The first ice in Sydney arrived in 1839. It had been harvested from North American lakes and carried through the tropics in a heavily insulated sailing ship, the Tartar. The ice trade was conducted by American and Norwegian entrepreneurs. Merchants in Australia, India, the West Indies and elsewhere built ice houses, where this precious commodity…
The Coronation of King Charles III The artist who painted the invitation for King Charles III’s coronation revealed that he was sworn to secrecy as he made the design. Andrew Jamieson, 61, didn’t even tell his family that he had been chosen to create the artwork for the reported 2,000 guests who would arrive at Westminster Abbey on 6 May….
Kings & Queens of England Between the years of 1979 and 1981 Franklin Mint issued 43 pewter miniatures, as individual pieces, of all the Kings and Queens of England, from Edward the Confessor to Queen Elizabeth II. Britain’s Society of Portrait Sculptors commissioned the miniatures and the artist chosen to create the figures in this…
Private Leslie Joseph Irving (Service No.338) The names of more than two thousand men and women who served in the Great War are listed on various memorials in Concord, Drummoyne, Five Dock and surrounding districts. Behind each name is a story. This is the story of Private Leslie Joseph Irving, who like so many young…
On 10th April 1912, the Titanic set off from Southampton on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Already a month behind schedule, the luxurious ocean liner bound for New York was due to complete the crossing in just six days. However, tragedy struck four days into the journey. The sinking of the Titanic is still one of the biggest…
We’d like to thank one of our special members, Patricio Parague, who has just scanned our large collection of over 700 postcards. These range from WWI, through Walker/Yaralla, local areas, Christmas cards and much more. Patricio has a great interest in postcards, having been a collector for more than 15 years. If you’d like to…
First Mayor of Five Dock Mr. Arthur William Sutton, the first Mayor of Five Dock, was born in Manchester in 1839 and arrived in New South Wales in 1842. He may, therefore, be considered as almost a native of the colony. He was the son of the late John Sutton, builder and contractor, who for…
Concord’s Infectious Diseases Register Councils were required to keep a register of infectious diseases under the Public Health Act, 1896 (Act No. 38, 60 Vic). (This book covers the period January 1898 to March 1970.) As the local authority, Concord Council was notified of cases within the municipality by attending medical practitioners. Upon advice, the…
William Francis King – his story. In the early days of the colony, pies were hawked around the streets of Sydney. They were sold from portable charcoal braziers to the call of ‘Hot pies! Hot pies ….pork, beef, steak & kidney!’ One of those early pie sellers has entered the realms of Australian folklore. He was…
Kenneth Moroney, a 42-year police veteran, came to the job with a “grassroots” outlook on policing. In 1965 he started his police life at the Academy in Bourke St, Redfern. He was appointed a Probationary Constable on 16 August, 1965, and was first stationed at Liverpool. In 1973 he undertook a variety of general duty…
