It is not clear how James Wilson (1834-1901) had obtained his ‘thorough knowledge of surveying.’ His family connections, his schooling, nor his early work in the English postal service can account for this skill which became so valuable to his adopted community in Broughton Creek (now known as Berry, New South Wales). Wilson was born […]
In the 1890s, it was fashionable for well-to-do gentlemen to experiment with photography. It took someone with both time and money to be a successful amateur photographer and James C. Wilson (1834-1901) certainly fit the bill. Born in Ireland, Wilson emigrated to Australia in 1857 and quickly rose to prominence as the first mayor and […]
As a young boy, William George Cochrane (b. 1913) moved to Berry with his family and in the 1930s he began work at the local Horlick’s Factory, famous for producing malted milk. In 1937, George married Reta Gall (1918-1996) and they opened their grocery store in Bomaderry while continuing to live in Berry, at Meroo […]
Thomas Satchell Knight (1873-1944) from Broughton Village, in the Berry district, was one of a hundred NSW Lancers who travelled to Aldershot, England in February 1899 wearing this very uniform. As the contingent prepared to return home following six months of training, war broke out in South Africa. Volunteers were sought to disembark at Cape […]
On Saturday the 15th of April 1905, the Sawers Shield finally found its home in Moonbi after six years of stiff competition. A yearly competition between the affiliated clubs of the Tamworth Cricket Union, it would only be awarded to the team that could win twice in succession or three times in all. Moonbi accomplished […]
Published by Angus and Robertson, this ‘Australian Copy Book’ was the fifth in a series of eleven, all aimed at training the hands of young Australians in good penmanship. The ability to write quickly and neatly in a ‘fair hand’ was a valuable asset in the labour market for office and bank workers. Phrases like […]
Ernest McIlveen (1898-1963) might have been around nine years of age when he demonstrated his prowess with scissors in his standard issue drawing book. Using coloured paper, Ernest diligently made thirteen kaleidoscopic designs, recording six of them in hand drawn graphs in the top left corner with pencil and ruler. He may have made them […]
Migration is the result of push and pull factors and the German settlers who eventually ended their journey in the district of Jindera in the 1860s experienced both. Schism in the Lutheran church and economic factors drove the German settlers from Prussia to the colony of South Australia and the attractiveness of the NSW Robertson […]
This small weatherboard Post Office building was originally located north of Jindera at Huon and serviced the area between Jindera and Burrumbuttock. Huon Post Office had a very short life but one which was essential for the local residents. It was established as a non-official receiving office in 1895, then upgraded to a non-official Allowance […]
The laptop of its day, this portable writing desk allowed the writer freedom to move around. Perfect for use next to an open fire or beneath a shady tree in one’s garden, its lower compartments tidily held ink, paper and pens. This late nineteenth-century example belonged to Alexander (1837-1915) and Ann Hanlon (nee Boyd) (1839-1929). […]
Museums & Galleries of NSW acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands that comprise the state now known as NSW.
We pay respect to them as First Nations people with a continuing connection to land, place, waters and community
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are advised that this site contains stories, images, voices, and video of people who have died.
Some material may contain terms that reflect common usage of the period in which it was written or recorded but may not be considered appropriate today. Such terms do not reflect the views of Museums and Galleries of NSW and are provided only to reflect historical context.