Author: Carol

Former owner/operator Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours and Advancing History.
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Connecting the Cumberland

Carol

This morning I attended the launch of the University of Western Sydney Discovery Centre’s new exhibition called Connecting the Cumberland. UWS and Greening Australia, with the support of the Office of Environment and Heritage, have teamed up with Willmot Public School on a project that will increase understanding of Western Sydney’s Cumberland Plain. Students will develop materials focussing on plant, animal and human activities from Aboriginal times, through the early European settlement to modern-day life. They will explore the ecology of their local region and the many challenges facing this and future generations in helping to restore and live alongside … Continue reading Connecting the Cumberland

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Article about Lewis Stuart of Colo

Carol

My article in last Wednesday’s Hawkesbury Gazette was very popular with all Lew’s descendants in the Hawkesbury area and beyond. Such an interesting man. One of those stalwart Scots who came out to Australia in the late 1880s who worked hard and overcame tragic events in his life to achieve success as a family man, orchardist at Colo, partner in Hayes Bros Motor Garage at Windsor and local Councillor. Continue reading Article about Lewis Stuart of Colo

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Cemetery tours great success

Carol

St Matthew’s Anglican Church cemetery tour last Sunday, 18 May 2014, was a great success. Had some descendants of Henry and Susannah Kable on the tour, plus descendants of several other people buried in the cemetery. It never fails to surprise me just how many visitors have ancestors from the Hawkesbury area. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that much because the Hawkesbury was the third area settled after Sydney, Parramatta/Rose Hill. Delightful Devonshire tea was served in the church hall after the tour. Continue reading Cemetery tours great success

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St Matthew’s Windsor Anglican Church cemetery tours

Carol

Doing cemetery tour at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor on Sunday, 18 May, as part of National Trust Heritage Festival. Come along and join us – 1.30pm and 3.00pm. $15.00 includes afternoon tea. Contact Helen on 02 4577 6677. Through this forum I plan to keep people informed about proposed plans for the bicentenary of St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor in 2017. The Repairs and Restoration Committee is at present looking at publishing a new edition of the St Matthew’s book for the 200th anniversary of Francis Greenway’s most famous landmark. While 2017 might seem a long way off, it’s … Continue reading St Matthew’s Windsor Anglican Church cemetery tours

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Organists of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Windsor

Carol

I am researching organists who have played the organ at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor. Not a lot is known about organists through the 1850s, 1860s and early 1870s. I have managed to find many names through the late 1870s through to the 1940s with the help of the National Library’s Trove website and have written a short article for the local newspaper, the Hawkesbury Gazette. If anyone has information hidden away in their family history notes about someone who played the organ at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor I would be grateful for that info. St Matthew’s will be … Continue reading Organists of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Windsor

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The Johnston family

Carol

Geoff and I led an interesting tour through the Hawkesbury this week for the Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society, investigating the family of Andrew Johnston who designed and help build Ebenezer Church. Andrew Johnston and his wife, Mary Beard, arrived in Australia on the Coromandel in June 1802. After filling their required tenure at Toongabbie to learn how to farm in the colony, each of the Coromandel settler families were given grants of land to farm at Portland Head, beside the Hawkesbury River. Andrew Johnston’s family intermarried with the family of George Hall and their descendants spread throughout the colony. Several members of … Continue reading The Johnston family

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Launch of Hawkesbury Historical Society Journal #3

Carol

This morning attended launch of Hawkesbury Historical Society Journal No 3 at Hawkesbury Regional Museum. Guest speaker was historian and author Andrew Tink, who actually read through the book before preparing his speech. Well done Andrew! I am a contributing author on behalf of Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society. The journal is made up of historical articles written by members from five historical societies and family history groups in the Hawkesbury and this volume is titled ‘Hawkesbury Personalities’. There are stories on individuals from the Hawkesbury from all walks of life, the only stipulation being they had to have died at least … Continue reading Launch of Hawkesbury Historical Society Journal #3