Local Lads

I thought I had blogged about this local resource from Hornsby previously but I can't find such a post. I apologise if I have previously written about this local resource but it is a valuable one that is worth promoting.

The people at Hornsby Library took the decision to publish biographical infomation about the people on the war memorials in the shire in an oline format. I applaud this decision because, unlike a printed work, an online publication is dynamic. As new information about the boys becomes available the site will be updated to reflect this.

http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/resources-and-research/local-history/war-memorials

Congratulations to Hornsby Library Local History team for this super resource, You can see it at http://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/library/resources-and-research/local-history/war-memorials

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while playing in Trove today, one of the bridges in the illustration is still there today while the longer one has been replaced by a modern concrete structure.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

Scottish seminar in my town

I'm rather excited that a major Australian genealogy event is coming to my town on February 9, 2013..

Paul Milner

Unlock the Past have announced that they will be hosting a Scottish seminar at Hornsby RSL featuring Paul Milner a professional genealogist, lecturer and author, specialising in British Isles research for over 30 years. Paul was born and raised in northern England and settled in the US in 1975. He is an internationally recognised speaker on British Isles research and migration.a professional genealogist, lecturer and author, specialising in British Isles research for over 30 years. Paul was born and raised in northern England and settled in the US in 1975. He is an internationally recognised speaker on British Isles research and migration.

As I suggested Hornsby as a venue to the organisers I hope the event is a success. I hope to meet  many of my genimates at the event. 

Hornsby's railway station is only a couple of hundred metres walk from the Hornsby RSL and there is parking available at the Club and the Westfield shopping centre that is over the other side of the railway line. 

Being a rail hub Hornsby is convenient for people from all over Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter. Outside peak hour it is a pleasant drive from the Northern Beaches area and for those from Parramatta the CDC Metrobus runs regular services from Parramatta via Castle Hill to Hornsby (please check schedules). 

With a great international lecturer and such a convenient venue I expect that Hornsby RSL will be overrun on 9 February by hordes of genealogists. 

I'll see you there.

Full details and registration : http://www.unlockthepast.com.au/events/british-isles-genealogy-seminar-tour-paul-milner/sydney

A new beginning for Wollarobba

I drove past Wollarobba, a very handsome early 20th century home, every day for about eight years of my working life and didn't spot it nestled among the trees in Willow Park, Hornsby.

This clipping from  "The Shaping of Hornsby Shire" relates the early history of Willow Park and Wollarobba.

Restored stained glass windows that
had been hidden by black paint

The old tenants have moved on and Wollarobba has been refurbished by Hornsby Council at a cost of $400,000. It was officially opened as The Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre last Sunday, October 9th. 

"Artists, art enthusiasts, students and art educators now have a new hub in central Hornsby with facilities and activities including community art studios, a purpose-built printmaking room, art classes, an artists’ lounge and a professional gallery space. The Hornsby Art Society also has an office in the centre." (Source)


I attended the Official Opening and was most impressed by the facilities, the sympathetic and economical restoration job and the beautiful building. I had my camera with me to record some happy snaps of Mr Geniaus (Robert Ball) who was the MC at the ceremony and who assisted the Mayor, Nick Berman, in the cutting of the ribbon. It was Robert's last official public duty after 19 years as the General Manager of Hornsby Council.

Welcome to Wollarobba

MC Robert Ball

Ribbon cutting - Nick Berman, Robert Ball

Wollarobba Foyer

Artist talk in the Artists' Lounge

Refurbished verandah at Wollarobba

Wollarobba Cupcakes

Local caricaturist, Mick Joffe, captures Robert Ball

Hornsby Library Online Photograph Collection

I was recently complaining to a friend that my local library at Hornsby did not have a collection of photographs. Aghast my friend stated that the library certainly had such a collection so I did some searching and found, in the library catalogue, an option to search the Local Studies Photo Collection.

Information on the library site stated "Hundreds of local historical photographs can be viewed directly from the Library catalogue. Enter your search words and select the format "Photographs" in the Optional Search Filter."

Although the collection appears to be small I was delighted to find, by searching for our surname, two photographs of a family member; a placename search for Arcadia delivered one photograph of a rural subdivision that showed family lands in 1901.

Thanks Hornsby Library for providing this valuable local resource that I hope will grow over time