Gunning & District Historical Society

Kinder Year 1 - 2 Year 3 - 4 Years 5 - 6 Competition is open to all children Kinder to Year 6 who reside in the Gunning District,  this includes the towns of Gunning, Dalton, Breadalbane, Bevendale, Biala, Blakney Creek, Collector, Cullerin, Gurrundah, Jerrawa, Lade Vale, Merrill and Oolong.

 

 

  Part 1 Stereoscope As part of our AGM this year we had a bit of a ‘Show and Tell’ Presentation where you could bring along an item of historical or sentimental value, tell a story about an ancestor or relate a story that resonated.   John Searl who is also the Deputy Mayor of the Upper Lachlan Shire is a bit of an Antiques buff and from his incredible collection he brought in this amazing item called a ‘Stereoscope’. The forerunner to the modern day ‘Viewfinder’.  Remember them when you were a kid, where you put the reel in the machine and turned the pictures round with your hand, then if you were lucky you got upgraded to the ones that also had sound. Gifted the Stereoscope in 2008 from a local of Dalton, this device is c1900 and it is a wonderful example of the design work of Oliver Wendell Holmes. In about 1860, Oliver who was already renowned for being an American physician, poet and polymath, turned his attention to making the Stereoscope in a simpler version. ...

Keith Brown - What an Achievement! by the President, GDHS At our AGM last Sunday 18th October 2020, I had the privilege of bestowing upon Keith Brown Life-time Membership to the Gunning & District Historical Society for his unwavering dedication since he joined in 2008. I also had the esteemed honour of presenting Keith with a Certificate of Achievement and pin from the Royal Australian Historical Society.  There are only a handful of these awards given out each year and to those whose contribution is significant and noteworthy to both their society and community. Usually this would take place at the RAHS Conference in Sydney but had to be cancelled due to Covid. I was asked to bestow this distinction within our own Society. His achievement will be announced in an upcoming issue of the society’s History Magazine.  Keith’s grace and benevolence are qualities that make him a very valued member of our team. We congratulate him on his well-deserved Achievements. Deputy Mayor...

Introducing the Grandsons to Alma by Garry Norman Smith Alma Gertrude Stevens (nee Alchin) Alma Gertrude Alchin was born in Gunning, New South Wales, on 15 May 1909; she died on 22 September 1929, four days after giving birth to her son, Noel Stanley Stevens. The official cause of death was “acute yellow atrophy of liver”, also known as malignant jaundice. Alma Gertrude Stevens was only twenty years old when she died. She was buried at the Church of England Section, Field of Mars Cemetery, Ryde. At the time of her funeral her grave was unmarked and unremarkable for having no coping and no headstone or other marker. Alma died on 26 September 1929 (“The Daily Telegraph”, Friday 27 September 1929, 7) Field of Mars Cemetery, Ryde, Church of England Section Through a chance meeting between the author and Norma Ferguson, Alma’s daughter-in-law, the whereabouts and condition of Alma’s grave was made known to her descendants. I ha...

Murray Hazell presenting Peta Luck with copies of his Father's book. Photo courtesy of Gunning Library Just before Christmas Bob Spiller from GDHS put out the word that the copy of 'Some Came Free' by E.G. Hazell that we had donated to the Gunning Library quite a few years before had 'disappeared'. Whether someone had inadvertently picked it up or permanently borrowed the book, it had seemingly 'sunk without trace'. We put the call out on our Facebook page and also on the Bush Family Society - Jerrawa page to try and replace the 'lost' copy. Following up on replies and comments we were fortunate enough to have Murray Hazell kindly donate two copies of his father's book to Peta Luck from the Gunning Library on the 20th January. He also kindly donated a copy to us in Memory of his Father, which will be available to researchers at the Gunning District Research Centre. The Book is the story of mid-nineteenth century Australia t...