National Nomination for Newcastle 2012

A map of the area showing the two Precincts and the Convict Lumber Yard for National Heritage Listing

National Nomination – Coal River & Government Domain 2012
By Ann Hardy and Gionni Di Gravio (1.1MB PDF File)

The following cover letter with copy of the National Nomination for Newcastle 2012 was sent to:

Sharon Grierson MP,  Federal Member for Newcastle

Tim Owen MP, State Member for Newcastle

Cr. John Tate, Lord Mayor of Newcastle

 

‘Coal River (Mulubinba) and Government Domain’ National nomination for the Commonwealth Heritage List

 

We are writing to inform you that the ‘Coal River (Mulubinba) and Government Domain’ National nomination for the Commonwealth Heritage List was submitted by the University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Party in February 2012 to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

We believe that the ‘Coal River (Mulubinba) and Government Domain’ is deserving of official National recognition because it was the site of Australia’s first discoveries of coal (1791 and 1796), the first export (1799), and first return (1801).

It has therefore played an important and unique role in launching the Nation’s economy, which has forged the economic, political and social evolution of Australia. It is truly a ‘Birthplace’ site in terms of how human collaborations in these early years created a distinctive social and political process that helped establish a more democratic society in Australia. This evolution from the harsh days of convict labour to a more civil society and the beginnings of private enterprise led to improved living and working conditions in Australia.

The nomination contains two Precincts: the Coal River Precinct (encompassing Nobbys, Macquarie Pier and Fort Scratchley) and Newcastle Government Domain (encompassing the James Fletcher Hospital site, Obelisk and King Edward Park). Also included is the Convict Lumber Yard, which lies in close proximity to both Precincts. These sites are indicative of the European formation of the settlement and its governance as a shared heritage.

Coal River (Mulubinba) and Government Domain is of outstanding National heritage significance because it is a place of ‘living history’, where Aboriginal and Colonial lifestyle is mirrored in the landscape. These two cultures reflect the early Aboriginal and European association with the place and their use of the land and how these cultures came together to tell a unique story. In Aboriginal Dreaming Nobbys (Whibayganba) was place of an imprisoned kangaroo, as was Newcastle (Mulubinba) a place for the incarceration of convicts. Newcastle was also the site of the first thorough and methodical study an Aboriginal language in the country, conducted by the Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld with Biraban in 1824. Their work is still used to this day by linguists in the reconstruction of Aboriginal Languages across the Region.

Newcastle is the site of the earliest profitable coalmines in the Southern Hemisphere. According to the 1930 Royal Commission into the Coal Industry (p.50):

‘The discovery of good quality coal dates from the earliest period of white settlement in Australia… During early exploration of the coastal belt outcrops of coal were found near Newcastle in 1796 and at Coal Cliff, near Wollongong in the following year. The importance of the discovery was not overlooked at the time, although there was no knowledge then of the immense extent of these coal beds, which have been by far the most productive of all that have been discovered in Australia and have exercised a powerful influence upon the development of New South Wales.’

Coal Cliff proved unworkable, yet Newcastle (Coal River) proved to be the site of the first export of coal shipped to Bengal in 1799:

‘We have also some hopes that coal with which the country abounds will be of much Colonial advantage. A ship lately returned to Bengal loaded with coals, and it gave no small satisfaction to every person interested in the prosperity of the colony to see this first export of it; and I am hopeful from these advantages that New South Wales, however contemptible it may at present appear in the list of our colonies, may yet become an acquisition of value to the mother country.
- 1799, September 8.’ (Mr John Thomson to Captain Schanck, H.R.N.S.W., Vol. III, pp. 716 – 718)

Coal River was also the site of the first return (or profit) made in the fledgling colony of New South Wales, (2 pounds, 5 shillings) and was recorded by Governor King in a letter to Sir Joseph Banks in August 1801

‘The first cargo of coals brought from the Coal River in a Government vessel I exchanged with the master of the Cornwallis, who goes to Bengal from hence for iron, which he gave at 30 per cent. Profit for our coals at two pounds five shillings per chaldron. I believe this is the first return ever made from New South Wales.’ (Governor King to Sir Joseph Banks (Banks Papers.), H.R.N.S.W., Vol.IV, p. 359).

Newcastle on a cultural level was also the site of the first full length autobiography ever written in Australia, by James Hardy Vaux (1782 – c.1841) and his Vocabulary of the Flash Language the first dictionary ever compiled in Australia around the years 1811-1814, probably on the site of the Convict Lumber Yard. Newcastle’s artisans also created the Macquarie Chest, the most significant cultural artefact of the Colonial period.

We believe that Commonwealth Heritage recognition for Newcastle and the Hunter Region is long overdue. This is our third attempt at striving for National recognition for our city and region’s role in the making of this prosperous Nation.

Your support for this National nomination is crucial and greatly appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Gionni Di Gravio
University Archivist
Chair – Coal River Working Party
Cultural Collections
Level 2 Auchmuty Library
University of Newcastle
Callaghan NSW 2308
Australia

Conservation for Rare Fort Scratchley Plan 1879

Defences N.S.W. Newcastle Fort General Plan of the Works with Contours & Lines of Sections, 1879

This week the Fort Scratchley Historical Society sent us an important and rare plan of the Fort works dating from 1879 for emergency conservation work. Fort Scratchley Representative on the Coal River Working Party, Mr Bill Hanley delivered the plan to us after Monday’s meeting. We were asked to look at the plan, advise and carry out any conservation work as necessary, with the intention of having it digitised at some point in the future for public access.

The fragile plan was carefully unrolled. The title was noted as “Tracing of Plan No. 1 Defences N.S.W. Newcastle Fort General Plan of the Works with Contours & Lines of Sections. Scale 1/16 of an Inch to a Foot.”

Note in ink "Defence Works Office Sydney May 1879 - JJS"

Extent of damage to 1879 Fort Plan

At the bottom of the plan were the words inscribed in ink “Defence Works Office Sydney May 1879 – JJS”. The linen plan’s condition was poor, and very brittle especially on its right side, showing evidence throughout of mould attack and water damage sustained over the years. Luckily the badly torn and damaged portions were at the extremity of the plan with little of the drawing.

This is a very rare plan, as it predates the construction of the Fort, and appears to record the mines beneath as well as the Harbour Masters Residence and buildings that were replaced with the Fort works. Four shafts, presumably coal mine shafts are noted on the Plan as No.1, No 2, No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. It would be very important to ascertain their relation to the mine drifts located on the 1856 Adams Plan of Flag Staff Hill Newcastle. We know that an extensive survey of the convict era mines was conducted in the 1880s under Thomas Croudace to stabilise the mine workings to take the new Fort Works, but unfortunately a search of NSW State Archives could not locate the survey. So this plan provides new hope that such a detailed map of the drives could still exist among the Defence archives in Canberra.

Extent of water and mould damage to 1879 Fort Plan

Our conservator, Amir Mogadam, set about carefully ironing out the creases in the linen in preparation for emergency repair. The emergency conservation was conducted to stop the progress of the torn area extending across the rest of the plan. To preserve the historic picturesque nature and authenticity of the plan the conservation measures were limited to preserve the current condition and repairing the damaged areas as an emergency action. The repaired plan was then relocated to protective mylar sheets with inserted paper buffers and is being gently flattened on the plan cabinets. In the new year we will seek advice on the most appropriate method to digitise this plan.

Emergency conservation work in progress - ironing out the creases

Emergency conservation work in progress - ironing out the creases

We then trialled the repair of the tears using Japanese paper moistened with distilled water. It worked a treat and so all the tears were repaired.

Emergency conservation work in progress - repairing tears

Points of Interest – Harbour Masters Residence

Points of Interest - Harbour Masters Residence

Points of Interest - No 1 Shaft

Points of Interest - No 2 Shaft

Points of Interest - No 3 Shaft

Points of Interest - No 4 Shaft

Repaired plan in mylar sheeting with paper buffers on plan cabinet

Annual Report 2009

COAL RIVER WORKING PARTY – ANNUAL REPORT 2009

The Chair hereby lists the CRWP’s achievements for the year 2009 in accordance with the University of Newcastle’s Building Distinction Strategic Plan 2007‐2011: University Strategic Priority: (2) International research profile and impact (3) Indigenous Collaboration and (4) Community Partnerships and Engagement and Vice Chancellor’s Your Voice Staff Climate Survey Action Plan 2008: Key Action: Cross University Co‐operation.

We thank the University of Newcastle for their support, especially DVC (Academic) Professor Kevin McConkey and Mr Greg Anderson University Librarian. Thanks also to the Administration Team at Facilities Management who provided parking permits for our community members.

In 2009 Newcastle celebrated the 150th anniversary of local government in Newcastle.  It was a year of broadening horizons and we continued to support and promote the Newcastle City Council’s unanimously adopted Coal River Heritage Precinct Interpretation plan (Pizzey Report).

In September we undertook a review of all we wanted to achieve and took the opportunity to refine our mission objectives, goals and the necessary actions needed to achieve them. See here: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/goals/

Our mission is to attain world recognition for Newcastle and the Hunter Region’s historical contribution to the development of the Australian nation. Newcastle has been all but written out of the history of Australia and even NSW. According to Libby Robin’s How a Continent Created a Nation (2007), Nigeria has played a more important role in the creation of the Australian Nation. Is this an acceptable situation for Australia’s second oldest city?

As you can see there are many activities that our University staff and students, business partners and community volunteers are working on. We greatly appreciate the time and effort everyone has volunteered putting into this essential work.

In May 2009 we featured as one of five case studies in a Family Action Centre report on the University’s Engaged Research. According to this report, the key elements of Engaged Research are an intention to address a critical public issue; a mutual and beneficial exchange of knowledge and/or expertise; and scholarly and rigorous methodologies, including peer review. In Engaged Research, researchers respond to a specific issue or problem that a community has identified or jointly developed through researcher and community collaboration. The community plays an active role in helping set the research agenda. Furthermore, the research is conducted in such a way that it produces a body of work that can be used by the wider community to better the community. (Hartman et al, 2009)

Our achievements for this year illustrate the CRWP’s engaged research in action.

GOAL 1. TO HAVE NEWCASTLE AND THE HUNTER REGION’S IMPORTANT HISTORIC SITES INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED

In February a new National Nomination for the Coal River (Mulubinba) Cultural Landscape was prepared on behalf of the CRWP and sent to the Nominations Division of the Commonwealth Department of Environment, Heritage and the Arts.

GOAL 2. TO ENSURE OUR LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORKS ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY FOR OUR HERITAGE

Our members are organising a workshop by the Environmental Defenders Office to be held next year as part of the Macquarie 2010 celebrations. This will allow us to understand how the current legislation works.

GOAL 3. TO LOCATE, AND PHYSICALLY OR DIGITALLY REPATRIATE ARCHIVAL RECORDS OF HISTORICAL RESEARCH IMPORTANCE TO THE REGION

We continue to identify archival records relating to the region and located elsewhere, which the intention of digitally repatriating these records to the local community.

The following research collections, books and pamphlets held by the University have been digitised and placed online free of charge:

Ralph Snowball Glass Plate Negatives (Norm Barney Photographic Collection) – 38 boxes containing 864 Snowball glass negatives have been documented, cleaned, scanned and uploaded to Flickr, along with NEWCAT catalogue  entries for all. The negatives date from 1885 to 1923. 161 Glass plate original listings have also been digitised and uploaded.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157608912691810/

Wallis, James, 1785?-1858. 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. Photographed by Associate Professor Allan Chawner and prepared by Gionni Di Gravio.
http://uoncc.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/james-wallis-historical-account-of-new-south-wales-1821-online/

Souvenir of the Maitland Flood 1913, (Davies and Cannington Ltd, Federal Printing Works Newcastle, 1913) Digitised by Brenda Sullivan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622553465069/

Memento of Maitland Floods, (T Dimmock Ltd, Maitland 1913?) Digitised by Brenda Sullivan.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622678928696/

Broughton, W.G. and Threlkeld, L.E. A Selection of Prayers for the Morning and Evening From The Service of the Church of England Intended for the introduction of publick worship Amongst The Aborigines of Australia, 1834. The Venerable W.G. Broughton M.A. Arch Deacon of New South Wales and its Dependencies. Translated Into the Northumberland Dialect by L.E. Threlkeld, 1834. [3.75MB PDF] Courtesy of the Mitchell Library. Thank you to Dr Jim Wafer for alerting us to its existence. We also sincerely thank Mrs Marjorie Raven, great grand daughter of the late Reverend Threlkeld for her permission to publish this manuscript online.
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/Resources/Divisions/Academic/Library/Cultural Collections/pdf/1834-prayers.pdf

Bramble, Christine W. Relations between Aborigines and White Settlers in Newcastle and the Hunter District 1804-1841 with special reference to the influence of the penal establishment. Dissertation submitted as part of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Letters in History at the University of New England. January 1981. [4.24MB PDF] Made available for download with the kind permission of the Author.
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/service/archives/aboriginalstudies/pdf/1981-bramble-aborigines.pdf

Henry Taylor Plews “On the Coalfield of New South Wales” was published in Volume VI of the Transactions of the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers (1858).
http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/on-the-coalfield-of-new-south-wales-by-henry-taylor-plews-1858/

Excelsior Land Investment & Building Company & Bank. Plans, views and particulars of the Toronto Estate, Lake Macquarie, for sale by the Excelsior Land Investment & Building Company & Bank Ltd [Sydney : The Company?, 1887?]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622086704813/

Student Research Papers in Australian History was a serial published by the University of Newcastle’s History Club, Department of History, and featured some of the best papers on Australian history written by undergraduate history students at the time. Nos 1-8 complete of the Student Research Papers in Australian History, published during the period 1976-1983 were digitized and available here:
http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/university-research-papers-on-newcastle-and-hunter-region/

Legislative Assembly. New South Wales. Breakwater at Stockton. (Report of Mr. Moriarty Upon Advisability of.) Ordered by the Legislative Assembly to be Printed, 27 April 1858. With Moriarty’s Plan of the Harbour of Newcastle Shewing the Proposed Extension of the Northern Pier. Thank you to Mr Rod Caldwell who kindly arranged for his personal copy to be digitised and provided for us to publish to the wider research community.
http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/the-moriarty-1858-plan/

GOAL 4. TO RESEARCH, INVESTIGATE AND VERIFY HISTORICAL EVIDENCE

1801 Carved Tree
On the 208th anniversary, 12 members of the University of Newcastle’s Coal River Working Party and local landowners and community embarked on a mission to Mt Elizabeth. Mount Elizabeth was the furthest west that the original 1801 Survey party led by Colonel Paterson reached on the 10 July 1801. On the peak they left two blazed trees with their initials and date 1801 which we had hoped to re-discover. CRWP investigators located one of these two blazed trees and are now awaiting confirmation from a Dendrochronologist to examine the tree and independently date the tree and the blaze. Please see interim report on CRWP blog: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/in-search-of-two-carved-trees-from-the-1801-expedition/

Stockton ‘Mystery’ Ship
A ground penetrating radar (GPR) attempt to locate the ‘mystery ship’ in Stockton Caravan Park (NCC Council Land) was made on 30 October 2009. This proved inconclusive as the presence of underground water created anomalies in the survey result.

Former James Fletcher Hospital Site
With regards to Newcastle Government House and Barracks Historic Site (1804) – former James Fletcher Hospital site the Government Domain Committee has been formed to ensure that this Government Domain remains in public hands with Heritage Listing and an imaginative Masterplan for its future use. This goal also supports community-engaged research for one of our post grad students, as Ann is researching this historic site as part of her PhD thesis.

Archeological Scoping Document Coal River Heritage Precinct
Work continues on a scoping document for Archaeological investigations of the gunpowder tunnels under Nobbys and underground brick water tank on Nobbys summit, excavation of convict mine drifts under Fort Scratchley and archaeological investigation of Macquarie Pier.

Wollombi – Mt Yengo Research
On 14 February 2009 we participated along with academics from the University of Newcastle and the University of Sydney as guest speakers at the Laguna Community Hall to discuss with the local community the importance of Wollombi and Mount Yengo’s ‘Library of Stone’. Two visits with conservator Amir Mogadam and rock art specialists were conducted to sites in the Mount Yengo and Congewai districts for advice on lichens and natural erosion in rock art and engraving sites.

GOAL 5. TO INSPIRE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE TO PROMOTE HERITAGE ACROSS THE WIDER COMMUNITY

National Trust Festival 2009 – Our Place in Space – Under the Southern Cross
University of Newcastle’s CRWP assisted with the Heritage Trust Festival 2009 – Our Place in Space – Under the Southern Cross. Chair was MC for Cocktail party at Monet’s Cottage in the grounds of the historic James Fletcher Hospital. The University’s Dr Troy Duncan spoke about the history of this mental health institution that first opened in 1871. Videos of the presentation and poems were uploaded to UoNCC’s You Tube Channel, blog and Facebook site.
http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/our-place-in-space-under-the-southern-cross/

Sesquicentenary Celebrations Colin Spiers’ A Slender Strand of Memories and Allan Chawner’s Dawn of a New Era.
It was back in late 2007 that the Coal River Working Party initiated discussions that would eventually lead to a new Symphonic work commissioned in dedication of Newcastle in over 50 years. The work was previewed at the launch of Associate Professor Allan Chawner’s extraordinary ‘Dawn of a New Era’ photographic exhibition in June 2009 to commemorate the 150th celebration of the formation of the Borough of Newcastle. See: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/the-dawn-of-a-new-era-preview-of-new-orchestral-work-for-newcastle/

The World Premiere of A Slender Strand of Memories by Colin Spiers was performed on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 3pm in Newcastle City Hall (Australia). The symphony is a commemorative work evoking an emotional response to a great city’s past by linking this to our common, present aspirations and hopes for the future. It uses text that comes from various periods of Newcastle’s history. One text in particular that features in the work is Charles Holmes’ diary (1889) that was donated to Cultural Collections a number of years ago by local historian Wendy Swan. I’m sure she, as well as Charles Holmes himself, will be thrilled that it has now made it into a symphonic and choral work celebrating Newcastle. A Slender Strand of Memories was performed by a 64 piece orchestra comprising University of Newcastle music students and professionals and a 160 voice choir comprising the Newcastle University Choir, the award winning University of Newcastle Chamber Choir, the University of Newcastle Student Choir, and the Callaghan Childrens Choir. A webite containing story, video and photographs from the event was created on the CRWP blog and uploaded to the UoNCC’s You Tube Channel:
http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/11/01/world-premiere-a-slender-strand-of-memories-by-colin-spiers/

Andrew Cavill’s ‘Midden’
We had all but given up hope in attracting architecture students when Andrew Cavill approached us earlier in the year interested in indigenous building techniques and spotting on the website that we needed an interpretive centre. Andrew then went on to meet and discuss the creation of a new ‘Opera House’ iconic building for Newcastle, whose elegant design and beautiful approach brought tears to the eyes. He launched his design for the Coal River Discovery and Interpretation Centre (The Midden) at [In Transit] University of Newcastle Final Year Architecture Exhibition 2009 on Friday November 13th 2009 at the Architecture Design Studio University of Newcastle. Links to the opening as well as display boards were uploaded to the Blog. See: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/the-midden-is-launched/

1828 Mitchell Survey
Mr Chris Towers and Troy Sumner, two final year surveying students have prepared an excellent report on Sir Thomas Mitchell’s survey sketches of Newcastle. They presented their findings at a seminar held on Friday 6 November 2009. Both students will again present their findings and report at the next meeting of the CRWP on the 7 December 2009 1-3pm. Dr Ann Lllewellyn’s scientific illustration students who worked on the identical sketches will also present their work. The survey report has been placed on the Coal River blog. See: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/key-documents/

Newcastle’s history in the dramatic arts
Under Gillian Arrighi’s supervision two delightful student productions were created along historical themes entitled The Story of the ‘Big Red Kangeroo/The Tale of Nobbys’ and the Newcastle Rail Line Performance. Honours student Brook Alexander is also being assisted in her Mayfield Pool Community Arts practice research. Another exciting production on the history of the James Fletcher Hospital site by Hunter Writer’s Centre director Brian Joyce The SIGHTSOUNDMIN(e)D theatrical performance premiered at the Conservatorium of Music on Friday 27 November and will be an exciting starting point for public engagement with the James Fletcher site and its place in Newcastle’s history and a good lead-in to the celebrations in 2010.

Next year marks the beginnings of the Macquarie 2010 celebrations, and we hope we will be able to continue to serve the community as best we can, to promote the history of this region and its historic importance to the making of this nation.

I sincerely thank you all for your generous assistance in furthering these aims and objectives.

I Remain,
Your most obedient and humble Servant,
Gionni Di Gravio

Newcastle in 1945

Story of a City – Newcastle 1945 from bob cook on Vimeo.

This is a real treasured snapshot in film of Newcastle in 1945. Thanks to Marcus Westbury for posting it on his Facebook page. See a number of other videos of historical interest to Newcastle and the Region on Bob Cook’s Vimeo site, many by Bob himself. Thanks Bob.

For Newcastle in historic film see the British Pathe site:
http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/newcastle-and-related-newsreels-from-british-pathe/

Coal River Working Party reviews Goal and Objectives

'Newcastle Heads' from the Illustrated Sydney News 26 June 1875 p.13

Over the past couple of weeks,  we have reviewed all the activities in which we are involved, and have taken to opportunity to refine our Mission objectives, goals and the necessary actions needed to achieve them. Please have a look at our Goals page by clicking on the tab on the blog’s header or located here: http://coalriver.wordpress.com/goals/.

As you can see there are many activities that our University, business partners and community volunteers are working on. We greatly appreciate the time and effort everyone is putting into this essential work.

Why is this work essential?

Newcastle’s history is closely bound up in the plight of history in Australia. The Colonial settlement that was set up here a couple of hundred years ago was a convict jail, and understandably, our records were not kept with the inmates, but with the jailers.

Our archival heritage is somewhere else, broken up like Humpty Dumpty and scattered to the four winds. The result is that we don’t really know who we are. We also seem quite content to bulldoze the past and cover it in concrete, as though something new and shiny will make everything alright.

The irony is, the more you look back, the further you see into the future. If you don’t know where you’ve been, you can’t know where you are going.

With the arrival of local archival repositories in the 1960s and 1970s, in the form of the Newcastle Region Public Library’s Local Studies and the University’s Archives, our region finally had a chance to locally safeguard its archival records for future generations.

It is impossible to write history without archival records, and so,  it is equally crucial that we try to locate our historic records and study them. And while it’s futile to believe that we can put Humpty Dumpty exactly back together again, it’s vital that we know what became of the pieces and how they fit into a wider tapestry or mosaic of knowledge. Our work in re-assembling this mosaic proves to be more interesting with each new piece, and it is thrilling (and fun) that our history could prove more interesting and challenging than we had ever dreamed.

Once a cohesive narrative(s) begins to be re-established based upon the extant archival records and sources, we also need to then verify that evidence with surviving physical evidence, and that is why we have tried very hard to seek archaeologists to help us. With ancient Aboriginal culture this work entails documenting and recording their ‘archives’ which take the form of cave paintings and engraving sites. Across the region these are under threat through natural erosion, theft and vandalism (both conscious and unconscious).

We also have Government legislation, created with all the good intentions of politicians that are paid to professionally debate (i.e., argue) along political lines. Once the law hits the community, it is no surprise that we argue and bicker as well. Thoughtful debate is much of the time sadly lacking when it comes to the protection and study of our history, which at most times is pitted against progress.

We need to re-examine whether our legislative framework with regards to our heritage is having a good effect, or creating more trouble in our countryside. It doesn’t make sense to me that we allow development applications to pass on land that we know might have important historical sites, before we know what is under the ground or on it.

It is no surprise that telling a developer these days that they have history under their feet is akin to telling them they have syphilis. They see it as a hindrance to progress, rather than a joy. Indigenous legislation is also a mine field, pitting Aboriginal people against one another with regards to Land Rights and Native Title. As the land is torn up, people are torn up with it.

As it stands, the legislated requirements for research of our history in Development Applications is not an independent process. Historians and archaeologists are in the direct employ of the developers, they investigate, document archaeological finds, create reports that remain the property of the developer. Is it right that our history then becomes the possession of a company, or private business? It is our shared history, and the use of archival institutions depends upon knowledge being shared and placed back into the ‘community bank’ for the next researcher to build upon that work. That’s how it works, by sharing knowledge. It also saves much time and effort.

With regards to primary and secondary schooling we are also aware of how much local knowledge appears missing, and/or out of reach of our educators. While it’s important to know about Uluru, isn’t it also equally important to know about our local sacred Mt. Yengo?

The Aboriginal people did not simply vanish after Cook arrived in 1770. Neither did they, and this land, simply come into being when a white European saw it for the first time and ‘discovered’ it. And neither did they both become someone else’s possession once pen hit paper and magically drew lines of the original Surveys. The more they drew, the more our surveyors acquired for the Crown. This was white man’s magic.

What is emerging from our collaborations is that our black and white cultures mirrored one another.

Whibayganba was the dreaming place of an imprisoned Kangaroo, and so was Coal River the place of interment for convict men and women.

Threlkeld met the Aboriginal people at the site of the Government Farm, (the former Palais site) in 1825, and besides providing him with the civilised welcome to Newcastle, they invited him and his family to watch them dance. And we later find, at the same place, that many people met and later married after dancing at the Palais.

There is no distinction between Black and White history, we need to see ourselves as beings within the spiritual contiuum of Aboriginal Dreaming, as they are a part of our very brief history here. And so the work of seeing new ways of learning from our shared history continues.

Having the privilege of working with a research group such as the Coal River Working Party has brought us in contact with many wonderful and generous people, who have much to impart about this amazing place in which we live. I love the collaborations that are being spawned across the University and beyond, and I sincerely hope that it helps people to understand one another and the land we all share a little better.

Newcastle and the Region’s history is of vital importance to the story of Australia. It was the birth of our economy and industry, and has been powering the Colony to Nationhood ever since.  It is also the home of many people and its vitally important that we respect and love it.

I hope that our community can come together and give this place the support it needs in order to be historically recognised at all levels. It is high time it gets the recognition it deserves.

Gionni Di Gravio
University Archivist and Chair – Coal River Working Party

“On the Coalfield of New South Wales” by Henry Taylor Plews (1858)

H.T. Plews - Harbour of Newcastle N.S.W. (Plate 5) (1858).

The paper by Henry Taylor Plews “On the Coalfield of New South Wales” was published in Volume VI of the Transactions of the North of England Institute of Mining Engineers (1858). It is one of the early reports of the geology and mining in NSW, and is accompanied by 8 plans. The work of tracking down the original work and digitising the plates in full colour was undertaken by Mr. Russell Rigby 2009. We thank him for his work in bringing these amazing plates to the wider research community.

For our indigenous researchers of interest is Plate No. 2 which contains a possible Aboriginal name for South Shepherds Hill as Khanterin.

Download the paper “On the Coalfield of New South Wales” by Henry Taylor Plews (1858) Digitised by Google Books. Optimised and OCRed by us.

On the Coalfield of New South Wales (1858) by H.T. Plews (1.3 MB PDF)

For the complete set of plates see our Flickr page here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/sets/72157622235117084/

For our Coal River Collection Flickr page click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/collections/72157622109975085/

Photographs from the Interpretations Launch

Heritage Week 2008 was officially launched last night at the John Paynter Gallery, the lockup Museum. The magnificent Interpretations exhibition featuring the works of 25 local artists that have been inspired by Newcastle’s historic Coal River Precint has resulted in an exciting display of paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media.

Geraldine Bobsien, Manager of the John Paynter Gallery and Lockup thanked the support of the University of Newcastle’s Professor Kevin McConkey DVC (Academic) and the Board of Trustees, and curators of the exhibition.

The Exhibition was launched by ‘man about town’ Gionni Di Gravio, University Archivist and Chair of the Coal River Working Party. With two traditional welcomes to country, one by Dene Hawken of the Awabakal Tradition Owners Aboriginal Corporation (ATOAC) and a ‘silent’ one from Gionni, the night was inaugurated in a mysterious way. Inspirations, many visions mean freedom, imposed vision is tyranny, meaning of ‘heritage’ – to inherit, causes us to ponder what has been bestowed to us from previous generations, and what we will bestow to the next. Finally he called for Newcastle to cease being the ‘binge drinking capital of Australia’, and become rather, the ‘binge thinking capital’ instead.

The Coal River Heritage Precinct walking tours were also officially launched at the function. They literally ran out the door, making them fastest disappearing ‘walks’ in history.

Interpretations: Coal River Precinct will run from Friday 4 – 20 April 2008.

Walking Tour will depart from the Lockup, Sunday 6 April 2-4pm. Free.

Coal River Precinct Walk Launch

Our Coal River Precinct Walk brochures that have been produced in association with the NSW Heritage Office will be launched this Friday 4 April @ 7pm

You can either pick up one from the Visitor’s Centre, Lock up Museum and other tourist and historical establishments across the region or download a copy here: Coal River Precinct Walk Brochure

The walking tours will officially be launched at the Opening of Coal River Precinct: Interpretations Exhibition.
An art exhibition of local and invited artists interpreting the Coal River Precinct running from Friday 4 – 20 April 2008. Exhibition opening and launch of the Coal River Precinct Walk brochure on Friday 4 April at 7pm.

                    

When: 4 April 2008
Where: John Paynter Gallery, the lockup, 90 Hunter Street Newcastle
Time: 7 pm

INTERPRETATIONS : coal river precinct

The exhibition INTERPRETATIONS:coal river precinct, has come about as an opportunity to celebrate our local environment and its history.

Coal River was the original name for the Hunter River and the area emcompases such landmarks as Nobbys, Macquarie Pier, Fort Scratchley, The Pilot Station, Convict Lumber Yard and Foreshore areas.

25 local artists have been inspired by this area and this has resulted in an exciting display of paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, ceramics and mixed media. Allan Chawner, John Earle and Pam Sinnott are 3 of the 25 local artists exhibiting.

This exhibition will run at the same time as the National Trust Festival, the theme of which is “Our Place”.

The National Trust has registered this as one of their key events and this connection is very relevant as is The John Paynter Gallery at the Lockup Hunter St Newcastle, with its rich history where this exhibition will be held.

It will be opened at 7pm Friday 4th April by Gionni Di Gravio the archivist from The University of Newcastle and he will launch the Coal River Walking Tour Brochure.

The artists are very kindly giving 40% commission to the Newcastle Art Gallery Re-development Fund .

We passionately support the eventual building of a café, education facility and more viewing space.

This exhibition is a chance to promote local artists, support the Newcastle Region Gallery’s re-development and create an even greater awareness of our local history.

The Exhibition has been curated by Ann Hardy, Secretary Hunter Branch National Trust, Delilah van Wyk and Varelle Hardy.

Exhibition set up by Ruth Goodwin and Libby Milgate

All Welcome.

Come and support the launch of the Exhibition, Heritage Week and ‘Our Place’

A Truly Colossal Idea

Lost Threlkeld Manuscript Online

An original manuscript Journal belonging to the late Reverend Lancelot Threlkeld, missionary to the Aborigines in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas in the 1820s onward has been digitised and uploaded to the University of Newcastle’s Virtual Sourcebook for Aboriginal Studies in the Hunter Region.

We sincerely thank Mrs Marjorie Raven, great grand daughter of the late Reverend Threlkeld for her permission to publish this important Journal. We also thank her son Lindsay and grandson Blake for preparing the digital files on CDrom for us.

The original Journal which covers the period from December 1828 to around February 1846 is now lost, and presumably formed part of a series of Journal diaries. It originally was in the possession of an owner in Cattai. Prior to his death, the manuscript was lent to Mrs Raven, who then lent it to the Mitchell Library who digitised the full manuscript including additional papers belonging to Mrs Raven.

The Journal was then returned to the owner, and following his death, subsequently lost.  Every avenue of locating it pursued by Mrs Raven has come to no avail causing great concern for the fate of such an important historical document to Hunter Region and the Australian nation.

Its importance to local indigenous and non indigenous researchers at the University and wider regional community is inestimable.

It is vitally important and urgent that we track down the original and ensure that it is preserved and stored in a proper archival temperature and humidity controlled environment. It therefore greatly appreciated if anyone knowing the present whereabouts of the original could contact us on archives@newcastle.edu.au or 02 49215819.

The full digitised copy of this Australian regional treasure can be downloaded below:

Threlkeld, L.E. (Lancelot Edward), 1788-1859. [Manuscript] A Journal Kept By Lancelot Edward Threlkeld. [65MB PDF]

Note: The original was a huge 450MB digital file which we have managed to optimise to 65MB which is still large for most people. We recommend firstly downloading the document to your computer by right mouse-clicking on the link and then choosing ‘Save Target As’. Then, pick a location on your computer and click ‘OK’. The file will be downloaded to your computer and you can track its progress. Please bear in mind that it is a large file, and so may take some time to download depending upon your connection.