Making Camden History tells the story of how the history of the Camden District has been written from the 19th century. It is the history of the history of the local area.
Category: Farming
Ferguson’s Australian Nurseries, a century of horticulture
Ferguson's Australian Nursery was part of the horticulture industry in the Camden area for over 100 years. Francis Ferguson established a nursery opposite Macquarie Grove on the Nepean River.
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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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Cowpastures: artwork at Harrington Park Lake
The public art installation called 'Cowpastures' at Harrington Park Lakeside walkway is an example of wayfinding, placemaking, memorialisation and urban development.
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Camden, the best preserved country town on the Cumberland Plain
The historic town of Camden is hailed by architect Hector Abrahams as the best-preserved country town on the Cumberland Plain. Established in 1840, it offers a glimpse of Victorian and early 20th-century charm. Visitors can explore its heritage precinct, rural landscapes, historic villages, and even relive the town's aviation history.
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Traditional trades, the legacy of Camden’s carpenters
Carpentry, vital in Camden for centuries, began with Aboriginal bush carpentry using local materials for survival. European settlers adopted this craft, creating simple structures and relying on ingenuity. Formal carpentry evolved with guilds and apprenticeships, maintaining traditional techniques and tools, shaping Camden's architectural landscape with lasting quality.
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Camden Show Sponsors’ Night
The Camden Show committee expressed gratitude to sponsors during the 2025 event, highlighting the long-term support from Hennings Jewellers. President David Dunbier anticipated 48,000 attendees and addressed past challenges, while Ellen Stucki shared her ambassadorial experience. The show, a prominent regional event since 1886, strengthens community identity and engagement.
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Bottled milk and hygienic dairies: agricultural modernism
Camden Vale Milk was produced by the dairies of Camden Park Estate. It was promoted as ‘Free from Tubercule, Typhoid and Diphtheria Bacilli’. Camden Vale promised that its milk was ‘rich, clean’ and ‘safe’ in an advertisement for the 1931 Health and Baby Welfare Week.
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Camden Rotary Pioneer Mural: public art, a mural, a memorial wall and a wishing well
The Camden Pioneer Mural is an example of public art. The Camden mural depicts the Camden story as interpreted in 1962 by ceramic artist Byram Mansell.
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The Roy Dowle collection and old photographs
Old photographs are a glimpse into the past and capture many memories of another time. The Roy Dowle Glass Plate collection at The Oaks Historical Society is a source of many local images.
