August Newsletter

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The August newsletter is now available.

ADHS-Newsletter-August-2020Download

As it is not possible to hold our August meeting, John Atchison has written an article on Ketterick’s Ridge, which Council has recently signposted on Kelly’s Plains Road and at Lynland Park.  A view of the undeveloped east side of the Ridge (where William Hipgrave lived) with its undulating terrain (rather than straight lines on a map) can be seen at the end of Karina Close which runs off the top of The Avenue.  I believe that this vista is earmarked for development, so gradually we replace with houses the image of land like Ketteridge Ridge on which people like Walter Craigie walked.

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.

Write your life

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As we move into winter and many of us continue a relatively quiet time at home, I encourage our senior members, if you haven’t already, to start writing your own life history or memoir.

You don’t have to be a great writer or a famous person to write something of value to your family and the community! Every memory, every piece of your life is a part of a broader social and community history and is important – we don’t want the past to slip away, forgotten.

It doesn’t have to be a full-length memoir, so don’t let the hugeness of that kind of project stop you from starting! My Dad wrote about 20 pages of memories and these are precious to our family.

As a writer myself, I know the hardest part is often simply starting. So I encourage you to find pen and paper, or computer keyboard, and just write. Write anything. Write something. Start with a memory.Or a family story. Or, if you feel there’s a theme to your life, or a key thing you’ve learned, start with that. You can edit anything except a blank page, so the important thing is to start – the rest will follow.

If you’re interested in more advice about writing memoir or autobiography, I recommend Patti Miller’s book, Writing True Stories: The complete guide to writing autobiography, memoir, personal essay, biography, travel and creative nonfiction. It’s available in paperback and ebook, and Readers’ Companion and other bookshops should be able to order it in for you. The ISBN number is 9781760293086.

May newsletter

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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.)

ADHS-Newsletter-May-2020Download

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:

New Facebook group

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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.

Covid-19 shutdown

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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.

February meeting

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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.

Armidale Railway Station. Image courtesy Gordon Smithhttps://lookandsee.me/2009/05/21/around-armidale-railway-station-the-front/

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