BATHURST 2015 EXHIBITION & Bathurst BICENTENARY - e-newsletter - Issue 10-May 2015

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

May has certainly been another busy month as Bathurst celebrates the continuing activities of the 200th year since Governor Macquarie journeyed to the area to see for himself that the region was “truly grand, beautiful and interesting, forming one of the finest landscapes I ever saw in any Country I have yet visited. The soil is uncommonly good and fertile, fit for every purpose of Cultivation and Pasture.”

With his entourage Macquarie proceeded to explore the local landscape so he could report back to England on his return.

Bathurstians have supported the 2015 events in large numbers in attending the opening of the Flag Staff, two Colonial Fairs, Bicentenary Illumination and Street Festival, the Peoplescape, Reflections - 200 Years of Women’s Fashions, Snapshots in Time and the Wall of Valour, A Moment in Time, Mrs. Macquarie’s Cello, The Crossing, “Anzacs At Gallipoli” tribute and display and much more.

With these events over we will now concentrate on the BATHEX 2015 Bicentenary Collectables, Gem and Mineral Exhibition - Bathurst Remembers 200 Years of History being held at the Bathurst Showgrounds on Saturday and Sunday 26th and 27th September, 2015. It will be held in the three jammed packed pavilions and the surrounding showground on Sydney Road. This is the tenth such event with the first commencing in 1988.

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WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR!

The Bathurst District Historical Society has had a number of events under its umbrella with the first being the official opening of the Old Government Cottage Bicentennial Heritage Garden on Sunday 29th March. The opening was part of Bathurst’s Bicentennial celebrations. The impressive new garden is located at 16 Stanley Street down by the Macquarie River and is open every Sunday afternoon from 12 noon until 4pm.

The Bathurst Garden Club is responsible for the success of the garden which attracts an increasing number of visitors every Sunday. Members of the garden club professionally designed, set out and established the Bicentennial Heritage Garden. Their concept was to educate and show visitors who come to see the historic brick cottage the types of plants that would have been in a typical Bathurst household garden some 150 years and more ago. Our garden from the Georgian-Victorian era has herbs, vegetables, berries and fruit such as apricot, apples and pears as well as fragrant fresh flowers. 
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Bathurst District Historical Society's Museum Open Day

REMINDER  -  come along to Bathurst District Historical Society's Museum
Open Day on Saturday 28th March 2015 - so please come along, bring a friend,
and its FREE - Alan McRae, President Bathurst District Historical
Society. 

BATHEX 2015 EXHIBITION & BATHURST BICENTENARY - Newsletter, Issue 6, January 2015

To view/download Newsletter click here.

Caring for our War Memorials

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WIRADJURI DISCOVERY TOUR

Bathurst 2015 Celebrations & BATHEX Exhibition

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

This is the first of a series of e-newsletters to be produced in a series that will promote Bathurst’s upcoming 200th Anniversary, the BATHEX 2015 Bicentenary Collectables, Gem and Mineral Exhibition - Bathurst Remembers 200 Years of History and other various functions and exciting activities which will take place throughout next year.

BATHEX stands for ‘Bathurst Exhibition’ which has been going in Bathurst every two or three years since 1988. It follows somewhat along the lines of the historic Bathurst Juvenile Industrial Exhibition which ran from 2nd to the 9th November, 1881, some 134 years ago next year.

This e-newsletter is to assist in promoting BATHEX 200 and other events taking place during the year- long celebrations next year as Bathurst marks its 200th birthday.

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Bathurst District Historical Society - Musters

These musters are held at 7.30pm at the Museum in the east wing of Bathurst Court House – they are FREE and supper is served.

15th May (Thursday) – Muster – “The Crago Mill – A Bathurst Landmark” – with Bernard Vance, a local entrepreneur, who has undertaken the mammoth task of restoring Bathurst landmark, Crago Mill. Bernard will tell the fascinating story of the flour mill in lower Piper Street, its history and characters and the ongoing restoration of the mill. The Crago family were very involved with the Bathurst community in the late 1800s and 1900s. Mr. F. Crago was Mayor in 1891 and the family often sponsored and donated prizes for sporting events and children’s activities.

19th June (Thursday) – Muster – “100 Heritage Homes of Bathurst” with Lee Steele. Hear about Lee’s forthcoming book featuring 100 beautiful homes right here in Bathurst. Learn of the history of some of the homes, the families who lived in them and how their homes have survived.

17th July (Thursday) - “Bathurst’s Own Dr Busby.”  David Andrew will speak on members of the Busby family and especially of James Busby (1801-71) in Britain and New South Wales prior to becoming the first British Resident at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand (1833-40). Hear about James’s childhood and public life as part of the public service and how he influenced New Zealand’s history. His elder brother Dr. George Busby was the Government Medical Officer in Bathurst. The family’s ‘patriarch’ John Busby accepted his commission as the Mineral Surveyor and Civil Engineer to the Colony of New South Wales, arriving in 1824 and was responsible for the design and construction of Sydney's first permanent water supply (so called Busby's Bore).
                                                                                              
21st August (Thursday) – Muster – Dr. James Drown will enlighten us on “Surveyor George William Evans.” James will speak on his Doctorate for his Thesis on the work of Surveyor George Evans who discovered the Bathurst Plains in 1813.  During his life, between 1780 and 1852, Evans achieved a great deal as a surveyor and early explorer in the colony of New South Wales.

Source: Email from Alan McRae, President

WIRADJURI COUNTRY - Article in Bathurst Newsletter No 98 April – June 2014

WIRADJURI COUNTRY 

 Bill Allen, Snr, making his speech.

Prior to Europeans arriving the Wiradjuri tribe inhabited a large area around the Bathurst Plains, having lived in the region for thousands of years. Wiradjuri land extended from the foothills of the Blue Mountains, west to the Hay district, north beyond Dubbo and south to the Murray River and Albury. It was the largest tribal region in Australia.

The coming of European settlement was to change all that. When Captain Henry Antill arrived with Governor Macquarie at Bathurst he felt that the local aboriginals were more advanced than the Sydney tribes. During their stay Governor Macquarie’s camp was visited by a “delegation of Wiradjuri tribesmen” and gifts were exchanged with them. Both Surveyor Evans and Governor Macquarie felt no threat from the Wiradjuri people at the time.

The most notable of the Wiradjuri people was Windradyne or ‘Saturday’ as he was known. He became famous when he led an uprising of some of the Wiradjuri people.

By 1822 fighting had broken out between the settlers and some local aboriginals. Windradyne was later captured, beaten and held in chains for four weeks in Bathurst. He was then released and told to ‘keep the peace’ though hostilities did not cease until Windradyne agreed to make peace. He died several years later on 21st March, 1829. Windradyne had been associated with George Suttor and his son William Henry Suttor at ‘Brucedale’ at Peel where he was later buried.

The Wiradjuri people lived in bark gunyahs, caves and natural shelters and always travelled light. They lived off the land, taking only what food they needed. Cleverly they understood the land and the breeding cycles of their food chain. They moved with their food source. The women made possum skin cloaks which were worn in colder months and which were noted at the Proclamation Day ceremony on 7th May, 1815, on the banks of the river Macquarie. The men made their own stone and wooden implements.

The Wiradjuri had their own language. The tribes were governed by strict codes of moral and social behaviour and the breaking of these codes was enforced by the elders with a harsh punishment awaiting any guilty party.

A smoking ceremony at Abercrombie House by Bill Allen, Snr, and his son Bill Allen, Jnr.

On 10th December last year I attended two events at Abercrombie House to mark the 200 year anniversary of first contact between the Wiradjuri People and the arriving European explorers which took place near this site on 21st December, 1813. The events also acknowledged the naming of the Bathurst Plains and Mount Pleasant by Surveyor George Evans on 10th December, 1813, two hundred years previously. The morning event included local Aboriginal children who each invited a non- aboriginal friend. The Wiradjuri Waganha Dance Group from Cowra did an exceptional job and had the young school pupils up participating and dancing.

In the evening on the same day a Corroboree took place under the trees at Abercrombie House. The Wiradjuri Elders of the Bathurst Plains together with the Bathurst District Historical Society and the Morgan Family hosted the evening and joined members of the Society, Bathurst Regional Councillors and community members watch the Wiradjuri Dance Group perform at the special Corroboree Gathering. This evening event acknowledged the last Wiradjuri Corroboree in the vicinity of Mount Pleasant which took place 164 years ago in 1849.

The Mayor, Gary Rush, spoke at both events. 

Speeches at both events described the impact of the first meeting between the explorers and the Wiradjuri people and celebrated the endurance and renewal of Wiradjuri culture and customs on the Bathurst Plains since those days.

At the conclusion of the evening event the owners of Abercrombie House, Christopher and Xanthe Morgan, served tea and coffee on the verandah of this magnificent and historic building.

Our thanks go to the Wiradjuri Waganha Dance Group for their performance and the Morgan family for their hospitality.
Alan McRae, President, Bathurst & District Historical Society

Bathurst District Historical Society Newsletter

Lots more from Bathurst including a full report and photos of the Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival.

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IMAGinE awards - 2013

The IMAGinE awards were held on 8 November 2013. Find out who won this year’s awards and what goes into making IMAGinE such a special night.

[read more]

Congratulation to all the winners.

To see the interview with Ray Christison click here.

Bathurst Collectables Swap Meet & Gem Expo 2013

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

This is our second newsletter in the series of newsletters leading up to the Bathurst Collectables Swap Meet and Gem Expo 2013. The newsletters contain stories about various collectables which I hope you will find of interest.


The aim of the two day swap meet is for collectors and the general public to buy, swap and sell at the historic Bathurst Showground. It seems that we will need a second pavilion as more sellers book in. 
. . . . 

To download Newsletter click here.

Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival - Issue 8 - Last Days to Go!

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR
 

Being my eighth e-newsletter this is the last before the Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival and the second last in the series. The very last will be produced with a wrap-up covering the weekend’s event, though it may be several weeks before I get a chance to finish it as I have another major weekend to work on – this being the Collectables Swap Meet and Gem Expo being held at the Bathurst Showground on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December, 2013. 

It has been a long haul to get to where the committee is now with everything that has to be arranged. A massive amount of research has gone into ensuring that we have the information to be incorporated into the various site information signs. 

The bookings for the various tours are receiving entries daily and will ultimately see some people miss out on taking the opportunity to visit the “Ben Hall” sites. Many sites will have numbered information boards to inform visitors and Bathurstians as to what took place there or what part the location played. 

Already collectors have many of their displays labelled and ready to travel to Bathurst to put them out on display in front of the Bathurst Court House from 10am till 5pm on Saturday. 

The organisers are encouraging anyone attending to wear any colonial or bushranging costume throughout the festival. Already we know that there will be a number of colonial ladies, bushrangers and troopers wandering around on the day. The Lithgow Living History group of re-enactors will keep many enthralled and provide a mirror into our colonial past. 

Many collectors and volunteers will be participating to bring visitors and the general public an event to remember during the Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival on Saturday 28th September. On behalf of the Bathurst District Historical Society and the Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival Committee we would like to thank those who have given freely of their time to ensure a weekend to remember.

Lastly on behalf of the Bathurst District Historical Society I would like to acknowledge all the sponsors who have made generous donations in support of the weekend activities. 

Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District Historical Society

To view the full Newsletter click here, for program click here.

Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival - September 2013 Newsletter

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

This e-newsletter is the seventh produced so far and the second last before the Ben Hall Weekend Festival. This event has seen a mountain of organisation take place as we count down the final weeks until Friday, Saturday and Sunday 27th to 29th September. Accomodation is very tight but it is still possible to get accommodation. Publicity for the event began over nine months ago to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Ben Hall Raid on Bathurst which took place on Saturday 3rd October, 1863. 

Collectors from a number of the eastern states will be converging on Bathurst to bring their hobby and passion to display their collections to the public with a good deal of the material rarely seen outside museums. 

Bobby O’Keefe is one collector who will have some of his colonial pieces on display. These will show just some of the items that were in use around Hall’s gang of bushrangers. Bobby has a great knowledge on his collection.

Russell Street in front of the Bathurst Court House will be closed from 6am with the Ben Hall Festival activities commencing at 10am till 5pm. The raid re-enactment will take place at 2.30pm

There have been a number of escorted tours organised for Friday, all Saturday and on Sunday morning with bookings open now to participate. One bus tour takes in various sites associated with the Ben Hall Raid which took place on Saturday 3rd October, 1863. SEE A LIST OF TOUR DETAILS AT THE END OF THIS NEWSLETTER.


Another tour takes in “Macquarie”, its historic homestead and convict buildings originally being built for Lieut William Lawson of Blue Mountain’s crossing fame.

 
Another tour visits Bathurst’s historic general cemetery - you can pay your respects at the graves of five people who were caught up in the various escapades and raids of Ben Hall. The “Gravely Speaking Bus Tour” will let you hear amazing stories in a history-making time in Bathurst.


Bathurst’s famous Court House will be the centre of more tours from 12 noon. Designed by James Barnet the east and west wings were built for the local Post Office and Telegraph Office. The Court House was then constructed and is used to this day. Hear about some of the tales of the ‘old’ court house as well.


The program of tours so far is included with this newsletter or email. Bus and tour bookings are currently being taken at the Bathurst District Historical Society Museum (with booking contact details outlined at the end of this newsletter.)


I would like to acknowledge the number of volunteers involved with the staging of the Ben Hall Raid Festival and its various events. One can’t speak too highly of those donating their time to ensure the success of the weekend. The generosity of our sponsors is also acknowledged for this Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival. A list of Sponsors is listed towards the end of this newsletter.


Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District Historical Society

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To view the full newsletter click here.

To view List of Ben Raid Weekend Festival Tours click here.

Mini Jazz Festival at Abercrombie House

Flyer from: Christopher Morgan

Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival - August 2013 Newsletter

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR 

The Ben Hall Raid took place at Bathurst on Saturday 3rd October, 1863, and the Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival will mark the 150th Anniversary of the event. This is the sixth in the series of these e- newsletters to be emailed to anyone interested. If you would like earlier issues, just ask.  

The Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival Committee of the Bathurst District Historical Society has been meeting for almost fourteen months to bring plans together for this event. The next issue will contain an updated program for the three days.

We are most grateful to Sergeant Kylie Riddell, the Mounted Police Event Co-ordinator, for making the arrangements for the Mounted Police to visit Bathurst to take part in the weekend events.

A number of bushranger, colonial and historic displays will be on show on the Saturday as well as talks, numerous bus tours, a dinner and a  number of activities that will take place during the three days. The re-enactment is on schedule. The countdown is now on with about 9 weeks before visitors start arriving in Bathurst for the weekend.

If you are planning to spend some extra time whilst in Bathurst make sure you visit some of the many attractions 

Mick de Losa will have his superb display of historic orangeish, reddish and amber-yellow Meerschaum pipes. Tobacco was often stolen by the Hall gang to use them- selves or give away. We know that Mickey Burke smoked a pipe and Captain Edward Montague Battye, Commander of the Western Mounted Police and Gold Escort, smoked a meerschaum pipe with its bowl depicting a man’s arm holding a pistol though he lost it in 1861.

We hope that some families will use the weekend to peaceful Macquarie River, especially on the Sunday. Some may wish to put a family plaque on Bathurst’s Pioneer Wall.

I hope you are enjoying these monthly e-newsletters of which there are just three more to go, including this issue. I’m surprised by the number of people asking if these newsletters could be made into a book. Maybe next year. I look forward to meeting some of those who have emailed or phoned. I trust that everyone will have a terrific weekend here in our fine city.

Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District Historical Society 

To view the full newsletter click here.

Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival - July 2013 Newsletter

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Welcome to the fifth e-newsletter in the series in the lead-up to the 150th Anniversary of the Ben Hall Raid on Bathurst which took place on Saturday 3rd October, 1863. The e-newsletters seem to be getting quite a following. 

It is pleasing to have noted Ben Hall history buff, writer and collector, Mark Thurtell, attending and bringing his magnificent display of Ben Hall relics and memorabilia to exhibit in Bathurst on Saturday 28th September.

The Ben Hall committee of the Bathurst District Historical Society have been meeting weekly of late and organising an impressive number of historic displays, talks, tours, a dinner and numerous activities which will take place during the three day festival and information on these activities will appear in various issues as details are confirmed. 

Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District Historical Society 

To view the full newsletter click here.

Children’s Night Tours of Abercrombie House

Flyer from Christopher Morgan

Theo Barker Memorial Lecture on Australian film history

Extract from Bathurst Historical Society Monthly Muster reminder.

Friday 16th August - 6pm - Theo Barker Memorial Lecture to be held on the Bathurst campus of the Charles Sturt University in Building S15 in Lecture Theatre 2.23. This free lecture will be delivered by Andrew Pike, OAM, will be delivering the lecture on Australian film history, with a Bathurst and bushranging flavour.

Ben Hall Weekend Festival June 2013 Newsletter

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

It is very pleasing to see the list increase with those collectors and historians who will be displaying their collections, or parts thereof, on the Saturday afternoon 28th September in Russell Street in front of the Bathurst Court House. There will be items never displayed before and other items rarely seen outside museums. These displays will be very educational and younger children and students are encouraged to come along with their parents or grandparents.

The New South Wales Mounted Police will be in attendance over the weekend and will be taking part in the re-enactment of the Ben Hall raid on Bathurst.

This is the fourth in the series of e-newsletters with five more to go and by all indications many people are enjoying them.

Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District Historical Society 

To view the full newsletter click here.

Ben Hall Weekend Festival May 2013 Newsletter

FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Welcome to the third in the series of e-newsletters for the Ben Hall Raid Weekend Festival. It continues to be received with great interest. The raid by the Hall gang was extensively covered in the early newspapers right across Australia, including as far away as Western Australia. It even made the papers in Great Britain.

More historic displays have been promised since the last e-newsletter. The Bathurst District Historical Society Museum (below) and the Bathurst Court House will be the centre of a large range of static bushranging,

colonial and historic displays which will be exhibited on Saturday afternoon 28th September. 

The museum features on the Society’s letterhead (right).

NOTE - If you are missing any back issues of these Ben Hall Weekend Festival e-newsletters which commenced in March 2013 feel free to email amcrae@lisp.com.au and state which issues you are missing.

Have you booked for the dinner yet? as well as any accommodation you require – book early.

Alan McRae, FAIHA, President Bathurst District Historical Society

To view the full newsletter click here.