Huntington’s History of Newcastle and the Northern District
The Story of Lambton – a Newcastle Suburb
Two new important works of local history, Huntington’s History of Newcastle and the Northern District. Compiled by Ken Shilling with additional biographical material written by Cynthia Hunter. Published by the Newcastle Family History Society Inc 2009, and The Story of Lambton – a Newcastle Suburb. Compiled by Maree Shilling with contributions by Newcastle Family History Society Inc. and Residents of Lambton Past and Present, will be launched at a ceremony to be held at Lambton High School Hall tomorrow morning (Saturday 30th May 2009) beginning at 10.30am.
The two works were compiled by Mr Ken and Maree Shilling with assistance from their fellow members of the Newcastle Family History Society Inc.
Both works will be launched by University of Newcastle Archivist and Chair of the Coal River Working Party, Mr Gionni Di Gravio, who originally suggested the idea to the Society of reproducing Huntington’s History, which is arguably the finest history of Newcastle and district that has ever been published.
Henry William Hemsworth Huntington (1848-1926) wrote his history as a series of bi-weekly installments in the Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate between August 10, 1897 and August 2, 1898 as a commission for Newcastle’s Centenary celebrations.
These articles would have long been forgotten had it not been for the efforts of the late Ben Champion, Novocastrian historian and dentist, who assiduously collected and compiled them together into a book.
This book was later donated along with his papers to the University of Newcastle Archives (now Cultural Collections).
The articles became an important historical resource for the early history of Newcastle, as Huntington had compiled much of it from original documents and manuscripts which he transcribed along with annedotes and personal reminiscences.
It has yet to be surpassed in its scope and charm, and so it is with great gratitude to the Newcastle Family History Society, and especially Ken and Maree Shilling in particular, that they took up the challenge of transcribing and editing Huntington’s History of Newcastle.
It will be a work of enduring value to the study of our local history, and act as a spring board to future research into the many areas that it has lit up around us.
The second work to be launched is entitled The Story of Lambton – a suburb of Newcastle, compiled by Maree Shilling with the assistance of the Family History Society Inc and members of the local Lambton community.
The book contains a foreword by Dr Troy Duncan of the University of Newcastle’s School of Humanities and Social Science.
It is an enormous feat of scholarly labour and a treasure trove of information on the foundations and evolving history of all facets of the suburb. At over 400 pages it is a monumental tribute that comes with a supplemental cd rom containing 140 extra photographs and a database listing the details of over 5,500 early residents of Lambton.
Both works can be purchased from the Newcastle Family History Society Inc.
Huntington’s History of Newcastle and Northern District August 1897 -August 1898
279 pp. A4, (2009) – $35.00+$9.00 p&p; CD: $27.00+$3.00 p&p
Launch 30 May 2009
For description see Latest Publications
The Story of Lambton – a suburb of Newcastle NSW
Describes every facet of the growth of this diverse community, abundantly illustrated. 411pp
Book incl bonus CD $50.00+$9.60p&p;
CDset [Book on CD+Bonus CD] $35.00+$3.00 p&p.
Can order now, available after Launch 30 May 2009
For description see Latest Publications
We own an old sandstone cottage at the corner of High Street and Grainger Street (No.1 Grainger St) in Lambton. My husband and I were wondering if anyone knew anything about the history of our house, the age and purpose if any. We would love to hear anything at all as we love our old house. Thankyou.
of course we need to know our family history so that we can share it to our kids ;'”