Category Archives: Events

June and July newsletters

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I’ve just uploaded the July newsletter, and realised that I missed uploading the June one. My apologies – that’s now remedied!

Good news in the June newsletter is that the Society’s rooms are now open again, with Covid strategies in place, Please use the provided hand sanitiser, sign in on the book at the entrance, and maintain a 1.5m distance from others. And it should go without saying, please do not attend the rooms if you are unwell, or have been in contact with anyone at risk of exposure to Covid.

Unfortunately, our monthly meetings will not be able to resume yet as we do not have sufficient space to provide the 4 sq metres per person required for safe gatherings.

However, in good news, on Tuesday, 21 July we will have a 1.30pm meeting at ‘Middle Farm’!

Julia and Phillip Rose who are in the process of selling ‘Middle Farm’, the property originally
belonging to the Blencowe family have invited us to hear the history, and see the original
house and sheds on our normal meeting date on site at 1.30pm Tuesday, 21 July. This is a
great opportunity, but will be Weather and Covid19 Permitting. There will be around 20
chairs available, rug up and bring your own mug for a cuppa. There is ample parking and
anyone who requires transport will need to contact Judith at 67751205, while anyone who can
offer transport please let me know on that number.

The July newsletter is a bumper edition with updates, reports on current projects, and an article by John Burrell – Across Australia by Train 1920 – about the journey required t cross the continent in the days before the Indian Pacific service. So make yourself a cuppa and download it now.

And in the June newsletter, as well as updates and news, there is a report about the fire that ripped through Beardy Street in 1887.

Special meeting – January 21st

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Happy new year to all our members!

Notice of a Special Meeting:

Linden Ashcroft from Melbourne University will give a talk on

‘Climate Change in the New England’

At ‘Dumaresq Chambers’ on Tuesday 21st January at *5.30pm*

All Welcome This opportunity to hear from Linden Ashcroft when she visits Armidale is too good to miss.  The Historical Society and the Armidale Branch of Australian Garden History will jointly host the occasion.  Linden’s work in climate science includes historic weather data rescue and she has used the meticulously recorded Belfield records from ‘Eversleigh’, data from ‘Salisbury Court’ and  other 19th century information from the New England to provide information relevant to an overall picture of  southern hemisphere climate variation and change

November update

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An update from our President, Judy Grieve:

We are very close to getting the required number of people for the UNE
beef and taste testing next Friday 29th November. We still have places available so please let us know if you can help out. This is a major fundraiser for the Society.

We will be contacting people early next week to confirm your preferred
times.

The Excursion to Hillgrove and Metz will be on Saturday 30th November.
There are still places available. Please let us know if you would like
to come before Thursday 28th. Cost per person $40. Bus leaves Visitor
Information Centre at 8.30 am.

Sad news: On a more sombre note we have lost:-

Ros Townsend OAM – her funeral will be on Monday 23rd November at 11am
at St Peter’s Cathedral.

Pam Harvey – her funeral will be on Friday 29th November at 11am at St
Paul’s Presbyterian Church.

Judy Grieve

Afternoon tea

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Members and friends are warmly invited to afternoon tea to celebrate our exhibition of wedding photos, gowns and accessories, this Wednesday, 6th November, at 2,30pm,

Please feel free to bring your favourite tea cup and saucer (although we will have plenty there.) Afternoon tea will be provided.

Do come along for a pleasant afternoon with fellow members, and a stroll around the wonderful display set up by Colane Simmons, Nancy Bruyn, and other members including Sue Tanner and Alan Wilkinson.

Display of wedding photos and three wedding dresses

Our 60th birthday!

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At our next meeting, on October 15th, we’ll be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first meeting of the Armidale and District Historical Society in 1959. Judy and the committee have some special celebrations planned, including 1950s fashions, and birthday cake!

We’ll have more details soon. But do put the date in your diary and plan to come along to the party to celebrate this milestone. And if you happen to have 1950s/1960s outfits in your wardrobe, we’d love to see you wearing them!

Cover of the Australian Women's Weekly magazine for October 14th, 1959, showing Princess Margaret seated in a deep pink evening dress, white stole and pearl choker.

‘College on the Hill’ exhibition

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New England Regional Art Museum Exhibition, ‘The College on the Hill’:  A display of Armidale Teachers’ College photographs and memorabilia from the UNE Archives will complement the permanent NERAM exhibition on display in the Howard Hinton Gallery.  Howard Hinton OBE donated almost 1000 original artworks to the Teachers’ College over the years 1929 – 1948 and these graced the walls of the College building. With forced amalgamation of College and University, the paintings (principally by Australian artists) were placed in storage until the community and Government funded Art Museum was built in Kentucky Street where they could once again be displayed.  The beautiful permanent Hinton Gallery features around 130 works of art from the Hinton Collection.  ‘The College on the Hill’ exhibition will remain open until 18th August.