Gunning & District Historical Society

A great turnout for the Australia Day Awards 2018 in Gunning Bright, beautiful and sunny - what a way to start Australia Day in the Gunning District. The Australia Day awards kicked off at an early 8 am this morning with breakfast by the stalwarts of the district, the Lions Club. Sports commentator and journalist, Gordon Bray AM, the 'voice of rugby' is the 2018 Australia Day Ambassador for the Awards and he gave a very nice speech to start proceedings off. Upper Lachlan Shire Council Mayor Brian McCormack OAM was the host for the event and together with John Bell the General Manager of the ULSC they handed the awards to the recipients. It was lovely to see The Hon. Angus Taylor MP at the ceremony along with Upper Lachlan Shire's Deputy Mayor John Stafford, Councillors' Pam Kensit and John Searl supporting their community. The seats were full and there were plenty more people standing around. Even had a group of motorcycle riders who decided to ha...

The official party at the Samuel Clayton Book Launch. Good afternoon everyone. My husband Victor and I are so disappointed that we can’t be with you today. We had been looking forward to it so much and would love to meet you all and to go on the tour of the Baltinglass site. Little did I know a few years ago when I started researching Victor’s family tree that it would lead to such an interesting story. However, it wasn’t just a ‘story’, it was an insight into our history and yours on a very human level. Despite his crime Samuel Clayton was a man that I came to admire greatly. Both he and his son Benjamin were the type of individuals who built Australia into the wonderful country that it is today. I think Samuel’s descendants in Australia, some of whom are with you today, can be very proud of their heritage. I would like to thank the Mayor Mr Brian McCormack for launching my book. I would also like to thank Rosemary Spiller and the Gunning and District Historical Society ...

Tense negotiations underway in Dublin between Irish author Margaret Smith and GDHS’s then secretary, Rosemary Spiller, about arrangements for launching her book in Australia.  Gunning and District Historical Society is delighted to assist Anchor Books to launch a new book which sheds light on a little known aspect of Australian and local Gunning history.  Samuel Clayton – Forger, Freemason, Freeman by Irish author Margaret Smith tells the story of an Irish engraver, transported for forgery, and his son Dr Benjamin Clayton.  Both prospered in Australia and played prominent roles in early colonial life.  Their stories deserve to be known. The Claytons, father and son, were successful graziers in the Gunning and Tumut districts.  More than that, their property Baltinglass very near to Gunning village, on the junction of Meadow Creek and the Lachlan River, was the very first successful major wine producer in what is now the Canberra District...