Aboriginal breastplate ‘Sandy, Chief of Coringori’

During January 2022 Dr Alison Clark from National Museums Scotland contacted HLH, she is conducting provenance research on a brass breastplate in their collection.  Dr Clark would like to find out more about the individual who was given the breastplate, and asks who gave it to him, and how the breastplate came to Scotland. “The … More Aboriginal breastplate ‘Sandy, Chief of Coringori’

“Stories of Our Town” Documentary Series – Indigenous Histories & Joseph Lycett

Last week Tony and I were invited by Richard Neville (Mitchell Librarian, Director Engagement) to the vault at the Mitchell Library to film and talk about 3 extraordinary artifacts associated with Newcastle’s history. Firstly, Macquarie’s Chest, one of two commissioned by Commander Wallis in 1819 to curry favour with Govenor Macquarie, such a gorgeous and … More “Stories of Our Town” Documentary Series – Indigenous Histories & Joseph Lycett

Raymond Terrace resources- Historical Consciousness, Public Memory, and Nation Building

On 13 January 2020 UON students from EDUC4809: Historical Consciousness, Public Memory, and Nation Building class participated in a seminar at GLAMx Lab at the Auchmuty Library. Cultural collections staff provided information about the GLAM sector, digitisation and digital platforms, and other online sources and historical research tips. Sources associated with Raymond Terrace were examined … More Raymond Terrace resources- Historical Consciousness, Public Memory, and Nation Building

“Black Swans” – an engraving by Capt. James Wallis, 1818

  Introduction As part of the COVID19 lock down during April 2020, a challenge was published through the Hunter Living Histories Twitter feed to identify the possible location of an engraving of two black swans at Reed’s Mistake, (now Swansea) that were published two hundred years ago 1820, but captured sometime around 1818 as part … More “Black Swans” – an engraving by Capt. James Wallis, 1818

“They sent me North: Female Convicts in the Hunter” – Book Launch

On Tuesday 31 July 2019, the publication “They sent me north: Female Convicts in the Hunter” compiled by Mel Woodford with Jan Richards, edited by Elizabeth James from the Newcastle Family History Society (NFHS) was launched at the Lovett Gallery, Newcastle Library. The book has many contributions by the descendants of female convicts and members … More “They sent me North: Female Convicts in the Hunter” – Book Launch

NSW Government Records relating to Aboriginal People – mid north coast, NSW

This work is conducted in memory and respectfully honours the First Australian People, the Aboriginal People of this land. The following NSW Government records are primary sources associated with the Mid-North coast of New South Wales, including  areas of Port Stephens, Gloucester and Barrington.  Many thanks to Robert Syron for sharing the following primary sources, and for … More NSW Government Records relating to Aboriginal People – mid north coast, NSW

Aboriginal Rock Art & Aboriginal History – Trove search

This work is conducted in memory and respectfully honours the First Australian People, the Aboriginal People of this land. Please Note: The following articles on Aboriginal Rock Art & Indigenous history of the Hunter Region and Central Coast were located in TROVE . The newspaper articles chronicle how writers of the time were describing Indigenous … More Aboriginal Rock Art & Aboriginal History – Trove search

Aerial Photographs – Ravensworth, NSW

The following overlays are of Ravensworth Homestead in the Hunter region, showing the location of the early Homestead and extant buildings, nearby creek, roads and evidence of other possible structures. We have assembled some aerial photographs, maps and plan overlays on Google earth,  and specifically enlarged the section of Ravensworth Homestead to find out what … More Aerial Photographs – Ravensworth, NSW

Lieutenant John Shortland – Hunter’s River 1797

Lieutenant John Shortland. An eye sketch of Hunter’s River. 1797. Signed J.S. [initials presumed to be those of Lieutenant John Shortland]. 1797 Lieutenant John Shortland, R.N. Lieutenant John Shortland of the H.M.S. Reliance officially “discovered” the River on the 10th September 1797 while on route to Port Stephens. The letter to his father reporting the … More Lieutenant John Shortland – Hunter’s River 1797