Historic Governor Macquarie Event - 26th April 2015

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Hartley Walks and Exhibition

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’ - book launch

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.

Funding for Hartley site

THE success of the inaugural Back to Hartley event in October was a sure sign the historic village’s revitalisation plans are moving along well.

With the $5100 raised from the celebration handed over to the designated three charities at the site on last week, Member for Calare Paul Toole kept the momentum going with an announcement of $452,000 of funding from the State Government to be spent on the second stage of plans.

While the Cancer Support Group Inc Lithgow and District, Lithgow Prostate Cancer Support Group and Lithgow Community Projects Incorporated were happy with their cheques, the Hartley Historic Site received a very healthy boost.

With the money, revitalisation works are planned to be done by the end of May next year.

Ref: Lithgow Mercury 28/12/12

Hartley Historic Site celebrates a Double Anniversary.

Courthouse

Back to Hartley – 28 October 2012.
A full day of fun and festivities for the whole family
 

Hartley Historic Site located at the base of Mt Victoria and just off the Great Western Highway is undergoing a major revitalisation program over the next several years to enhance the sites tourism potential and to provide enhanced facilities and services to the broader community. Total cost of the revitalisation is approximately $3.2 million dollars funded by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
 

Steve Ring, Manager of Hartley Historic Site said this year we are very excited to be commencing what we anticipate will be an annual event called “Back to Hartley” which will be in partnership with the local community to raise awareness of the site and its history, to raise funds for three local charities and to promote the wonders of the Central West.
 
This year the targeted charities will be: 

Cancer Support Croup Inc. – Lithgow and Districts,
 
Lithgow Prostrate Cancer Support Group, and
 
Lithgow Community Projects Incorporated
 
This year is particularly important for us as the event will also mark the 40th anniversary of the gazettal of Hartley Historic Site and the 175th anniversary of the construction of the Mortimer Lewis designed Courthouse.
 
Event goers will be encouraged to walk around Hartley Historic Site and experience the beauty and vibrancy of the historic village, and celebrate everything that’s wonderful about the Local district and Central West. “Back to Hartley” will provide an outstanding opportunity for locals and visitors alike to access the large number of cultural and community groups which operate in the region, as well as finding out how to become more involved in community life.
 
The Event will showcase a variety of arts, crafts and produce from our region, plants, entertainment, vintage cars and bikes, live music, a selection of food and drinks including Devonshire teas and a sausage sizzle showcasing local “Shogun waygu - meat”, Come and meet some of our native animals up close at the Taronga zoo mobile, Australian Museum – park in a box, sheep shearing, wood chopping or even try your hand at Archery, self guided tours of the Courthouse and much more.
 
We would like to acknowledge and show our appreciation to all our sponsors for helping to make this event happen and therefore benefit our targeted charities. (A full list of sponsors will be displayed on site at the event, as our list continues to grow as this goes to print)

“Back to Hartley” will be at Hartley Historic Site, Old Bathurst Road, Hartley NSW 2790 on Sunday 28th October 2012 from 9am – 3 pm.
For further information please contact Hartley Historic Site, NPWS on PH. 6355 2117 FAX: 6355 2118

Engraving On The Walls Of Hartley Courthouse

Source: The zine by people interested in museums, galleries and collections  for people interested in museums, galleries and collections.