After initially taking time to breed sheep suited to the climate, the colony’s graziers had, by the 1840s, successfully crossbred merinos that met the British Empire’s relentless demand for high-quality wool. By the late 1800s, flock sizes had increased dramatically, and shearing sheds were hives of activity. Graziers introduced mechanised shearing to enhance productivity and […]
In the late 19th and early 20th century, as the availability of workers for labour-intensive farming increased, the planting of wheat and other grains became more prevalent. When the season for reaping came around, agricultural workers packed wheat, maize (corn), and other grains into jute sacks, usually imported from India. Handling the bags, which weighed […]
Flower shows have their roots in 17th and 18th century Britain, where they began as competitions among florists. Back then, florists weren’t the artful flower arrangers we know today; they were avid gardeners experimenting with breeding new flower varieties. A handful of plants (the readily mutating Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) included) became known as ‘florist’s […]
The crowning of cotton as king in the Namoi is widely credited to two Americans who arrived in the 1960s, but cotton was first discussed as a crop with potential forty years earlier. In 1921, the Imperial Cotton Committee investigated the land around the Namoi River. When nothing resulted following the visit, there were calls […]
Early settlers on Kamilaroi Country were probably unprepared for the might of the Coolibah tree. One of the hardest woods in the world, felling a Coolibah was the fastest way to blunt an axe. Undeterred, the resolute settlers pushed onwards and outwards, conquering the flood plains and transforming the fields into pasture. A member of […]
Milton Price was born in Nyngan, NSW, in January 1921. Doctors didn’t expect Milton or his two brothers, George and Stanley—all underweight and two months premature— to see the next day dawn. Miraculously, the triplets survived and Milton had the opportunity to thrive. Milton spent his formative years on the family’s property at Trangie; riding […]
Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Hickey (1887–1965) was bound to become a well-known figure in Iluka, a small coastal village in northern New South Wales. Her parents, John and Eliza Hickey, arrived in the early 1880s and established a post office, weaving themselves into the fabric of the seaside community. For their efforts, the Hickey’s post office would […]
When you picture a barbershop or hairdresser’s today, what comes to mind? The hum of hairdryers, the sizzle of curling irons, the buzz of electric clippers? Now, imagine stepping back eighty years to the 1940s. Electronic appliances like these were nowhere to be found. So, what did a hairdresser’s shop look and sound like then? […]
A musical instrument? Some sort of animal horn? Not quite! You might be surprised to learn that this is actually a historical hearing aid. Known as an ‘ear trumpet,’ these devices were used to help people hear better. By holding the narrow end close to the ear, the wider end would collect and funnel sound […]
With the smell of buttery popcorn in the air and cold Passiona fizzing in eager hands, everyone got settled into their seats. Rows of sturdy, wooden folding chairs filled the Iluka Memorial Hall as Iluka’s own picture show man, Frank Clancy, prepared to project the latest film on the big screen. Born in 1905, Frank […]
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.