jane Hazell (nee Alchin) (1875-1941) was my great aunt. She was the daughter of Charles Alchin (1837-1908) and Mary Alchin (nee Stear) (1843-1897) – my grea...