In the State Library of New South Wales is held an album of 37 watercolour and pencil drawings by Edward Charles Close that was a gift to his daughter Marrianne Collison Close on the 17th February 1844. Four of the watercolours are scenes taken in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. The link containing a full description … More The Drawings of Edward Charles Close – 1844
The State Library of New South Wales has digitised a selection of Conrad Martens‘ drawings. Among them are drawings that document his travels though the Hunter in the years 1841 and 1852. Conrad Martens (1801-1878), artist, was born in London England. In 1832 he joined the scientific team aboard the Beagle with Charles Darwin, replacing … More Conrad Martens in Newcastle and the Hunter
On Tuesday 15 November 2011 I had a wonderful day recording Episode 20 of Phil Ashley Brown’s River Stories, retracing the paddlesteps of the 1801 Survey mission’s journey from Raymond Terrace to Greenhill (Morpeth) then onto Maitland (Shanks’s Forest Plains). The Radio Show can be heard on ABC 1233 Radio’s website here: Tracing the Hunter’s … More River Stories – Raymond Terrace to Maitland
Mysterious “Mr Thorn” – Unsung Saviour of Nobbys and Princes By Gionni Di Gravio In 1853 the Government hatched a plan to blow up Nobbys island in order to build a lighthouse. Lieutenant Colonel Barney and Gother T. Mann on the 4 March 1853 agreed and embraced the idea of blasting the rock. By April … More Mysterious “Mr Thorn” – Unsung Saviour of Nobbys and Princes
MORPETH (The Illustrated Sydney News 16 October 1865 page 3) The town of Morpeth is situated on the Hunter River, at the highest point navigable for steamers of any size. It is, properly speaking, the port of Maitland, from whence it is distant about four miles. It is connected with Maitland, Newcastle, … More The Town of Morpeth in 1865
A sketchbook of Edward Charles Close, founding father of the township of Morpeth, is up for auction on Sothebys. According to the Sothebys website it consists of 30 folios (three cut out), containing 26 watercolours, two monochrome wash drawings and six pencil sketches or rough notations, together with a separate ink drawing by another hand … More Edward Charles Close Sketchbook on Sothebys