Active citizenship · Adaptive Reuse · Artists · Artworks · Built Heritage · Camden · Camden Civic Centre · Camden Story · Community · Community building · Community work · Cultural Heritage · culture · Festivals · Leisure · Local History · Local Studies · Music · Music history · Placemaking · Public art · Social History · The Arts · Urban Planning

Community Hub Revitalization: Camden Civic Centre’s New Look

The Camden Civic Centre was officially reopened after a $9.9 million upgrade, enhancing its facilities as a modern, multi-purpose venue. The project included improved workspaces, public art installations, and a new grand piano. The council and government funding ensured a functional space for community events, strengthening local cultural support.

Aesthetics · Agency · Attachment to place · Biography · British colonialism · Camden · Camden Story · Colonial Australia · Colonial Camden · Colonial frontier · Colonial NSW · Colonial Settler Community · Colonialism · Community identity · Cowpastures district · Cultural Heritage · England · Entertainment · Families · Family history · Farming · Farming history · Fashion · Genealogy · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical source · History · Leisure · Local History · Memory · Parramatta · Philanthropy · Pioneers · Place making · Ruralism · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · The Cowpastures · Victorian · Volunteering · Women's diaries · Women's history · Women's stories · Women's Writing

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.

Art · Attachment to place · Heritage · Historical consciousness · History · Leisure · Local History · Macarthur · Narellan · Narellan Story · Narellan Town Centre · Place · Place making · Placemaking · Public art · Railway · Retail history · Retailing · Sense of place · Storytelling · Sydney's rural-urban fringe · Tourism

Narellan Town Centre Revitalization: a community-centric approach through placemaking

The redevelopment of Narellan Town Centre in 2017 enhanced its community space through placemaking, incorporating public art and amenities. Valued at $200 million, the extension nearly doubled its size, accommodating 100+ retailers and encouraging social interactions. The design reflects local history, fostering cultural identity and community engagement, achieving successful early usage by families.

Agricultural heritage · Agriculture · Agriculture history · Artists · Belgenny Farm · Camden Park Estate · Camden Story · Colonial Camden · Cultural and Heritage Tourism · Dairying · Farming · Farming history · Heritage Walking Tours · History · History Festival · Leisure · Living History · Local History · Macarthur · Macarthur family · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · Settler Society · Social History · Stories · Storytelling

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.

1920s · 1930s · Advertising · Aesthetics · Camden · Campbelltown · Cultural Heritage · Film · Gender · Hawaii · Heritage · History · Leisure · Media · Media History · Modernism · Movies · Music · Music history · Myths · Newspapers · Picton · Stereotypes · Storytelling · Tourism

Hawaiian Music and Hula Dance Craze in 1920s Camden: A Historical Perspective

Hawaiian music and dance arrived in Camden after sweeping the rest of the country on the stage, at the movies and broadcast across the radio waves. The craze of the 1920s and 1930s was centred on hula dancing and the steel guitar. 

1920s · Agency · Attachment to place · Australia · Camden · Camden Museum · Camden Show · Camden Story · Collective Memory · Community identity · Cultural Heritage · Education · Entertainment · Fashion · Gender · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical Research · Historical thinking · History · Interwar · Leisure · Lifestyle · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Macarthur · Memory · Modernism · Mysteries · Myths · Newspapers · Onslow Park · Place making · Placemaking · Schools · Sense of place · Social History · Storytelling · Trainee Teachers · Women's history

Camden Trainee Teachers Camp 1924: Unveiling a Mysterious Journey

In 1924, a group of trainee teachers from Sydney Teachers College visited Camden for practical training, sparking local curiosity. This visit was part of a tradition that began in 1921, providing hands-on experience in local schools. The program's success was notable, drawing attention from education authorities and the media, and leaving a lasting impact on the community.

Argyle Street · Attachment to place · Camden · Camden Hospital · Camden Story · Community building · Community identity · Community organisations · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Entertainment · Farming · Festivals · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical Research · History · Leisure · Living History · Local History · Local newspapers · Memory · Modernism · Newspapers · Place making · Ruralism · Sense of place · Social History · Volunteering · Volunteerism

Camden Rose Festival 1968: history and festivities

The Camden Rose Festival, founded by JW Hill, celebrated the 1960s' prosperity and optimism. The festival included a street parade, wheelbarrow derby, art exhibition, and a masked ball. The event attracted significant community participation and raised funds for Camden District Hospital. The festival reflected the spirit of the post-war years and local community engagement.

Aesthetics · Art · Attachment to place · Cafes · Camden · Camden Council · Camden Story · Community · Community building · Community Engagement · Community identity · Cultural Heritage · Entertainment · Festivals · Heritage · History · Leisure · Local History · Music · Music history · Place making · Restaurant · Sense of place · Tourism

Camden Live & Local 2018: Eclectic Music Festival Across Camden’s Venues

The 2018 Live and Local Camden music festival showcased over 50 musicians across 15 eclectic venues. The festival's growth included jazz ensembles, young talents, and accomplished musicians, creating a diverse and immersive experience for attendees. This cultural event contributed to the development of an arts precinct and celebrated the significance of live music in community storytelling and place-making.

1968 Sydney Region Outline Plan · 1973 New Cities Campbelltown Camden Appin Structure Plan · 20th century · Advertising · Business · Cafes · Camden · Camden Story · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Drive-In Movies · Entertainment · Families · Family history · Film · Food · Heritage · History · Leisure · Lifestyle · Local History · Local Studies · Lost Camden · Lost Sydney · Memory · Modernism · Movies · Narellan · Narellan Gayline Drive-In Cinema · Narellan Story · Place making · Sense of place · Storytelling · Uncategorized · Urban Planning · urban sprawl

Narellan ‘Gayline’ Drive-In Movie Theatre, a touch of modernism

The Narellan Gayline Drive-In Movie Theatre in Camden was a defining feature of the local 1960s-1980s culture, offering a relaxed, family-friendly movie experience. The drive-in's success peaked in the early 1970s but eventually closed in 1990 due to changing lifestyles and real estate development. It provided a memorable experience for many local residents, offering a nostalgic look back at a bygone era.

Architecture · Attachment to place · Built heritag · Camden · Camden Story · Community identity · Country town · Cultural and Heritage Tourism · Cultural icon · Heritage · Leisure · Local Studies · Lost Camden · Macarthur Country Tourist Association · Media · Memorial · Memorialisation · Memorials · Memory · Monuments · Placemaking · Sense of place · Storytelling · Tourism · Women's history · Women's stories

Memorial plaque to Jennifer Eggins, a founder of local tourism

A local identity Outside John Oxley Cottage, Camden Visitor Information Centre at 46 Camden Valley Way Elderslie, is a memorial plaque with a story to tell of local identity, Jennifer Eggins, and her legacy that still echoes across the district. Jennifer Eggins is one of the founders of the local tourist industry. The plaque was… Continue reading Memorial plaque to Jennifer Eggins, a founder of local tourism