Category History Blog

Ben and I went to the launch of the documentary by Sandra Pires about the Dalfram Dispute of 1938, which is called Pig Iron Bob after the resident Minister for Trade & Attorney General in the Liberal government, Bob Menzies. He had signed a contract with Japan to supply them with pig iron for making bullets for use in the Second World War. The ship carrying the pig iron was called the Dalfram.

Suzanne Roach, daughter of Ted Roach with Michael Cormick who plays her father in the film.
Photo: Courtesy Illawarra Mercury, Jan 22 2014

In Port Kembla, BHP, the producers of the pig iron, was being challenged by Union Leader Ted Roach because of the system of hiring only the strongest men and working them to death...

Stories from Barnardo Farm Training School at Mowbray Park 1929-1959

The exhibition was initiated by ex residents of the Barnardo home in 2008 after a previous exhibition about teachers in Wollondilly, Teachers Tales featured a story from Barnardos. A series of workshops ensued with people who had been at the home, neighbours and friends and Ann Howard who had produced two seminal works on this home previously. Therefore the exhibition and book are not intended as a history of Mowbray Park home but as a record of those locals who wanted to be involved. The project was widely circulated at Barnardo reunions and locally and a grant was received to produce a re-enactment of some of the stories by Sarah’s Theatre for Young People...

WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR KOALAS?

The NPWS are considering creating a Koala Park to preserve what is left of our koalas. Local councils are monitoring their locations to monitor their movements and try to preserve them. But how much do we know about the presence of koalas in Wollondilly?

This is some documented material I have recently discovered from the archives of the Wollondilly Heritage Centre and online.

1798: The first mention of the koala was by John Price, Manuscript journal. Mention only of an animal seen near Bargo / Mittagong, south-west of Sydney.

1802: Colo or monkey. Ensign Francis Barrallier, 9 November. Manuscript journal. Mention only of parts of a dead animal seen and collected south-west of Sydney, in the area of the Nepean River, Michael Organ BSc DipArchAdmin Archivist, Un...

After the death of John Benton Wild, his widow Emmeline Ann Susannah of Vanderville released 100 acres to establish a village in 1858.

John Benton Wilde 1803-1837
Emmeline Ann Susannah Wild nee Gaudry

Although her intention had been to call it “The Private Village of Vanderville”, it became known as The Oaks when the Post Office opened on January 1st 1858. This name was given by botanist George Caley when he visited the area in 1804 and named after the rose she oak trees which grew in profusion. (casuarina torulosa)

The remaining estate was sold at public auction in 1979 by John Henry Wild 2nd, son of John Benton.

The first Postmaster was Edward Reilly until 1885 and he was succeeded by widow Julietta Jones who ran the post office from her store on John Street...

Historical Society president Trish Hill attended the replacement of Bud Singh’s plaque at Camden Hospital.

Read about Bud Singh.