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Life on the Hawkesbury River, from the 1880s to the 1960s, is vividly portrayed in this second edition of Jean Purtell’s 1982 book. Based on her Macquarie Towns Review and Hawkesbury Gazette articles, it has been expanded through more archival newspaper research and further interviews with local residents. The development and decline of the riverboat trade and changes to farming and community life are described, providing the reader with a colourful account of days long past and now largely forgotten. Further details about local people, early school days, housing and road workers are included and new sections cover the early days at Freemans Reach and their floodboat, the local musicians and dance bands, and early motor cycling. This book will appeal to local residents, family historians, boating enthusiasts and everyone with an interest in the Hawkesbury River and its fascinating past. Soft cover, B5, vi + 138, many illustrations, notes, index.
Only six weeks after the First Fleet's arrival in Farm Cove Governor Phillip undertook the first of his voyages along the Hawkesbury waterways in search of land to support the precarious settlement in Port Jackson. This book is an account of the exploration and early settlement of the Hawkesbury. Chapters cover Arthur Phillip's governorship (Brian Fletcher), exploration of the Hawkesbury River (Alan Dash) and early surveys of the region (Alan E.J. Andrews), Aboriginal life (Anne Ross), aspects of early river life (Jocelyn Powell), and of the life of Peter Hibbs (Edwin Wilson and Tom Richmond), and developments along the lower Hawkesbury over the first 100 years (Lorraine Banks). First published in 1990 it brought together a wealth of scattered source material of interest to students, residents, those with family ties along the Hawkesbury and everyone interested in the history of the great river on Sydney's doorstep. The book has been reprinted so that these valuable contributions, which continue to be of interest to a wide audience today, are once again readily available. Soft cover, B5, viii + 135, illustrations, notes, bibliography, index.
This work is based on ten interviews with Aboriginal people who have lived or worked in the Hornsby Shire. Their histories and ideas are diverse as are their backgrounds. Some knew of the Aboriginality from birth. For others, it has been a journey of discovery. The basic idea for the work was to record and preserve some of these stories and to help others understand their journey. The people interviewed generously gave their stories to a non-Indigenous historian, Dr Annette Salt. Each interview was a conversation between two people but in many ways was also an act of reconciliation. The book covers the individual histories and also brings together the various views on a number of themes that emerged from the interviews. This book is a valuable contribution to Aboriginal writings and will have wide appeal to those of Aboriginal descent and to everyone with an interest in Aboriginal views and reconciliation. B5, soft cover, iv + 90, illustrations, select bibliography.
Gwen Dundon, a well-known Central Coast historian, has spent 10 years researching this book. It provides a detailed history of the ‘the first wave’ of ferries that plied the Brisbane Water estuary and Tuggerah Lakes. Based on archival research and on interviews with the ferry drivers, crew members and local residents who used the ferries, the text is full of delightful anecdotes. They portray the many delights of travelling on the ferries – the social excursions, moonlight cruises and songs around the on-board piano – but also some of the trials – waiting many hours to float off a sandbar, being late for the last ferry home after a cinema show, or jumping for the ferry, missing the deck and being pulled from the water by the skipper or another passenger!. The photographs (many of which are rare) illustrate the great variety of vessels used on the waterways, the incredible number of passengers carried at times, the congestion of the wharves on busy market days, and the conversions that occurred to many of the ferries to allow them to be used for other purposes. This book will appeal especially to those with family connections to the ferry services, but also to everyone with an interest in the history of the Central Coast waterways.
Soft cover, B5, vi +194 pages, 206 photographs, other illustrations, maps, notes, personal names index, vessel index and general index.
Hornsby Shire Council began life in 1906 with six councillors appointed by the government. This book outlines the processes leading up to this event and describes the scattered settlements that were to become the responsibility of the Council. Many local activities such as bazaars, sports, dances and amateur dramatics served to identify potential community leaders and prepared the way for local government by bringing people together. The author describes the work of the first Council, the character of the councillors and the manner in which unfamiliar responsibilities were discharged with only a tiny budget. This little-known story is brought to life with the author's characteristic humour and mastery of local historical details.
Soft cover, B5, iv + 60, illustrations, maps, notes, index.
Expert contributors discuss convict life, the NSW Corps, bushrangers, ship-building, a unique fleet of floating shops, placenames, the development of Wisemans Ferry, and the growth of tourism. A valuable addition to our understanding of the region. Soft cover, B4, viii + 104 pages, 36 illustrations, map, index.
‘This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of the Hawkesbury.’
Du Faur is almost unknown today but Sydneysiders are greatly in his debt for his single-handed creation of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, his major role in the establishment of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and his promotion of the scenic qualities of the Blue Mountains. The author succeeds in restoring to public view this enigmatic visionary figure. Soft cover, B5, vi + 58 pages, illustrations, sources, index.
Fully revised edition of this popular regional history. Written by local historians, this book covers aspects of the rich history of the Macdonald Valley, Mangrove Creek and Wisemans Ferry. Soft cover, B5, vii + 88 pages, many photographs, maps, index, second edition.
Copyright 2011, Deerubbin Press