Unfortunately due to the Covid virus we’re unable to meet at present. Social distancing may have to continue for some time. The Committee are following developments and will recommence meetings with appropriate safeguards when it is possible to do so.

Our May newsletter is therefore a little longer than usual, and includes the address given by Peter Elliot at the very small Anzac Day service at the Dangarsleigh War Memorial – you can read the address in the newsletter, or watch a video of the service (linked below.)

The new Facebook group is going very well with many photos posted and much discussion, so please do join in if you’re on Facebook by clicking this link.

And here’s the Dangarsleigh (very small, police approved) Anzac Day service for those who missed the earlier post:

We hope all members and friends are keeping well during this time of social distancing and isolation.

To help members to keep in touch and to encourage research and discussion the Committee has approved the establishment of a Facebook group for the Historical Society. If you’re on Facebook, the link to the group is: https://www.facebook.com/groups/331108067862859/

Do come and join members and friends in the Facebook group, and do feel welcome to share your stories, history, and ideas.

Dear members, we’re living in worrying times, Our President, Judy Grieves has asked me to post a notice that the ADHS committee are in agreement that we cancel the April and May monthly meetings of the Society at this stage and have cancelled the meat tasting on 27 March. 

The Memorial Service for John Hamel  which was to be held tomorrow (23rd March) 10am at the Uniting Church has been postponed to a later date. 

Volunteers with keys can access Dumaresq Chambers as they wish, but there is no onus to
do shifts at the centre. JudyI will continue to do a Newsletter to send out and put on the website.

We had such high hopes for 2020 when the rains came – but who would have guessed the global heartbreak and chaos that it heralded? 

We sincerely hope that all members keep well and hunker down.

Due to Coronavirus (Covid-19) concerns and precautions, the meeting planned for tomorrow night (17th March) at NERAM has been cancelled.

The first regular meeting will be held on Tuesday 18th February at 7.30pm at
‘Dumaresq Chambers when Matthew Tierney will present Armidale Railway Station
Open for Business. outlining how public expression of the people from 1870 to 2004
brought mainline trains to the Northern Tablelands and kept them running.

We will instigate a $1a ticket monthly raffle to be drawn at each meeting.

The chambers will be open from about 7pm, so do come early, have a cuppa and a catch up chat with fellow members before the meeting. All welcome.

The next meeting of the Society will be on Tuesday, 20^th August, 7.30 pm at ‘Dumaresq Chambers’.The speaker will be Martin Gibbs, Professor of Australian Archaeology,Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences at UNE, whose interests include research projects on aspects of historical and maritime archaeology.  His talk is titled  Seeing Beneath the Soil:  is there a buried Armidale? and is based on describing UNE’s newly acquired geophysical survey instruments, how they work and where to survey.

The August meeting is the AGM, followed by the general meeting. The AGM will be conducted by patron William Oates, all positions will be declared vacant.  Please consider taking an active role in the Society. We welcome volunteers and have positions we need to fill: 1) Someone to deal with research enquiries, and 2) a publicity person (or persons).

As usual, the Chambers will be open from about 7pm on the night of the meeting, and we people are welcome to come early to chat, look at resources, or have a cuppa.

The next meeting of the Society will be on Tuesday, 18 June at 7.30, at Dumaresq Chambers, 114 Faulkner Street when the speaker will be Wayne Hoppe, President of the Armidale Family History Group. In his ongoing recording of Armidale Cemetery history, his research has included the Undertakers and Stonemasons who have serviced the cemetery and his talk will present his interesting findings on the history of The Undertakers of Armidale.

The rooms will be open from about 7pm, so do feel welcome to come early and browse through the resources or catch-up with other members.Visitors are very welcome. There’s no need to book. Tea and coffee will be served after the meeting.

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, 21st May at 7.30pm in the Society’s rooms at 114 Faulkner Street. The rooms will be open from about 7pm, so do feel welcome to come early and browse through the resources or catch-up with other members.

I’ll update this post with information about our guest speaker soon!

Welcome to the new website of the Armidale and District Historical Society.We’re currently setting up the site – please come back again soon for news, updates, and other information.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday February 19th At 7.30pm at Dumaresq Chambers, 114 Faulkner Street Armidale. All welcome to attend.