The Newcastle-Hunter Studies Symposium

NEWCASTLE / HUNTER STUDIES SYMPOSIUM

Presented by the Humanities Research Institute, University of Newcastle
in partnership with Newcastle Art Gallery

The Newcastle Hunter Studies Symposium
Friday 3 May 2013
10.00am – 4.30pm
Newcastle Art Gallery
Free

About the Symposium
Scholarship on Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, has the potential to illuminate national and transnational themes in historical and contemporary research, as well as to deepen the city’s and the region’s understanding of itself.

This symposium brings together, for the first time, members of the present generation of humanities and social sciences researchers focusing on Newcastle and the Hunter. This event is part of a broader project to collect past and present scholarship on the city and the region. It showcases the breadth and depth of studies being undertaken; it introduces this work to the community; and it is an occasion to discuss how future studies of the city and the region might proceed.

Welcome

Papers

Mark Dunn – Aboriginal Guides in the Hunter Valley

Dr Lisa Ford and Dr David Roberts – Newcastle and the Transformation of Penal Practice in the Colony of New South Wales

Dr David Murray – Words for the Heat of Deeds: Creative non fiction and the writing of cultural history

Helen English – Music, Power and Public Space: a Case Study in Newcastle, NSW

Gaye Sheather – Local Sites and Sounds:  A History of live mainstream music in licensed venues Newcastle, NSW, during Australia’s Oz Rock Era (1970s and 80s)

Dr Keri Glastonbury – Rough and Tumblr: Blogging Newcastle

Panel Discussion -  The Place of Newcastle and the Hunter in History
Chair: Dr Julie McIntyre

Speakers:

Professor Erik Eklund, Monash University

Dr Nancy Cushing, University of Newcastle

Dr Julie McIntyre, University of Newcastle

Gionni Di Gravio, University of Newcastle

Images from the Day

Newcastle Hunter Studies Symposium

Audience

Lauren van Katwyk – Newcastle Art Gallery

Ron Ramsay

Professor Hugh Craig

Dr Nancy Cushing

Aboriginal Guides of the Hunter Valley

Mark Dunn

Dr Nancy Cushing and Mark Dunn

Mark Dunn

Dr David Roberts

Dr David Roberts

Dr David Roberts

Dr David Roberts

Words for the Heat of Deeds

Dr David Murray

Dr David Murray

Aboriginals

Elizabeth Ellis and Gallery Staff

Dr Julie McIntyre

Helen English

Gaye Sheather

Dr Keri Glastonbury

Dr Julie McIntyre

TREASURES OF NEWCASTLE FROM THE MACQUARIE ERA
2 March – 5 May 2013
A State Library of NSW and Newcastle Art Gallery partnership exhibition
Sponsored by Noble Resources International Australia

Treasures of Newcastle from the Macquarie era (2 March – 5 May 2013) provides an exceptional opportunity for the Newcastle/Hunter Studies Symposium. The exhibition, featuring the Macquarie Collector’s Chest and works by colonial artists Joseph Lycett, Edward Close and Richard Browne, was drawn from the significant collections of Newcastle Art Gallery and the State Library of NSW, and is the most important collection of historic and artistic material related to this city ever to be assembled.

Awaba or Lake Macquarie in 1841

Heritage Map of Lake Macquarie or Awaba with geological locations (NSW Department of Trade and Investment)

This gem of a chart of Awaba or Lake Macquarie was located in the DIGS database this morning by our colleague Mr Russell Rigby.

It is an historical chart or map of Lake Macquarie with geological locations marked including Aboriginal place names. The database says that the outline was sketched by W. Procter from his examination in August 1841 and base printed by W. Baker Lithographer, King Street Sydney. Extensive notes were possibly made by the Reverend W. B. Clarke regarding rock outcrops and the location of fossils.

Of particular note is the fossil forest that is referred to by the Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld as Kurra-Kurran. For further information on this petrified forest please consult the following resource “Fossil Pine Forest, Lake Macquarie: Compiled by Michael Organ, with assistance from John Byrnes” (14 April 2009) Available online here: http://www.uow.edu.au/~morgan/forest.htm

On Michael Organ’s page is a link to a online resource by Mr John Byrnes which leads to a dead link. We have retrieved the original document from the Internet Archive, and can be accessed here:

“Kurrur Kurran ~ Seeking all aspects connected with A Fossil Forest at Fennell Bay (NW corner of Lake Macquarie)” by John Byrnes (4.7MB PDF File)

Heritage Map of Lake Macquarie or Awaba with geological locations (Courtesy of NSW Department of Trade and Investment)

The place names and annotations recorded on the chart include:

AWABA (an extra ‘a’ is included in ink) or LAKE MACQUARIE

THE OCEAN

“Broughton’s Point” (Now Bolton’s Point)

‘Fossil trees’ are marked in ink further along towards what is now Fennel’s Bay. On the inset map this is marked in ink as “Kurran Kurran” and the Toronto-Coal Point peninsula marked “Tirabeenba”

“Ebenezer Colliery” and “Wharf” at modern day Coal Point.

The possible site of Reverend Threlkeld’s Mission House is also illustrated with a drawing of a house at modern day Toronto.

In ink are the words “Tree Fossil Beds” on the southern coastline and the words “Tir abeenba” over the peninsula of what is now modern Coal Point and Carey Bay. Compare this name for the peninsula  with another recorded by Henry Dangar in 1828 as “Derahbamtbah” See: http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2787133

“Erraring Bay”

“Wangee Wangee” (Wangi Wangi)

“Pulbah I[slan]d” and inside the island is printed “Burregorons I[slan]d” – is this a reference to Burigon, one time Chief of the Newcastle Tribe circa 1820?

“Point Woolstoncroft”

“Point Morrissett”

“Moon I[slan]d” is marked further down to the south of Catherine Hill Bay. Russell Rigby adds “there are several references in the 19th century to Moon Island as an area south of Catherine Hill Bay (hence Moonee Beach and Moonee Colliery) – now Flat Rocks?”

Further up coast is marked in ink “Wabung Head” at the southern end of Catherine Hill Bay

In pen adjacent to coastline is marked “Sand dunes Conglomerate Shales & Lignite Beds with trap dykes & faults”

Adjacent to present day Catherine Hill Bay is marked in illegible pen “Punibbo(?) Rozinba(?)”

“Coolocoolo” in ink near present day Caves Beach

Along present day Swansea is marked in ink “Fossil Tree Beds” & “Reefs”

Where Moon Island is today is marked in ink as “Nirritin I[slan]d” and below “Grits & Sand & Stones”

“Reid’s Mistake” (“Victoria Bay” in ink is marked)

“Shoal Point”

“Neck(?)” near modern day Black Ned’s Bay

“Keep Clear Point”

“Pelican Island”, in ink is marked close by “Mud Island”

“Canoe Point” and nearby in ink is marked “Kahiba” (close to “Kahibah” in Dangar’s 1828 Map see: http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/2787133 )

“Fishing Point”

“Red Head”

In pen is marked “Coal Series(?)”

“Moderately elevated” is marked in pen along the coastline

In pen along coastline towards Red Head is marked “Sandy Dunes and Beach of blown? sand & shells”

“Three Hammocks”

“Flat Point”

The pen annotation on the side of the map – “The serious gale of April 1842 completely altered the entrance into the Lake WBC[?]“

Pen annotation near scale bar “incorrect scale”

Pen annotation top right corner (near Redhead) “33 [degrees] S”

There are also very faint & indecipherable pencil annotations in margin of map – we will need to see original to adequately decipher those.

There is also a square pencil grid drawn on map – was this done for reproduction at different size/scale?

1841 Awaaba Map overlay in Google Earth

KUR-RUR-KUR-RÁN  (Threlkeld 1834) “Forest of Petrified Trees”

Kur-rur-kur-rán (Kurrurkurrán) – The name of a place, in which there is, almost, a forest of petrifactions of wood, of various sizes extremely well defined. Situated in a bay at the N. W. extremity of Lake Macquarie. The tradition of the Aborigines is, that formerly it was one large rock which fell from the heavens and killed a number of blacks, which were assembled where it descended, they being collected together in that spot by command of an immense Guana, which came down from heaven for that purpose. In consequence of his anger at their having killed lice by roasting them in the fire, those who had killed the vermin by cracking, were previously speared to death by him with a long reed from Heaven! At that remote period the moon was a man named Pón-to-bung (Póntobung) , hence the moon is called he to the present day; and the sun being formerly a woman, retains the feminine pronoun she:. When the Guana saw all the men were killed by the fall of the stone, he ascended up into heaven, where he is supposed now to remain.
- Threlkeld, L. E. (Lancelot Edward), 1788-1859. An Australian grammar : comprehending the principles and natural rules of the language, as spoken by the Aborigines in the vicinity of Hunter’s River, Lake Macquarie, &c. New South Wales. Sydney : Printed by Stephens and Stokes, 1834. (p. 85)

Kurra Kurrarn is Blackalls Bay at the north-western extremity of the Lake, and is known as a site of water-covered pertrified forest. Large numbers of petrified wood pieces have been removed from the shallow waters and used to form front fences at homes in Blackalls Park.

According to the Awabakal legend, as told by Threlkeld, a huge rock fell from the shy and killed a number of natives assembled there by the command of an immense iguana, who had descended from the heavens to call these natives together. This reptilian spirit (a rare mention of reptile life in this form) was angry because natives had killed lice by roasting them on a fire. (These were probably a type of sea lice that occasionally invade Lake Macquarie). The iguana had previously dealt with natives who had killed lice by cracking them. This the iguana did by spearing them to death with a long reed from heaven.
- Percy Haslam Papers A5410(i) leave 4

Gionni Di Gravio
University Archivist and Chair of the Coal River Working Party

Ludwig Leichhardt in Newcastle

Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt (1813-1848?), Prussian born naturalist and explorer, visited Newcastle and the Hunter Region on his journey of explorations through Australia during the years 1842-1843.

We have prepared this timeline below of his chronological movements throughout Newcastle and the Region to assist a German documentary team, planning to produce a documentary for German Television to co-incide with the 200th anniversary of Leichhardt’s birth.

Where possible we have illustrated his travels with contemporary sketches and plans executed close to the time from our own collections, as well as those of the National Library of Australia and State Library of New South Wales.

The information has been sourced from The letters of F.W. Ludwig Leichhardt collected and newly translated [from the German, French and Italian] by M. Aurousseau (London : Published for the Hakluyt Society by Cambridge University Press, 1968).

The University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections in the Auchmuty Library hold’s Marcel Aurousseau’s personal library. He is the translator of Leichhart’s letters into the English language. The original letters are held in the State Library of New South Wales Mitchell Library.

LEICHHARDT
AROUND NEWCASTLE ON FOOT

Monday 19th September 1842

Leichhardt leaves Sydney by sea for Newcastle with Alexander Walker Scott.

Tuesday 20th September 1842

Leichhardt arrived Newcastle in morning and takes breakfast with Alexander Walker Scott. Taken to Scott’s  Salt Works (built around 1836 – ref. Bingle) on Stockton and visits rest of Scott’s property there.

The Town of Newcastle and its Harbour in 1844 (Courtesy of the National Library of Australia NLA F72 1844)

Wednesday 21st September 1842

Excursion in South West Direction

Friday 23rd September 1842

Leichhart visits Ash Island and stays at Scott’s house there for 3-4 days. How it looked at the time was recorded in the sketch by Conrad Martens, and the frontpiece to the Scott Sister’s Lepidtoptera

Ash Island 12th May 1841 by Conrad Martens

Flyleaf Ash Island 12th May 1841
from [Album of] Pencil sketches, watercolours, etc.
by C. Martens, O.W. Brierly, S.T. Gill, John Rae, C. Rodius and others, ca. 1823-1863
View Album:http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=404878

Frontispiece – Scott’s Australian Lepidoptera Volume 2
showing the original pier and entrance to Scott’s house and farm from the River

Sunday 25th September 1842

Leichhardt meets Reverend C.P.N. Wilton and studies the coastal geological section at Nobby’s Island and southward.

77. Nobby Rock, Newcastle, 13th May 1841

Item 77 Nobby Rock, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Monday 26th September 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (61) to Lt Robert Lynd

 

Tuesday 27th September 1842

Visit to Valley of the Palms (Glenrock Lagoon) with Alexander Walker Scott

Saturday 1st October 1842

Studies coastal section at the South head of Newcastle; begins sea-bathing

Sunday 2nd October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (62) to Lt Robert Lynd. Fishing from the rocks with Alexander Walker Scott.

Monday 3rd – Tuesday 4th October 1842

Visit to Tilligerry with Major Crummer and Mr Bolton (Customs Officer)

Wednesday 5th October 1842

Returns to Newcastle

Saturday 8th October 1842

At Nobby’s Island

f.5 Nobby’s Newcastle. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled.

f.5 Nobby’s Newcastle. Unsigned. Undated. Untitled. [1843?]
from Portfolio collection of views, mainly in New South Wales, volume 5, ca. 1836-1873 drawn by Conrad Martens
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=825931#

Wednesday 12th October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (63) to W. Kirchner and writes that he has been to the coal seams, Nobbys Island, Valley of the Palms, and Ash Island “It’s a romantic place, which I like well enough to think that, perhaps – I’d be content to live and die there.”

Saturday 15th October 1842

A visit to Sugarloaf mountain to visit A. W. Scott’s cattle station at Minmi

Sunday 16th October 1842

At the foot of Sugarloaf Mountain

Tuesday 18th October 1842

Lynd arrives in Newcastle

Friday 21st October 1842

To Ash Island with Lynd, A.W. Scott and Bolton

Wednesday 26th October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (64) to Dr William Nicholson Newcastle Upon Tyne – writes with a description of Newcastle, Nobbys Island, Aborigines, whose teeth are ground like those of Egyptian mummies, creatures called congivoi, Aboriginal kings, Telligerry Creek and Major Crummer

Friday 28th October 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (64) to Dr William Nicholson Newcastle Upon Tyne – describes Aboriginal fires, black snakes on way to Telligery Creek, Rode to weatherboard home of Mr Dawson which lies south of a rugged valley that Mr Wilton (clergyman) has called the Valley of the Palms (Glenrock) – Earthquake recorded at 5.45am

Monday 31st October 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (65) – Earthquake report, describes Morris’ Bath (i.e., Morrisett’s Bath aka Bogey Hole)

76. Morrisets Bath, Newcastle, 13th May 1841

Item 76 Morrisets Bath, Newcastle, 13th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Tuesday 1st November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – Mr Calvert brings Leichhardt a Caprimulgus albogularis (white throated goat sucker). Mr Bligh, nephew of former governor  brings him another Gryllotalpa

Friday 4th November 1842

Leichhardt determines strike of volcanic dykes near Newcastle

Saturday 5th November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – describes Morris’s Bath (i.e., Morrisett’s Bath aka Bogey Hole), and describes the coastal feature overlooking the gaol i.e. today’s ocean baths, as a kind of Charybdis, a fissure in rocks that produces a funnel blowhole sort of thing.

Sunday 6th November 1842

Leichhart went out towards Great [Red] Head  and ‘the lagoon’ to see if there was change in coal measures

Monday 7th November 1842

Returns to Newcastle. continues letter (65) – with a report from day before? Shepherd’s Hill, Redhead, beyond Valley of the Palms, two natives enjoy oozings from honey comb. Two black identified as John M’Gill (king of Lake Macquarie tribe and Gorman, King of another clan, both enjoy damper and honey and have a sleep.

Tuesday 8th November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – describes vines, Hunter Valley vines, Raymond Terrace, Mr Robert Scott, William Brooks, Threlkeld

Wednesday 9th November 1842

Newcastle. continues letter (65) – discusses Schools

Thursday 10th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (66) to C. Schmalfuss  Music Master Berlin

Friday 11th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (67) to Lt Robert Lynd – mentions Ash Island, Mr Dawson, Mr Scott, Burwood, Mrs Mitchell (wife of Dr James Mitchell and mother of David Scott Mitchell) wants him to be a tutor to her children

Saturday 12th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (68) to Dr W.J. Little London – naming of Newcastle, AACo., Maitland, Morpeth

Monday 14th November 1842

Sets out on walking excursion to Brisbane Water with Flood (Post Master). Today they reach Brook’s holding near Boolaroo.

Tuesday 15th November 1842

At Threlkeld’s Estate, Ebenezer, on Lake Macquarie.

The image below is an engraving of the site of the Toronto Hotel as it looked around 1887. The Hotel is believed to have been built on the site of the former Ebenezer Mission of the Reverend Threlkeld. This image was published in Plans, views and particulars of the Toronto Estate, Lake Macquarie, for sale by the Excelsior Land Investment & Building Company & Bank Ltd. The date is ca. 1887. The full set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622086704813/with/3879272453/

From Excelsior Parade looking West to Hotel (Image showing the location of the Toronto Hotel in 1887, formerly the site of Threlkeld’s Ebenezer Mission)

Wednesday 16th November 1842

At Holden’s estate, Newport, Lake Macquarie. They spend the night in Carter’s hut.

Thursday 17th November 1842

At Sidebottom’s hut, just north of Wyong.

Friday 18th November 1842

Through F.A. Hely’s estate to Gosford on Brisbane Water

Sunday 20th November 1842

Through Forster’s station near entrance to Tuggerah Lakes to a point on the coast opposite Bird Island.

Monday 21st November 1842

At the entrance to Lake Macquarie (the constable’s hut)

Tuesday 22nd November 1842

Return to Newcastle from Brisbane Water. Leichhardt receives news of his sister Mathilde’s death and learns that Strezelecki is about to leave Newcastle.

Thursday 24th November 1842

Newcastle. Writes letter (69) to Lt Robert Lynd describes trip to Brisbane Water

- accompanied by Mr Flood to Brisbane Water, 1st day Lake Macquarie, 2nd day coal mines at Mr Threlkeld’s, 3rd day Newport, 4th day travelled to Tukkerah Beach Creek, 5th day arrived West Gosford near Brisbane Water.

- Returned from Bribane Water 1st day to south of Tukkerah Beach to station of Mr Foster, walked up the beach till opp. Birds Island, 2nd day walk to and arrive at 3pm to Lake Macquarie, 3rd day returned to Newcastle.

- Lake Macquarie described “Its numerous bays and abrupt, wooded hills present great diversity, and it would far exceed the lake of Zurich in beauty, could a livelier green replace the subdued green of the Australian bush.”

Monday 28th November 1842

Trip to Ash Island? (see letter 4th December 1842 – (72) note of artesian bore (first mention of an artesian bore in this country – according to Marcel Aurousseau)

Tuesday 29th November 1842

Sets out on walking tour to Port Stephens (first night at the sea side – letter 71)

Wednesday 30th November 1842

At Crummer’s hut, Telligerry

54. Kerua River, Tilligherry, 8th May 1852

Item 54. Kerua [i.e. Karuah] River, Tilligherry, 8 May 1852
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Thursday 1st December 1842

Bushfires in swamps. Went alone and on foot to the southern headland of Port Stephens (see letter 72).

See below an engraving by Skinner Prout from around 1841 of Port Stephens as it looked close to the arrival of Leichhardt in 1842.

“Port Stephens” by S. Prout and A. Willmore. facing page 129 from Australia by Edwin Carton Booth, F R. C. I. Illustrated with Drawings by Skinner Prout, N. Chevalier, &c. &c. In Two Volumes Vol. II London Virtue and Company Limited (1873-1876).

Friday 2nd December 1842

Leichhardt returns from walking expedition to Port Stephens after 4 days in the bush. Walks along Stockton Bight finds cask on the shore full of fresh water.

Saturday 3rd December 1842

Newcastle writes letter (71) to John Murphy Sydney – Description of walk to Port Stephens, cask on Stockton, casuarinas, Prout in Sydney and next week goes to Glendon and Patrick Plains

Sunday 4th December 1842

Newcastle writes letter (72) to W. Kirchner – description of journey to Brisbane Water (15th November to 22nd November) visit to Lake Macquarie, mission of Rev Threlkeld, Newport, Tuggerah Beach Creek (now Ourimbah Creek) Mr Healey, different route back to Newcastle through Mr Foster’s properties then along sea shore – last week went to Ash Island (circa Monday 28th November?) – Last Thursday Port Stephens – Sets out for Glendon on Thursday

Monday 5th December 1842

Leichhardt on a wallaby hunt.

Friday 9th December 1842

He leaves Newcastle on foot for Calvert’s holding. Buys a horse from Calvert.

 

LEICHHARDT’S JOURNEYS IN THE HUNTER REGION (GLENDON) ON HORSEBACK

Friday 9th December 1842 – 20th December 1842

(Letter 77) Leichhardt reports that left Newcastle and visits Mount Sugarloaf (9th), then Mr Scott’s Cattle Station at Minmi, From Minmi to Harper’s Hill, Visit to Mr Wyndham, Mr Kelman vineyard, takes 14 days to reach Glendon (from the 20th December 1842 to arrival on the 2 January 1843).

 

Friday 9th December 1842

Leichhardt rides from Calvert’s holding to Scott’s station at Minmi

Saturday 10th December 1842

Leichhardt ascends Mount Sugarlof with Callaghan

Monday 12th December 1842

Returns to Minmi

Tuesday 13th December 1842

To Maitland with Rorke

Wednesday 14th December 1842

At Harper’s Hill.

46. Harpurs Hill, 7th May 1841

Item 46. Harpurs [i.e. Harpers] Hill, 7th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Plate “Harpers Hill, Hunter River” S Prout H. Bibby facing page 128 from Australia by Edwin Carton Booth, F R. C. I. Illustrated with Drawings by Skinner Prout, N. Chevalier, &c. &c. In Two Volumes Vol. II London Virtue and Company Limited (1873-1876).

Friday 16th December 1842

Leaves Harper’s Hill. Thunderstorms. Through Wyndham’s to Dawson’s at Belford

Saturday 17th December 1842

Excursion with Porter to Black Creek and Blind Creek. Then with Porter to visit Kelman’s vineyard sometime after the 17th December.

Tuesday 20th December 1842

Arrives at Glendon

The Hunter at Glendon 3rd May 1841

Item 6 The Hunter at Glendon 3rd May 1841
from [Album of] Pencil sketches, watercolours, etc.
by C. Martens, O.W. Brierly, S.T. Gill, John Rae, C. Rodius and others, ca. 1823-1863
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=404878

f.70 Glendon. Unsigned. Dated 5th May 1841

f.70 Glendon. Unsigned. Dated ‘May 5th, 41’. Titled at lower right.
From: Album of cloud studies, mountain, bush and harbour scenes, ca. 1841-1850 drawn by Conrad Martens
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=825948

Wednesday 21st December 1842

Excursion to Jump up Creek

Thursday 22nd December 1842

Excursion downstream to Bell’s

Saturday 24th December 1842

Excursion up Glendon Brook to the coal

83. Tangorrin and Glendon Brook from near the Station, 4 May 1841

Item 83. Tangorrin and Glendon Brook from near the Station, 4 May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

Wednesday 28th December 1842

Exploration of Helenus Scott estate

Saturday 31st December 1842

On the way to Mount Tangorin

Monday 2nd January 1843

At Merranie

Tuesday 3rd January 1843

Tolka Tolka and Stanhope

Friday 6th January 1843

Visit to Mount Tyroman

Saturday 7th January 1843

Visit to Bukembelong (Blackguard Hill)

Sunday 8th January 1843

Visit to Jack Shea (mountain)

Monday 9th January 1843

Visit to Wargungunnie

Tuesday 10th January 1843

Leaves Poot yung gun

Sunday 15th January 1843

Returns to Glendon

Monday 16th January 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (73) to C. Schmalfuss – At the estate of Mr Helenus Scott Glendon (brother of A.W. Scott), description of hunter’s river

Monday 16th January 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (74) to Lt Robert Lynd – description of Harper’s Hill, Wyndham Vineyard, arrived at Glendon a fortnight ago (i.e. 2nd January 1843?), before this at Kilman vineyard, description of Glendon, Aboriginal names of mountains recorded with dates of visits to mountains/valleys

Monday 23rd January 1843

Went to Meranni 10 miles from Glendon – German or English miles?  (see letter 76) – Leichhardt is attacked by wild bullock? (see letter 77)

60. Mirranni from above the Station, 30th April 1841
From Conrad Martens sketches [of New South Wales 1835-1842]
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=446239

Tuesday 24th January 1843

Commenced journey to Mount Royal (see letter 76)

Wednesday 25th January 1843

Visit to house of Capt. Mayne on northern slope of Dyrinne, Piri, Mount Royal. Climbs Dyrring from St Clair (Captain Mayne’s station)

Thursday 26th January 1843

Makes camp in a hollow tree on flank of Piri

Sunday 29th January 1843

At Merannie

Monday 30th January 1843

Returns to Mayne’s station

Thursday 2nd February 1843

Return to Piri

Tuesday 14th February 1843

Returns to Glendon

Wednesday 15th February 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (75) to Walker Scott Newcastle

Sunday 19th February 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (76) to  Lt Robert Lynd Sydney

Tuesday 21st February 1843

Glendon. Writes letter (77) to W. Kirchner – description of trip to Glendon i.e. Sugarloaf , Minmi, etc

Wednesday 2nd March 1843

Glendon. Writes letter 78 to Lt Robert Lynd – precis of how he was occupied last 12 days Scott

Friday 4th March 1843

Leaves Glendon. First notices the great comet of 1843.

Friday 24th March 1843

Dalkeith. Writes letter (79) to Helenus Scott – stays at Bengalla near Muswellbrook

Historic Return of Newcastle Treasures for Exhibition

Invitation to Celebrating the Early History of Newcastle Event

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 Era Exhibition”, scheduled for 2 March to 5 May 2013, will see the return of the Macquarie Collector’s Chest, Wallis Album and Edward Charles Close Panorama, among many other artistic and historic treasures created in Newcastle almost two centuries ago.

The treasures are of immense significance to the people of Newcastle and the Hunter Region, and also of national and international significance in terms of the cultural evolution of the Australian people.

The Exhibition is being made possible through the collaboration of the Newcastle Region Art Gallery and The State Library of NSW with the generous support of Noble Resources. We are delighted with all the people that have made this happen. We applaud their efforts.

The video above was recorded by Gionni Di Gravio at the Event, which was held at the Fort Scratchley Historic Site Centre, and features the following speakers:

Mr Shane Frost – Managing Director – Awabakal Descendants Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation

Dr Alex Byrne – NSW State Librarian and Chief Executive

Mr Ron Ramsay – Director Newcastle Art Gallery

Cr Jeff McCloy – Lord Mayor of Newcastle

Click to examine higher resolution image of this view from The Wallis Album (reproduced for Event Invitation)

Illustration of a John Dory from the Wallis Album.

John Skinner Prout in Newcastle and the Hunter

Near Newcastle on the Hunter, New South Wales by John Skinner Prout (circa 1841)

The engraving above entitled “Near Newcastle on the Hunter, New South Wales” is from an original work by John Skinner Prout (1805-1876) and engraved by S. Bradshaw. It was reproduced facing page 126 in Volume 2 of Australia by Edwin Carton Booth, F R. C. I. Illustrated with Drawings by Skinner Prout, N. Chevalier, &c. &c. London: Virtue and Company Limited, (1873-1876).

It is an engraving from an original painting by held in an Album of drawings and watercolour sketches in the Mitchell Library State Library of New South Wales Call Number PXD 75. The Album is entitled [Sketches in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Norfolk Island, ca. 1841-1847] by John Skinner Prout. Direct Link: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=456951

Thanks to Ann Hardy who located and photographed this painting in the State Library of New South Wales.

Item 6. Near Newcastle on the Hunter River by John Skinner Prout.
Photographed by Ann Hardy. Courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales

Item 6. Near Newcastle on the Hunter River by John Skinner Prout. (Courtesy of the State Library of New South Wales)
From the Album is entitled [Sketches in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Norfolk Island, ca. 1841-1847] Call Number PXD 75.
View Album information and selected scans here: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=456951

At a recent meeting of the Government Domain committee, Ann Hardy noted that the hand coloured engraving of this same scene held in the Newcastle Art Gallery and photographed by Bruce Turnbull for the researchers at the University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Party (see the image here http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/4070494440/ ) could not be dated to 1874, as the windmill could be seen. The windmill was originally built in 1820, decommissioned by 1847 and replaced with the Obelisk in 1850 that stands on the site to this day.

Therefore the original scene must originate from before 1850. We have digitised the section from the original book including the text and the plates. They can be accessed on our Flickr site here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157630614192448/

Through our Coal River Facebook Page Professor Nancy Cushing added that:

John Skinner Prout came to New South Wales with his family in 1840 and left again in 1848. His “Near Newcastle on the Hunter, N.S.W.” was made during that time and later published in volume seven of Australia Illustrated by Edwin Booth (London, 1873 – 76). It would seem that the date of publication by Booth has been taken as the date of creation. See Garry Darby, “Skinner Prout in Australia, 1840 – 1848″, Art and Australia 25, 1 (Spring 1987). An interesting comparison is with Conrad Martens, “From Burwood Near Newcastle”, which is dated 1841.

Thanks to the Design Art and Australia entry on John Skinner Prout (http://www.daao.org.au/bio/john-skinner-prout/) we were able to narrow this period down to the years 1840-1844, which was the period he was resident in Sydney New South Wales.

 

We have also found reference to him among the letters of Ludwig Leichhardt. Writing from Newcastle Leichhardt recommended John Skinner Prout (as “Mr Proud” or “Mr. Proudt”) as an art teacher for John Murphy, a plasterer living in Castlereagh Street Sydney. His letter is dated 11 October 184(2). He writes another in December 1842 checking up on how the lessons are going. Leichhardt was based in Newcastle from September 1842 – c.April 1843, so it is possible that they may have met during September 1842 or earlier.

 

Comparing the image above with the pencil drawing by Conrad Martens held in the Mitchell Library and dated the 11th May 1841, we can see that the scenes are almost identical except for the Aboriginal people inserted into the work. Martens records the location as being “Shepherds Hill From Burwood near Newcastle”.

Item 87 From Burwood near Newcastle, 11th May 1841, Shepherds Hill
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

The next engraving in the book is that of Harpers Hill, compare it with that of Conrad Marten’s dated 7th May 1841:

“Harpers Hill, Hunter River” by John Skinner Prout

Item 46. Harpurs [i.e. Harpers] Hill, 7th May 1841
from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

“Port Stephens” by John Skinner Prout

 Item 69 Tahlee, Port Stephens 21st April 1841 from Sketches in Australia, 1835-1865 by Conrad Martens (1801-1878)
View Album: http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=457268#

As we can see the images were drawn from the same locations. Prout adds details such as sheep, kangaroos, but the locations are essentially the same. So we can be confident that the Newcastle, Harpers Hill and Port Stephens scenes were those taken on the spot in the 1840s, and later engraved for publication in the 1870s. Whether both Prout and Martens were companions on these excursions is also open to further discussion.

Gionni Di Gravio
University of Newcastle (Australia)

Highlights of Murrurundi Pride of Place Seminar

The 2012 Hunter Heritage Network seminar was held in beautiful historic Murrurundi in the upper Hunter Valley. Sponsored by the Upper Hunter Shire Council.

Government Farm c1810 Archaeological site visit

On the 29th August 2009 members of the University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Party were invited to inspect the archaeological dig being undertaken on the site of the former Palais Royale (now KFC) site in Newcastle West.

This is the second visit to to the site to speak with archaeologist Matthew Kelly (AHMS) who was overseeing the investigation of the colonial history of the site. The previous day was spent with archaeologist Alan Williams inspecting the Aboriginal heritage finds.

Lycett painting of Newcastle circa 1817 showing former Palais site at far right. Courtesy of Newcastle Art Gallery (Photograph by Bruce Turnbull)

An early representation of the site can be found on this painting by Joseph Lycett, held in the Newcastle Gallery entitled “Newcastle, New South Wales, looking towards Prospect Hill.” circa 1816-1817. It appears as a small white dot at the right edge of the painting.
In the video topics discussed were:
1. the high research value of high resolution historic images being placed online by the University in the form of the Ralph Snowball images,
2. the discussion of ‘Trench 4′ the site of the Commandant’s Cottage circa 1810 on the site of the Government Farm,
3. McLellan Hellyer and Co. Ironmongers store destroyed by fire in 1890 see Image here
4. Aboriginal site, hearths and ancient dune system approximate dating (at the time of filming) to the Holocene 10,000 years and younger,
5. Dangar’s Meat Preserving Works 1848-c1854,
6. Demolition work undertaken on the former Palais Royale and subsequent damage to the site.

We are very interested in learning more of the colonial heritage of the site that involves the clearing of the land in the 1790s, the establishment of the Government Cottage and farm (c.1810), Henry Dangar’s Meat Preserving Works 1848-c1854, the Elite Skating Rink, McLellan Hellyer & Co., leading up to the Palais Royale.

Despite requests we are yet to see the second report of the archaeological dig encompassing the colonial history from this important site in Newcastle.

Gionni Di Gravio
Chair, CRWP

For more info:

Click here for the first report on Aboriginal Heritage of the site (11.4MB PDF)

Click here for a video presentation by Alan Williams (AHMS) 30th September 2011

Highlights from the 2011 Hunter Heritage Network Seminar

On the 30th September 2011 the NSW Minister for Heritage and the Environment, The Hon. Robyn Parker MP addressed the Hunter Heritage Network Seminar at the University of Newcastle (Australia).

The Minister was welcomed by Deputy Vice Chancellor Kevin McConkey and Mr Greg Anderson, Manager University Libraries.

The Minister for Heritage Robyn Parker addressed the Network about her vision for heritage. In particular, Minister Parker is concerned about the current protections for Aboriginal heritage and has initiated the current review process in seeking to address this.

The Network welcomed the Minster’s commitment to improving heritage legislation and will be making a submission to the review of Aboriginal protections and the Environmental Planning and Assessment reforms.

The Minister was presented with a framed historic poster of the Duckenfield farms area, where she lives. The plan is part of the University’s Cultural Collections treasures and can be seen in high resolution here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/5907232177/

For more info: http://hunterheritagenetwork.org/

On the same day, Mr Alan Williams (AHMS) addressed the Hunter Heritage Network Seminar at the University of Newcastle (Australia), and spoke about his work on the archaeological dig at the former Palais Royale/now KFC site in Newcastle West (Australia).

For more information and copy of the final report on the Aboriginal heritage of the site: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/aboriginal-archaeological-report-for-former-palais-site-released/

Professor Michael Rosenthal on Edward Charles Close

Panorama of Newcastle 1821
formerly attributed to Sophia Campbell, currently acknowledged as the work of Edward Charles Close.
Click on image for a larger view. (Courtesy of the State Library of NSW)

Click here for a 360 panorama of the painting prepared by Dr Michael Meany
Panorama 1821 – 360 degree (Quicktime) by Michael Meany (1.4 MB) (View in Quicktime only)

The School of Humanities and Social Science is proud to present the first of its 2012 History Seminar series in Cultural Collections Auchmuty Library.

Professor Michael Rosenthal from the History of Art Department at Warwick University will deliver a presentation on the work of Morpeth founder and recently acknowledged Colonial artist, Edward Charles Close, and the wider technical problems in dealing with Australian colonial art. Professor Rosenthal has a long standing interest in the Macquarie era and this lecture will be of interest to researchers interested in history, colonial art and its creators.

History seminars convenor Dr Camilla Russell with Professor Rosenthal

Abstract

In 2009 Dr David Hansen discovered that the watercolours attributed to amateur colonial artist, Sophia Campbell were the work of Lieutenant Edward Close, of the 48th Regiment, which arrived in Sydney on August 3rd, 1817.

This paper builds on Dr Hansen’s foundation, to discuss some of the technical problems surrounding even knowing what we’re looking at in the field of colonial Australian art, and works are discussed according to their genre – caricatures, views, landscapes – and the latter are investigated with a view to decoding what messages their aesthetic references tell us about how Close was viewing New South Wales, Sydney and Newcastle.

These in turn are linked into other issues – the ethos of the Macquarie era, the impact of European occupation upon the Aborigines and their places – to argue that art can be as eloquent as any written documentation about the actualities of historical process.

Chair of the CRWP Gionni Di Gravio with Professor Rosenthal looking over paintings and plans of early Newcastle.

 

Professor Rosenthal in discussion with CRWP members Ann Hardy, Russell Rigby and Gionni Di Gravio

Biography

Michael Rosenthal BA, PhD (London), MA (Cantab) studied at the Courtauld Institute, and was Leverhulme Research Fellow at Jesus College, Cambridge, before arriving at Warwick, where he has remained for 35 years. He has held various fellowships in Australia and the US, and was lead curator of the Gainsborough exhibition at Tate Britain in 2002. His research has concentrated on the arts within British social and cultural histories, mainly of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and he has had an abiding concern with landscape. Most recently he worked on colonial art in Australia 1788-1840; about which he is writing a book, The Artless Landscape. Michael Rosenthal is currently undertaking  research towards a second book on colonial Australia; Governor Macquarie’s Culture.

Click here for Professor Rosenthal’s article:

“The Extraordinary Mr Earle” by Michael Rosenthal
in The World Upside Down  (published by the National Library of Australia 2000)

Unveiling the Wallis Album

On the 20th February 2012 a ceremony was held at the Newcastle Art Gallery to unveil the Wallis Album.

The Wallis Album Unveiled

The Wallis Album was compiled by Captain James Wallis, who was Commandant of the Newcastle penal settlement from June 1816 to December 1818. Of the 35 works, the album features many by convict artist Joseph Lycett whom Wallis developed an association with after he was sent to Newcastle in 1815 for re-offending.

Digitised images from the  complete Wallis album are now available on the Mitchell Library web-site:

Catalogue:
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=954703

Thumbnails of all pages:
http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/album/albumView.aspx?acmsID=954703&itemID=957996

This album was a personal copy of a printed book by Captain James Wallis, supplemented with extra paintings, sketches and annotations relating to the Aboriginal people in Newcastle, as well as landscapes,  flora and fauna of the area including an impossibly rare sketch of Throsby Creek. This work was a gift to his wife, and represents not only his love for her, but also his love for Newcastle and the Hunter Region. It is quite unique and a real treasure.

Sample page from The Wallis Album

The printed work is entitled: An historical account of the colony of New South Wales and its dependent settlements : in illustration of twelve views / engraved by W. Preston from drawings taken on the spot by Captain Wallis. To which is subjoined An accurate map of Port Macquarie and the newly discovered River Hastings / by J. Oxley
London : Printed for R. Ackermann by J. Moyes, 1821

see: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622518218701/with/4036153890/

This Album is one of the most significant collections of convict-era artworks ever discovered, and was unveiled to the public for the first time at the Newcastle Art Gallery, in the city in which it was created.

Dr Alex Byrne taking the Wallis Album out of its box

Richard Neville, Mitchell Librarian said that the album had been kept in a cupboard in Canada by a Wallis descendant.

Mr Richard Neville, Mitchell Librarian

Richard Neville, Mitchell Librarian said:

One could see immediately how important [the album was] and how vital it was to purchase it. The last time the album was in Australia was on the third of March, 1819, when Captain Wallis put it in a ship and took it back to England.

The Wallis album really is without a doubt the most significant pictorial artefact to have been made in colonial NSW during the 1810s, and is also the only known collection that relates so directly to Wallis’ time in NSW.

Portraits of Aboriginal people from this region and era are extraordinarily rare, and it shows that Wallis enjoyed a certain familiarity with the Indigenous people during his time in Newcastle.

In fact, we have a letter in the Library’s collection where Wallis talks fondly about the beauty of the Newcastle district and his pleasurable hunting expeditions with Burigon, who is featured in this portrait.

In anticipation

The NSW State Library bought the album at auction for $1.8 million.

Wallis Album unveiled by Dr Alex Byrne

Arts Minister George Souris said it was important to bring the album back to where most of its works were created.

The Hon. George Souris, NSW Minister for the Arts

The Hon. George Souris, NSW Minister for the Arts said:

This remarkable album is a vital piece of colonial history for Newcastle and Australia, and I commend the State Library of NSW for securing it for the nation after it was discovered in the back of a cupboard in Canada last year.

The album has a strong link to the people of Newcastle and the local Indigenous communities, so it is wonderful that local residents have been given the first opportunity to view it at the Newcastle Art Gallery.”

Gallery director Ron Ramsey described the album as a treasure ”greater than the jewels of Elizabeth Taylor and so much cheaper”.

Mr Ron Ramsay, Director of the Newcastle Art Gallery

For ABC radio interviews by Carol Duncan see: http://blogs.abc.net.au/nsw/2012/02/the-wallis-album.html?site=newcastle&…

Aunty Nola embraced by Tim Owen, Member for Newcastle

This video represents the highlights of the ceremony. Speakers include:

Mr Ron Ramsay, Director of the Newcastle Art Gallery
Mr Richard McGuiness, Guraki Aboriginal Advisory Committee
Aunty Nola Hawken, Awabakal Descendent and Traditional Owner
Councillor John S. Tate, Lord Mayor of Newcastle
Rob Thomas, President of the Library Council of New South Wales
Richard Neville, Mitchell Librarian
The Hon. George Souris, NSW Minister for the Arts
The Opening and Unveiling of the Wallis Album
Tim Owen, Member for Newcastle Presents Album to Aunty Nola Hawken
Dr Alex Byrne, NSW State Librarian & Chief Executive

Aunty Nola Hawken – Awabakal Descendent and Traditional Owner

Dr Alex Byrne, NSW State Librarian & Chief Executive

According to Dr Alex Byrne, NSW State Librarian and Chief Executive:

The Wallis album is a sensational new addition to the Mitchell Library collection, the world’s largest and most renowned storehouse of records relating to the history of our nation…The State Library is absolutely committed to connecting the original documents of Australia with local communities, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with the Newcastle Art Gallery in sharing this object that has obvious historical and emotional significance to Newcastle.”

Dr Byrne speaking with Aunty Nola, Aunty Kerrie and Mrs Macquarie (Anne Creevey)

Sample page from the Wallis Album

Aunty Nola with family viewing the Wallis Album

This video was filmed and prepared by Gionni Di Gravio, University of Newcastle Archivist and Chair of the Coal River Working Party.