Stories of Our Town “Lycett and Wallis: Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge” Released

This work is conducted in memory and respectfully honours the First Australian People, the Aboriginal People of this land. We are delighted to announce the public release of the next episode in the Stories of Our Town series:  Lycett and Wallis:  Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge. The film concentrates on the beautiful and highly informative … More Stories of Our Town “Lycett and Wallis: Unlikely Preservers of Aboriginal Knowledge” Released

“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

“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

University Researchers One Step Closer to Father of Australia

Researchers with the University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Party are one step closer today to zeroing in on a buried relic laid almost two centuries ago by Governor Lachlan Macquarie, affectionately known as the ‘Father of Australia‘. The Foundation Stone to Macquarie Pier, aka The Newcastle Breakwater, was laid on a Wednesday the 5th … More University Researchers One Step Closer to Father of Australia

Historic Return of Newcastle Treasures for Exhibition

On Friday 26th October 2012 a public announcement was made by Dr Alex Byrne of the NSW State Library, relating to the exciting news that the artistic treasures of early Newcastle would make their historic return to the City for the first time in over 195 years. The forthcoming “Treasures of Newcastle from the Macquarie … More Historic Return of Newcastle Treasures for Exhibition

The Achievements of Captain Wallis Commandant 1818

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2178450 The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser Saturday 26 December 1818 Page 1 of 4 GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL ORDERS. Government House, Parramatta, Thursday, 24th December, 1818 CIVIL DEPARTMENT. HIS EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR, in relieving Captain JAMES WALLIS, of the 46th Regiment, from the Command of the Settlement at Newcastle, by the Appointment of … More The Achievements of Captain Wallis Commandant 1818