Trove Tuesday - On the Street Where I Live

I live on the main road that goes connects our village of Galston to the Sydney suburb of Hornsby. In 1895 Galston Road travelled through bush that was described as presenting "glimpses that remind one strongly of the road which lies between Lake Taupo and Napier in New Zealand".  I travel this picturesque route through what is now the Berowra Valley National Park when I need to access more services or catch a train to the city from Hornsby.

I found this description and drawings while playing in Trove today, one of the bridges in the illustration is still there today while the longer one has been replaced by a modern concrete structure.

Mr GeniAus' Great-great-grandmother, Margaret Gillespie (nee Munro), was an orchardist in the district in the 1890s. I wonder if she sent her fruit to the railway at Hornsby or Parramatta?

1895 'The Galston-Hornsby Road.', Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907), 2 March, p. 27, viewed 26 August, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article71226408

I am privileged to live in such a beautiful area which a local bumper sticker describes as "The Place where Country meets City".

The bridge today

Moores and Munros

It's always exciting to hear from distant cousins.

This week through my family site I have made two exciting new connections. One for Mr GeniAus' Munro line from Paisley, Renfrewshire in Scotland and one for my Moores (Tierney from Dungog line).

What is fantastic is that my new Moore contact lives just a few kilometers from me and we are making arrangements to catch up in the near future. I can't wait to have this certificate and photo sharing session.

Now I must take a look at my data and make sure that it is all squeaky clean before I share too much with these new contacts.

GeniAus' Family Site

Trove Tuesday - Flowers, Fruit and Gardens

As I was out driving today I saw notices for the local garden society open gardens weekend. I live in Galston, a semi-rural area on the edge of Sydney and many of the 5 acre properties here have magnificent gardens that are opened once a year for charity. Sadly my poor garden would never make the cut.

These properties were once orchards that provided citrus and stone fruit to Sydney and surrounds. Mr Geniaus ancestor, Margaret Gillespie (nee Munro), one one of the early orchardists in the area in the late 19th century.

Because I had gardens on my mind I wondered what I could find on Trove about Galston and gardens. I dug up this article from 1898 and, when I read through it, found mention of Miss Gillespie, one of Margaret's two daughters, who had won a prize at the show for best passionfruit.

It is a coincidence that we now live in the area and also have a passionfruit vine.

1898 'Galston Wild Flower Show.', The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), 8 October, p. 12, viewed 7 October, 2013, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article85839346

Scottish Heritage Week 24th June- 4th July

The Scottish Australian Heritage Council is hosting a range of events for Scottish Heritage Week in Australia.

During this week I am thinking of our Scottish ancestors who settled in Australia : James Duncan from Aberdeen, Archibald Gillespie from Kilchoman, William Purves Gowans from Hawick and Margaret Munro from Paisley.

 Photo: William Purves Gowans