In central Camden is an empty bank building of understated significance at the intersection of John and Argyle Streets. This building was the premises of Westpac, formerly the Bank of New South Wales, and was the second banking chamber on that site. Constructed in the 1930s by a prominent firm of local builders and designed by one of Sydney’s top award-winning architects. It is a building of much architectural merit, and few know its history.
Category: 20th century
St Mark’s Church Elderslie, the little church on the hill
St Mark's Church Elderslie tells the story of a small farming community that has disappeared through the mists of time. The history of St Mark’s church is the history of Elderslie, and the church was a special place of community celebrations and commemorations along with family celebrations, traditions, and events. The church has been a gathering place, a sacred site.
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Waley Convalescent Home at Mowbray Park
In 1919 Mowbray Park, five kilometres west of Picton, was handed over to the Commonwealth Government to be converted to a convalescent home for invalided soldiers from the First World War. The home was called Waley after its philanthropic benefactors.
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Camden’s Inaugural Jacaranda Festival Highlights
The 2018 Camden Jacaranda Festival, inspired by the local Jacaranda trees, was launched and featured live music, a Christmas tree lighting, and a street market. The festival evolved from the previous Light Up Camden festival and emphasized local history through walking tours. The inaugural event celebrated the area's rich botanical heritage.
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Local girls go to London
In the mid-20th century it was not unusual for local Camden women to travel overseas by ship. They were part of an exodus seeking adventure and new horizons. They wanted to see the world and they did. The story of one of these young women, Shirley Dunk and her best friend Beth Jackman, has been told in a recently published article in Anglica by the University of Warsaw.
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Camden War Cemetery
Camden War Cemetery has the graves of a number of service personnel from the Second World War who were killed while based in the local area.
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Outhouse at 80 John Street causes a fuss
In the backyard of an historic cottage at 80 John Street there is a funny little dunny that dates from the 1890s. In 2011 it created a great deal of fuss when there was a proposal for a two-storey commercial development at the rear of the cottage site and the demolition of the dunny for parking.
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Camden’s heritage inventory
The Camden Heritage Inventory has a list of Camden properties of local and state significant to the district. The formation of the Camden Council Heritage Advisory Committee has assisted the promotion of heritage in the Camden LGA.
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Motherhood and nation-building in the early 20th century
Around the turn of the century a direct link was made between infant welfare, motherhood, patriotism and nationalism. Motherhood and mothering were expressed in terms of patriotism and a national priority. All driven by European exceptionalism.
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Campbelltown City Council office extension 1982 – an example of mid-century modernism
In 1982 Campbelltown City Council had the official opening for the brutalist administration building. Combined with the adjacent 1964 modernist office building they are an outstanding example of mid-century modernism in the Macarthur region
