The letters of John Hawdon and others from 1828 to 1837, preserved in the State Library of NSW, provide insights into colonial life in New South Wales. They highlight themes of isolation, communication challenges, economic struggles, and attitudes toward gender and Indigenous populations, alongside Hawdon's farming experiences and family connections.
Category: Farming
Exploring Caroline’s Diary: A Women’s Perspective on Colonial Australia
Anne Philp's "Caroline’s Diary" narrates the life of Caroline Husband, an Englishwoman who migrated to colonial Australia in the mid-19th century. Through her personal diaries, readers explore her adventures, social life, and experiences from England to New South Wales, providing insights into women's roles and societal dynamics during this period.
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Exploring Belgenny Farm: Australia’s Oldest Farm Complex
Belgenny Farm, located in Camden, NSW, is Australia’s oldest surviving group of farm buildings, dating back to the 1820s. This historical site includes significant structures like stables, a coach house, and a community hall. It holds cultural importance through its association with the Macarthur family and continues to serve educational purposes.
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Explore History with Friends of Belgenny Farm Events
On a cloudy day in late May 2025, the Friends of Belgenny Farm held an open day attracting over 285 visitors interested in early Australian history. The event featured various stalls, historical displays, and guided tours of the historic site, which holds national significance and showcases Australia's earliest colonial farm buildings.
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2025 Camden Show: A Photographic Journey
The photographic essay captures the vibrant atmosphere of the 2025 Camden Show, showcasing various activities, displays, and exhibitions. Highlights include the Woolworths produce pavilion, enthusiastic attendance from parents at performances, and contributions from local services like the Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire Brigade, and police, enriching the community experience.
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Explore Belgenny Farm: A Journey Through Time 2024
The 2024 Back to Belgenny festival showcased living history at Belgenny Farm, featuring reenactments, traditional trades, and various activities such as sheepdog trials and guided tours. The event included a demonstration by Governor Macquarie’s regiment and highlighted the farm's historical significance, providing visitors with an immersive glimpse into colonial agricultural life.
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Denbigh Open Days: Exploring Historic Colonial Farm
Denbigh, a significant colonial farming complex in Australia, recently opened its gardens to the public for a rare charity viewing. The property, with a dark history of conflict and anxiety, reveals layers of history from dispossession of Aboriginal lands to dairying and urban invasion. Denbigh's fortified structures reflect the fear and violence of the Cowpastures frontier.
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Back to Belgenny 2024, a festival of living history
The 2024 Back to Belgenny festival at Belgenny Farm in South Camden showcased living history with reenactments, traditional trades, and stalls selling arts and crafts of the past. Activities included sheepdog trials, live music, vintage cars, and guided history tours of the site. The farm represents the settler society through the generations of the Macarthur family and their workers.
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History of Camden Chinese Market Gardeners: Resilience, Innovation, and Struggles
The presentation at Camden Rotary Club details the significant contributions and challenges faced by Chinese market gardeners in Camden. It sheds light on their resilience, innovation, discrimination, and impact on the local economy. The book "A History of Camden Chinese Market Gardeners 1899-1993" emphasizes their agency, making an important contribution to local history and the literature of the Chinese diaspora in Australia.
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Exploring Historical Themes: Pictorial History Camden & District Presentation Summary
This presentation examined the role of the historian and researcher and presented the importance of history and the role of a historian. Dr Ian Willis discussed the significance of historical consciousness and collective memory, emphasising the role of a historian as a researcher, analyst, interpreter, and storyteller. The presentation also highlighted "Pictorial History Camden & District," a book by Kingsclear Books, and covered aspects such as structure, select bibliography, index of names, and district maps. Additionally, various related sources and themes, such as the Whiteman and Macarthur families, were explored. The presentation concluded with suggestions for experiencing the past through community festivals, local studies, and living libraries.
