Hunter Living Histories

Attention All Billionaires!

The communities of the Newcastle and the Hunter Region would like the Stories of Our Town to continue into a second season. Support the Stories of Our Town through Patreon, or just contact the film makers direct here glenndormand@gmail.com and tony@carnivorefilms.com

The Stories of Our Town Project is a series of documentary films that tell Newcastle’s key historic stories through the Novocastrian community’s eyes and points of view.

Thanks to Newcastle Port Community Contribution (NPCC) fund the Stories of Our Town Project was able to produce 17 original films on the history of Newcastle, using mostly Novocastrian storytellers, many of which have never told their stories before.

Over the past three years a great partnership has been built between the film makers, the University of Newcastle’s Special Collections (Archives) Auchmuty Library, and the Hunter Region and Australia’s major Cultural Institutions, media companies and community organisations and social media groups.

The Stories of Our Town have conducted 15 free (and COVID safe) public viewing events witnessed by thousands of residents at such public venues at Fort Scratchley, Newcastle Museum and Public Library, Newcastle Art Gallery, University of Newcastle, Rathmines Community Hall and local bars such as the Rogue Scholar Brewery.

Dozens of local schools across Newcastle & the Hunter Region are now adopting these films for “in class” learning use. We’ve been told repeatedly by schoolteachers across all primary and secondary grades of how hard it’s been to source interesting, accurate and diverse local history teaching materials that engage students the way these films do.

At the 2022 National Trust Heritage Awards, held in Sydney, the Stories of Our Town Project received a “Highly Commended” acknowledgment for their services to Education and Interpretation. A great achievement, as these awards are usually won by “bricks and mortar” nominees.

Pay television services have also recognised their appeal, with Foxtel/Binge picking up two films: Fortress Newcastle (For Anzac Day) and the Star Hotel Riot for a four-year deal.

SBS Television chose Lycett and Wallis: Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge to screen nationally across its NITV Channel.

BHP Newcastle: A City Within A City is now on permanent display at Newcastle Museum as part of its Coal and The BHP: Fire and Earth permanent exhibition.

Newcastle Digital Library has added 10 of the Stories of Our Town films to its Digital Map of Newcastle including the full series of Eight (8) Newcastle Architecture Films, The Scott Sisters of Ash Island and The Islanders: Chats with Vera Deacon.

The Stories of Our Town films are the first time that such stories of national importance have ever been told and have been received with great enthusiasm by the community.

 

The Stories of Our Town Films

Season 1 (2019-2022)

Star Hotel Riot (2019)
https://youtu.be/JQ_TZ_obB4o

BHP Newcastle: A City Within A City (2019)
https://youtu.be/Khun-ZY3Srw

The Scott Sisters of Ash Island (2020)
https://youtu.be/McaeYI7SMuk

The Murder of Burigon (2020)
https://youtu.be/w_BAintMQU4

The Islanders: Chats with Vera Deacon (2021)
https://youtu.be/E5xQxQG_Yys

Lycett and Wallis: Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge (2021)
https://youtu.be/Ktcu06sy3b0

Architecture of Newcastle Series:
https://hunterlivinghistories.com/2021/06/22/soot-architecture/

Part 1: Civic Park Precinct (2021)
https://youtu.be/o9H8elAay2s

Part 2: The Roundhouse (2021)
https://youtu.be/QGoKYZMJpl8

Part 3: War Memorial Cultural Centre (2021)
https://youtu.be/pVCRQ7FNtew

Part 4: Churches of Menkens (2021)
https://youtu.be/BhsgVy-amuM

Part 5: Town Hall (2021)
https://youtu.be/OImm7HLx8fk

Part 6: NESCA House (2021)
https://youtu.be/qru9CzcA-L4

Part 7: Art Gallery (2021)
https://youtu.be/LtGrsTnGL5c

Part 8: Civic Fountain (2021)
https://youtu.be/4OKPNEDHz54

The Castanet Club Story (2021)
https://youtu.be/U9iETl9DUIQ

Fortress Newcastle: Life Under Threat (2021)
https://youtu.be/wOcpAMgPh1I

https://hunterlivinghistories.com/2021/11/05/fortress-newcastle-film/

Biraban and Threlkeld: Finding the Third Space. (2022)
https://youtu.be/GTPjS-dOKgg

 

Without your help, the latest film in production, More than Hoons on Newcastle’s Car Culture will be the very last film ever produced for the time being by this talented team of Chit Chat von Loopin Stab and Tony Whittaker. Let’s not make it their swan song in a drag race.

Let’s make Stories of Our Town Season 2! All Hunter Regional Billionaires support the team.

“Stories of Our Town” Newcastle Documentary Series Gets The Green Light

Gionni Di Gravio, OAM
University Archivist & Chair Hunter Living Histories
Executive Producer – Stories of Our Town