Gunning & District Historical Society

Rodney Howarth with the Gunning Public School class photograph from 1955. Photo by Ann Darbyshire. By Ann Darbyshire. Following on the trail of just who was the “J Lees” on the trophy unearthed in Gunning by an enthusiastic local fossicker, Rodney Howarth got in touch with a member of the Gunning Historical Society. Rodney had a similar trophy to the one that had sparked the hunt for the Champion Girl Under 6 winner.  It turns out through further research by Greg Murphy on Trove that it was indeed the same year as the J Lees trophy. Rodney's trophy from the same year as the J Lees trophy A former Gunning boy whose parents owned most of the strip of shops that now house the Picture House Gallery and other retail outlets, Rodney had another trophy that he won in his final year at school for that now outdated event – the Hop, Skip and Jump. He broke the existing record by about 13 inches and laments that although his father was a movie camera enthusiast, this heroic ...

Jennifer Lamb at the Goulburn Mulwaree Library, 12 March 2017 I travelled to Goulburn today to hear Jennifer Lamb, resident Miles Franklin researcher, give an illustrated talk on the author and the city of her day. Franklin is regarded as one of Australia's literary greats for her novel, My Brilliant Career , published at the time of Federation in 1901. Ms Lamb became an avid Franklin researcher after "rediscovering" the author many years ago. At the time, there was little awareness of the important link between Goulburn and Franklin's novel, but there are many interesting back stories to the novel's protagonist, Sybylla Melvyn, that mirror events in Franklin's own early life and society. Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin (1879–1954) lived at Stillwater, a property near Goulburn, from 1891 to 1903. Franklin wrote her most famous novel at age 18 while residing there. Her novel caused a bit of a stir at the time because of the many parallels betwe...

Gunning Public School participating in the 2015 Anzac Day March along Yass Street. Photo by Ann Darbyshire. Guest Post by Dave Findlay Terry-Anne O’Neill’s book on the Gunning District’s role in the First World War is being launched on Anzac Day, Tuesday 25 April by former Gunning and Upper Lachlan Shire President John Shaw, OAM. Following the book launch during the Commemoration Service and subsequent Question and Answer session in the Courthouse, when copies of the book may be purchased for cash only, a lunch has been arranged at the Old Coaching Stables, Cullerin Road, 7kms north of Gunning on the left hand side. Unlike previous RSL social functions on Anzac Day, it is intended that this lunch should be open to all residents of the Gunning District along with friends and visitors, giving them a chance to meet with the author and be involved in this unique event in the history of the Gunning area. The cost of the two course lunch is $30 with drinks available for p...

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