Photos from Wellington Historical Society's post

What were we WEARING in 1817? Here are 1817 plates of HIGH FASHION for women - perhaps useful if you are planning to consider a bit of COSPLAY for WELLINGTON's BICENTENARY! We'll expand this plate collection over the next few months so that you have plenty of INSPIRATION! When John Oxley discovered the Wellington Valley in 1817, only women of means could afford to wear gowns such as these. Ordinary women generally wore much simpler and practical gowns. All garments were completely hand sewn (the invention of the sewing machine was still a couple of decades away - have you checked out the Oxley Museum's collection of 19th century sewing machines?). Superior sewing skills crossed all demographics, which enabled those less flush with cash but still with great skill to achieve quality in their handwork. Few European women were in the Wellington Valley in the 1810s and 20s; the population being mostly male. For Aboriginal women of the Binjang mob, the transition from traditional dress to western-style dress seems to start occurring in the late 1820s, and pushed by the Mission during the 1830s. It would be several decades for this transition to be firmly ensconced.

Building heritage

The importance of history to the economic value of a town.

The OXLEY MUSEUM will be CLOSED on TUESDAY 6 December, reopening as usual on WEDNESDAY 7 December. We apologise for this inconvenience. The closure allows our volunteers to attend a necessary meeting.

AGRICULTURE

And then THE COWS CAME HOME! We have all read AMAZING stories on pet dogs and cats travelling hundreds of kilometres to return home. This story tells us that WELLINGTON-bred cattle believe that there is simply NO OTHER PLACE TO BE! Exactly when did this event actually occur? Based on the chronologies below, probably during the mid to late 1820s. It’s hard to ascertain precisely, recollections and memories often prove unreliable. However, every legend generally contains seeds of truth. Officially, cattle came to Wellington in 1823, along with the establishment of the convict settlement led by Lieutenant Simpson, although there was evidence of multiple cattle tracks, presumably by strays, found by Oxley in 1817. The convict settlement was dismantled in 1831. The Government ‘stock establishment’ was discontinued in December 1831, with the cattle and sheep sold off in Bathurst. While early recollections dither with discovery dates, the ‘Patrick Plains’, where Singleton NSW is now located, was proven later to be discovered on 17th March 1820. This date also happened to coincide with St Patrick’s Day, and hence, how the plains got their name. In 1801, Governor King established a convict camp in the ‘Coal Harbour’ on ‘Hunter’s River’, only to close it following year due to mutiny. The ‘penal settlement at Newcastle’ was then re-established, initially with 34 convicts in 1804, officially disbanding in 1823 when the convict population was mostly relocated to Port Macquarie, saving about fifty convicts who remained behind to work the coalmines. Young bullocks take time to grow before being trained to work and mature into the job. If the bullocks were ‘bred and broken in’ at Wellington government stock establishment as claimed, it is unlikely this event occurred before 1825 or so. Who was the ‘old teamster’ at the Government stock establishment?

Anzac Community Grants Program

Funding available for Anzac preservation projects! http://veterans.nsw.gov.au/education/anzac-community-grants-program/

Leg Up Grants

LEG UP GRANTS designed to skill up museum volunteer skills! http://mgnsw.org.au/sector/funding/grants-we-administer/volunteer-museum-grants/leg-up/

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR CLOSURE! The Oxley Museum closes on Friday 16th DECEMBER. The museum will re-open on Monday 16th JANUARY (check out the 'About' page for normal opening hours). There will still be two weeks in later January for people to entertain kids and friends with a visit! Wellington Historical Society and our members would like to wish you all a very MERRY Christmas, and an INSPIRING New Year! THANK YOU all for your interest and support of late, and we hope you will follow and celebrate WELLINGTON's BICENTENARY in 2017!

Sydney Living Museums

A short article on Sydney's 'Rum' Hospital, highlighting some of the MEDICAL TECHNIQUES that may have transferred themselves out to Wellington in our early days.

nswrailwaystations.files.wordpress.com

Into the HISTORY of TRAINS and RAILWAY LINES? Check out the newsletter below - it contains a number of CENTRAL WEST stations and train lines! https://nswrailwaystations.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/issue-9-november-2016.pdf

Google's New Free App Could Revolutionize How We Preserve Family Photos and Records | Family History Daily

Handy little gadget!

Food

In 1938, Mrs James Cameron from Stuart Town, NSW won £3 for her recipe for WHITE ROSE CAKE which she sent in to the Truth newspaper! If you try it out, post us a photo and let us know what its like!

Arts Outwest