City of Canada Bay Heritage Society

City of Canada Bay Museum

City of Canada Bay Museum

Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital (Rivendell) photo

Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital (Rivendell)

Walker family at Yaralla photo

Yaralla Estate

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Upcoming Events

November speaker

 The Convict Valley The story of the second British penal…

Guest Speakers

Nothing found.

Yaralla Estate
Open Day

Sunday, 27th October, 2024

10:00am – 1:30pm

Open Days 2024

Dame Eadith Walker Estate (Yaralla)
and
Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital (Rivendell)

use the Open Day tours tab below to sign
up and be notified of the dates

Use of Yaralla grounds

To enquire about the use of the Yaralla grounds for commercial or any other use, please contact:

The Manager
Sydney Local Health District

  • To foster interest in and inform the community of the heritage – historically and culturally – of the City of Canada Bay LGA.
  • To promote the preservation, restoration, conservation, maintenance and use of all places, buildings, monuments, etc., of historic, architectural, cultural and environmental significance within the area.
  • To acquire and preserve for the Society, books, manuscripts, newspapers, photographs, oral histories, etc., as may be considered to have a bearing on the history of the area.
  • To establish and conduct a social history museum.
  • To foster interchange of information among members of the Society and any other interested people, by talks, readings, discussions, exhibitions of heritage, historical and archival material, and excursions.
  • To affiliate and co-operate with other Societies and Institutions having objects similar to those of this Society
Map-of-Suburbs-of-CCB drawing
Map of Suburbs City of Canada Bay

Open Days are subject to Covid restrictions and may be cancelled.

Tours of the Yaralla Estate (Dame Eadith Walker Convalescent Hospital) are usually held on the last Sunday in April and October.

Tours of “Rivendell” (The Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital) are usually held on the last Sunday in July.

Link to more information on Open Days at Yaralla and Rivendell

If you would like to add your name to our waiting list to be notified of the next tour of these estates, complete the form (right).

You will be notified approximately two months prior to the date of the tour.

City of Canada Bay Heritage Society Inc.

Our monthly newsletter “Nurungi”, keeps members and others advised of coming speakers or activities as well as news of the society and it contains interesting articles and snippets of historical information that have been added to the web site during the month.

Complete the “Subscribe to Nurungi” form (right) to be added to the mailing list and receive the latest “Nurungi” monthly newsletter sent at the end of each month).

City of Canada Bay Heritage Society Inc.

What’s new at the Museum

ENDEAVOUR DISPLAY The Builder This model of HMS Endeavour was built and assembled by Francisco Antonio Coelho a very proud Australian citizen who passed away on 7th September 2023 at the age of 99. Francisco was a master carpenter who learned his basic carpentry skills at Sao Pedro de Solis, a small village in the…

The street where you live

Henley Marine Drive This street is renowned as one of the most picturesque in Canada Bay, as it skirts the waters of Iron Cove Creek and Iron Cove, from Five Dock to Drummoyne. Henley Marine Drive was named after Sir Thomas Henley, born on the 4th of February 1860 at Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, England….

November speaker

 The Convict Valley The story of the second British penal settlement in Australia, where a notoriously brutal convict regime became the template for penal stations in other states. Mark will explore the relations between the white settler and the local Aboriginal landholders and uncover a long-forgotten massacre. Saturday 2nd November 2pm

From the Collection – Fireside tools

In ancient times, fireplace tools were crucial for maintaining the fire’s size and heat. They were used to arrange the logs, stir the embers, and control the flames. People relied on these tools for warmth, cooking and light, making them essential in households. Fire tools used to maintain a fire have changed little since the…

Peep at the Past

How He Lost the Record

Boat Hits Fish, 90 m.p.h. Mr. Ernie Nunn of Guildford hit a big fish at 90 m.p.h. while trying to break an Australian speed boat record on the Parramatta River at Cabarita on Saturday, 29th September.  He prevented the boat from capsizing – but lost the record. When the boat returned to its base a…

Lyons Terrace, Drummoyna

The Street Where You Live

LYONS ROAD, DRUMMOYNE Most of us would be familiar with Lyons Road, which runs from Drummoyne, through Russell Lea, Wareemba and finishes in Five Dock West. Lyons Road is named after Samuel Lyons, who purchased the Five Dock Farm estate in 1836. He subdivided the Estate for housing and built the first roads in the…

Watching from Riverbank

Rowing in Canada Bay & the Olympians

The history of rowing in Australia began in the early 19th century. In 1818 the crews of three convict ships, the Batavia, the Guildford, the Minerva plus a crew put together by Captain John Piper raced from Bradleys s Head to Sydney Cove. They raced the 3.5 miles in 15 minutes1, 2.  An interesting side…

The Squatters Grab

From Our Library

THE SQUATTERS GRAB: where it all went wrongBy Wal WalkerSelf-published by William Wallace Walker, 2023. Wal Walker was born in Sydney. He is an economist and has lived ten years in Queensland and several years in the Northern Territory.  Wal has written a detailed book on the dispossession of land and subsequent loss of culture…

Cabarita Power Boat Club

We know that there was a Cabarita Power Boat Club that raced on the Parramatta River because of a couple of photographs we have been able to source, but we have nothing of the club’s history. Is there anyone out there who can help fill this gap in our records we would like to hear…

From Our Collection

Child-size Chair Many years ago this small child-size chair was donated to our former museum situated at the Thomas Walker Convalescent Hospital. It has the words “My Birthday” engraved on the backrest. The only other information we were given was that it was “in memory of Olwyn Jean Gaward”. We could possibly make an educated…

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