Michael Thomson, a 1950 ‘baby boomer’ was born in Newtown. Six years of art history lessons at Homebush Boy’s High nurtured his passion for architecture. He undertook a Diploma of Art (Education) at the National Art School and Alexander Mackie Teachers College, graduating in 1971. He then taught at various high schools in New South…
The Parramatta River is significant in the City of Canada Bay. From Drummoyne to Rhodes the LGA is bounded by this significant waterway. John Johnson will explore the Parramatta River as a barrier, a transport link, a boundary, and an object of desire. Discover the river’s rich history of tool-making and food gathering, the early…
In 1831, the ship the Stirling Castle set sail from Scotland carrying Henry Carmichael and fifty skilled artisans bound for the New South Wales Colony. Their journey, driven by Enlightenment ideals and a hunger for opportunity, was the beginning of something much much bigger. Two years later, the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts was founded;…
In years gone by when families were bigger and we didn’t have modern appliances to make domestic work easier washing and ironing was an arduous task. Cloth in Europe was at first “smoothed” with stones, glass or wood. In the 14th and 15th centuries blacksmiths started forging simple Flat irons. The household chore of “ironing”…
The Museum has a collection of irons including flat irons, fuel irons and travel irons that were kindly donated by one of the members, Patricio Parrague. These irons give us some insight into the arduous task of ironing that today is made easier with steam irons and presses and more importantly fabric that doesn’t require…
This book is a vivid and engaging recollection of George’s first 15 years of life growing up in Concord West and Mortlake. A master storyteller, George writes about his life from his birth in 1930 until he leaves school in 1945, against the background of the consequences of the Great Depression and World War Two….
This is Stewart Robert Melville’s reflection on his life in Concord. The photos and story were given to the City of Canada Bay Heritage Society by his family, and it forms an important part of the history of Canada Bay. It is in his own words with only a few editorial changes to assist with…
Trish Skehan is a longstanding member of the City of Canada Bay Heritage Society and has a keen interest in history. She has authored a number of books including the “Walkers of Yaralla” and “Frontline of the Pandemic: Australia 1919” that are for sale at the Museum. Trish’s latest book “The Secrets of ANZAC Ridge:…
A display of Colonial Robert Watkin Savage’s army combat ensemble.
Concord Man chosen to command AIF Ski School Bob Savage (born 30 September 1906) had a lifelong interest in the military, starting when he joined the militia at the age of 14. He was commissioned into the ‘Militia Signals Corps’ (Royal Australian Corps of Signals), in 1927 and was promoted to Captain in 1933. He…
We have no definite answer to this question. However, we do know that Acting Governor, Francis Grose, awarded land grants in the area to both non-commissioned soldiers and the free settlers in 1793. The colony’s Judge Advocate, Judge Advocate David Collins, in his account of the grants, recorded at the time that the settlers, “occupied…
Correys Ave runs between Major’s Bay Road and Concord Road. It is named in honour of Thomas Obed Correy Junior in recognition of his contribution to the community over many years. He served on Concord Council and, in fact, was an Alderman on the first Concord Council, set up in 1983. He was also mayor…
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