The early colonists of the Sydney area viewed the landscape from a number of different perspectives according to historian Grace Karskins in her book The Colony a History of Early Sydney (2009) and this also applied to the Cowpastures.
Category: Storytelling
Sydney’s urban fringe: a transition zone of hope and loss
Sydney’s rural-urban fringe is a site of winners and losers. It is a landscape where dreams are fulfilled and memories are lost. The promises of land developers in master-planned suburban utopias meet the hope and expectations of newcomers.
Sydney’s urban sprawl invades the Macarthur region
Urban sprawl has invaded the Macarthur region. It is re-run of the planning policies of the 1970s.
The Perkins family album of Cawdor
Photographs tell a story about the local area and represent a moment frozen in time. The Perkins family donated a family photograph album to the Camden Historical Society and it tells the story of the Cawdor area..
Governor Macquarie’s visit to the Cowpasture 1810
In November 1810, Governor Lachlan Macquarie (1762-1824) and Mrs Elizabeth Macquarie visited the Cowpastures. On that occasion, the Governor and Elizabeth Macarthur met the Dharawal people.
Do or Die! Heritage and urban planning in the burbs
There is a loss of Edwardian farming heritage on the urban-rural interface on Sydney’s edge. There is a distinct lack appreciation amongst many contemporaries of simple robust country farm cottages.
Cobbitty New Year’s Day Village Sports Day Benefits War Effort
Cobbitty Sports Day on New Year's Day, 1915 A major event on the social calendar of a number of picturesque villages in the Camden district was the annual New Year’s Day Sports Carnivals. Cobbitty's St Paul's Anglican Church 1910 (Camden Images) The New Year's Sports Day was part of the English traditions brought to the… Continue reading Cobbitty New Year’s Day Village Sports Day Benefits War Effort
John Macarthur, Father of Australia’s Wool Industry, fact or fiction
John Macarthur is credited with establishing fine wool as a key industry in New South Wales. During the interwar period, it was claimed that he was the father of the Australian wool industry. While significant, his contributions are part of a larger narrative involving many key figures in the industry. His legacy includes commemorative postage stamps, as well as his portrayal in literature and festivals celebrating wool production.
The Camden Fibro Cottage and its connection to mid-century housing styles
The Camden fibro cottage symbolizes the mid-20th century's affordable housing solution, catering to the working class in a post-war Australia. Representing nostalgia and simplicity, these homes were practical yet modern. Although their popularity declined due to issues like poor insulation and asbestos risks, they remain a significant aspect of Camden's architectural heritage.
Democracy, Place and Local Government
Local politics is a special beast and is particular, local, small fare and accessible. It is parish pump politics at its best.
