Celebrating the Bicentenary of the Completion of Cox’s Road - talk by Grace Karskens

 

Moment in Time II by the Western Crossings Trust

Information Release

     

The Western Crossings Trust celebrates the Bicentenary of the Building of Cox’s Bathurst Road

 The Hartley District Progress Association as Trustee of the Western Crossings Trust, today announced its intention to mark the bicentenary of the building of Cox’s Road through the launch of  it’s exhibition ‘A Moment in Time II’ and by conducting an enhanced series of guided walks on Cox’s 1814 road. Some three thousand visitors attended the Trust’s 2013 projects , many,  who were  disappointed by the short run of the  2013 program, have already pre booked for this year’s events.
 

A Moment in Time II will be open at the Historic Hartley Schoolhouse in Hartley, 10am-4pm on weekends from Saturday 13th September to Sunday 12th October and by appointment, for large groups, on any week day in that period.
 

Cox’s Road walks will be conducted on Sunday 14th September, Sunday 21st September, Thursday 2nd October, Saturday 4th October Sunday 12th October; with bookings accepted for large parties on any day between 14th September and 12th October.
 

The exhibition  ‘A Moment in Time’, curated by professional historian Joan Kent, captures what existed before and what came shortly after the 1813 crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans. It begins with a consideration of the rich and ancient geology of the landscape into which the explorers intruded, before exploring many aspects of the crossing story from the indigenous peoples whose country was being traversed, through the explorers, the road building and early settlement west of the Blue Mountains. ‘A Moment in Time II’ builds on the original exhibition drawing widely on  contemporary  Cox’s Road research to present a comprehensive vision of ‘the road’.

Photo:  Her Excellency  Professor Marie Bashir Governor of New South Wales with her Aide examining an exhibit after opening  ‘A Moment in Time’s’ 2013 season.

The Cox’s Road walks, run in conjunction with the exhibition, represent a unique opportunity to walk some of the country traversed by Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth 1813, Evans 1813-14, Cox 1814-15 and Macquarie 1815. Led by informed local guides, these walks offer a great opportunity to learn about the early traverses, the rich colonial heritage of the Hartley Valley and the array of heritage assets the valley harbours.

 Photo: A guide briefing Cox’s Road walkers before  the group commences the descent into Palmers Gully and the transit across the Hartley Valley to Glenroy the site of Macquarie’s 1815 camp

Bookings for walks and arranged openings of the exhibition will be taken from 1st August. Early enquiries and pre bookings can be addressed to Barbara Johnson on 0458 552 017.
 

For  further information contact
Tom Kent President Hartley District Progress Association
Phone (02) 6355 2393
Email: joantomkent@bigpond.com
or
Or Ramsay Moodie Treasurer Hartley District Progress Association
Phone (02) 6355 2259, 02 9983 0134
Email: ramsay.moodie@bigpond.com
 

The Western Crossings Trust  ABN 15 619 040 503  is a charitable entity that was established by the Hartley District Progress Association as a vehicle to promote consideration and reflection on the consequences, of the crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans in 1813 and to promote the heritage values of the Hartley Valley. Donations to the trust are tax deductible.

A Moment in Time

Dr Bashir escorts Heidi Wood and Faith Shean to the rocks where the Victorious Crossing Daisy is to be planted.

                  Following its highly successful official opening by the NSW Governor, Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir, on 1st June at the Hartley Historic School, is ‘A Moment in Time,’ an exhibition that examines the celebrated crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans in 1813, and the consequences of that crossing.

Duncan Wass, Chairman of the Hartley District Progress Association 1813 Sub Committee said “ in settling on the name ‘A Moment in Time’, we have tried to capture the essence of the crossing. It was but a moment in time and this is an exhibition that considers what existed before and what came after”.

Curated by retired professional historian Joan Kent, now a resident in the Hartley Valley, ‘A Moment in Time’ examines much more than the crossing by Blaxland, Lawson and Wentworth and their party. It begins with a consideration of the rich and ancient geology of the landscape into which the explorers intruded, where ancient sedimentary rocks lie juxtaposed with igneous granite.

In fact, the opening display in the exhibition is a most remarkable large mollusc or Brachiopod fossil, that has never before been on public display. Discovered in the Hartley Valley, it nestles in, but is removable intact, from the block of Late Devonian grit stone in which it was discovered.

Whilst geology is the opening theme, the exhibition explores many aspects of the crossing story, from the Indigenous Peoples whose country was being traversed, through the explorers and the development of the Bathurst Road, to the first European visitors to Bathurst. It closes with a consideration of the life and achievements of some of the earliest settlers in the Hartley Valley, John and Jane Grant and Pierce and Mary Collitt who settled here in the early 1820s.

“This significant exhibition is a comprehensive, sophisticated, accessible and absorbing presentation of that exciting yet poignant moment when the Europeans vigorously fanned out westwards – it’s a must-see amongst Crossings commemorations” commented noted museums adviser Lynn Collins who has acted as an occasional adviser to the project.

The exhibition will be open to the public on weekends from 18th May to the 16th June, from 10am ‘til 3pm, and by appointment midweek. Party viewing can be arranged at any time by contacting Barbara Johnson on 6355 2017. The exhibition will be held at the historic Hartley School and Hall located just off the Great Western Highway in Mid Hartley Road, Hartley.

‘A Moment in Time’ is just one element of the commemoration activities the Hartley community is undertaking, all promoted under the ‘Hartley Rocks’ logo. Other activities include guided walks and rides along the line of Cox’s 1814 road through the Hartley Valley, and a project to date sign many of the heritage assets located within the valley.

The Cox’s Road walk represents a unique opportunity to walk some of the country traversed by Cox and the explorers, much of which is located on privately owned land and is not normally accessible to the public.

For more photos click here.

For newspaper article click here.

HERITAGE, Newsletter of BMACHO - Sept-Oct 2012

This article has previously appeared in HERITAGE, the newsletter of the Blue Mountains Association of Cultural Heritage Organisations Inc.

Click here to view/download full newsletter.

Bathurst District Historical Society Events + Cox Road Bus Tour

Bathurst District Historical Society

21st February (Thursday) - Muster - 7.30pm in the Museum – Jen Thompson is researching the Ribbon Gang and will tell us about her latest information.

3rd March – Sunday - Cox’s Road Bus Tour – leave 8.30am sharp from McDonald’s rear carpark for a history packed tour of one of our nation’s great achievements – Cox’s Road. Just over 101 miles was constructed from 18th July, 1814, to 14th January. 1815 – the first road to Bathurst. 

We will be exploring from Phil’s Falls into Bathurst so see where Cox’s party crossed several streams and rivers, the countryside the men traversed, what had to be cleared, what the men had to do, how they were fed and lots more! Hear from Cox’s personal diary of the various happenings along the route. Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided. 

Also hear about Colonial Surveyor George William Evans who came through to Bathurst and whose report Macquarie acted upon to dispatch William Cox to build the road. Evan’s party discovered the Fish River area and further west near the junction of the now named Fish and Campbell Rivers. He described the O'Connell Plains and the Macquarie Plains and on 9th December, 1813, he reached the site of where Governor Macquarie would officially name Bathurst. Home between 5 and 5.30pm. 

Cost: $50 members or $55 for non-members – remember morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea provided. 
BOOK & PAY EARLY – RING the Society on 63324755 (Monday to Sunday between 11am to 2pm) or call personally or email info@bathursthistory.org.au 

Alan McRae, President 63315404 H

Bathurst District Historical Society - Newsletter Jan/Mar 2013

HISTORICAL SOCIETY CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL 2012 YEAR

Welcome to another year! 2013 will be a special year not only for the members of the Bathurst District Historical Society but all the residents of Bathurst.

The members of the Bathurst District Historical Society, along with a number of invited guests, gathered at the Society’s Museum in Russell Street to join in the annual Christmas Party and get together. The function was held in the court yard with an excellent attendance. Rex Morgan, our Society’s patron, and his wife Mary joined us. Beryl Rutherford, Life Member of the Bathurst District Historical Society was called upon to cut the Christmas cake this year.

We have a very exciting 2013 program as there is something extra planned for almost every month. The first bus trip will be along Cox’s Road visiting the various sections of importance from Phil’s Falls back into Bathurst. This will take place on Sunday 3rd March so book now. Other trips are in the planning stages.

Old Government Cottage at 16 Stanley Street continues to draw visitors each Sunday from 12 noon to 4pm since it was reopened in June last year. The serving of Devonshire Teas is proving popular. Major plans are afoot for the complete renovation of the OGC garden, with Spencer Harvey and the Bathurst Garden Club a driving force in the planning and execution. The plans look impressive and we are really looking forward to a wonderful collaborative result.

Our Twilight Picnic from 5pm on Sunday 3rd February at Old Government Cottage is going to be a great evening. The garden is looking respectable making it the perfect venue for the event. Details further on in this newsletter.

Thanks again to our great team of enthusiastic volunteers and without them we could not open the Museum in Russell Street and Old Government Cottage at 16 Stanley Street. The Society is always on the lookout for more volunteers to expand operations.

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