News from History Cottage
Galston’s history buffs gathered in force this year for the Annual General Meeting of the Historical Society, with around fifty members attending to reflect on the year gone by and look ahead to 2026. The meeting saw positions on the Management Committee filled, and a brief special session was held to update the Society’s constitution in […]
Galston Gorge Archaeology Talk by Local Historians
The community of Galston recently gathered for a captivating exploration of local heritage, beginning with the celebrated annual June Roughley Memorial Lecture and concluding with the anticipation of a deep dive into the engineering and history of Galston Gorge. The Memorial Lecture, delivered by renowned culinary expert Ian “Herbie” Hemphill, provided a fascinating look into “My […]
News from History Cottage
The Society thanks all who contributed to a most enjoyable series of community meetings last year; the guest speakers created much discussion over afternoon tea and all further understood what it is that makes a community special when it learns about its own and its place, in history. This year the Society will again call upon […]
A 1950s Christmas
Remembering back to my childhood in Britain during the 1940s & 50s after the Second World War, life was hard for many. Jobs were scarce, wages low and many goods were in short supply whilst rationing of foodstuffs were still happening. My parents, at Christmas time, would try to add a bit of a festive […]
News from History Cottage
Our well attended meeting on the 9th November was the last for the year. Our guest speaker, David Jehan told part of the fascinating story of the Hudson Brothers and Clyde Engineering. His research and knowledge, together with many old photographs, recalled earlier days for many. Who can forget those mighty trains of the steam […]
A Pioneering Geologist: The Legacy of William Branwhite Clarke
William Branwhite Clarke, a name synonymous with Australian geology, was a man of remarkable intellect and unwavering determination. Born in the quaint English village of East Bergholt, Suffolk, Clarke’s early life was steeped in academic pursuits. His journey to Australia in 1839, initially undertaken for health reasons, would ultimately shape the course of Australian geological […]
News From History Cottage
It was hard to tell the descendants of the free settlers from those of the convicts at the May meeting; all looked prosperous and not a leg iron in site. Our guest speaker, Judith Dunn OAM, held her audience in thrall with the results of her five years of research into the crimes of the […]
Matthew Flinders’ Remains to be Reburied in Lincolnshire
By Paul Whitelam, BBC News The remains of a Lincolnshire explorer credited with naming Australia will be reburied in his home village in 2024. Captain Matthew Flinders, from Donington, led the first circumnavigation of Australia. His remains were identified after they were found in an HS2 rail project dig at St James’s burial ground in […]
Dural And District Historical Society Inc.; News From History Cottage
History Cottage was pleased to welcome guest speaker, Dr Lesley Harbon. She spoke of six women associated with the Roughley Family who, over six generations, played a part in the social history of the interlocking families who farmed our district. In the audience were those whose names are on the family tree, along with many […]
Dural And District Historical Society Inc. – News From History Cottage
There was much interest in the May presentation on the bombing of Darwin. Hearing of the lack of planning, incompetent administrators and the inordinate delay in recognising those who rose to solve the shortcomings, gave much to compare with the present day. Speaker, Noel Phelan, had an enormous amount of material to show and answered […]