20th century · Aesthetics · Art · Artworks · Belonging · Community · Community celebrations · Community Engagement · Community identity · Cricket · Cultural and Heritage Tourism · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Design · Festivals · Football · GLAM Sector · Heritage · Lifestyle · Living History · Lost Sydney · Melbourne · Modernism · Music history · Nationalism · Paintings · Place · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Social History · Sporting History · Storytelling · Sydney · Sydney Harbour Bridge · Symbolism · Theatre · Tourism · Travel · Uncategorized · Urban history · Urbanism

Sydney’s Cultural Identity: A City of Contradictions

Sydney presents a striking contrast between its stunning harbour and perceived lack of cultural depth. Critics argue the city is a "cultural wasteland," with isolated artistic venues and a fragmented entertainment scene, unlike the vibrant precincts found in Melbourne, London and New York. Sydney's cultural identity partly emerges from its diverse tribes and subcultures that are found in the depths of the suburbs.

19th Century · 20th century · Architectural History · Architecture · Camden Story · Colonial Camden · Elderslie · Hilsyde Elderslie · History · History of a building · History of a house · House history · Housing · Housing styles · Local History · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Stories · Storytelling · Uncategorized · Urban history · Victorian

Exploring Hilsyde: A Look at Elderslie’s Historic Home

Hilsyde, originally known as Pammenter, is a Victorian single-storey brick residence built in 1888 by WC Furner in Elderslie. The property features a galvanised iron roof, bay windows, and retains good integrity. It served as Hilsyde Lodge from 1978 to 2003, catering to Christian women workers, and is heritage-listed.

Attachment to place · Camden Story · Community · Community building · Community identity · Gledswood Hills · Gregory Hills · Hope and loss · House history · Housing · Housing styles · Lifestyle · Local History · Local Studies · Lost Camden · Lost Campbelltown · Mount Annan · Narellan · Oran Park · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Social History · Spring Farm · Stories · Storytelling · Uncategorized · Urban development · Urban growth · Urban history · Urban Planning · urban sprawl · Urbanism

Navigating Australia’s Housing Crisis: Insights from Sydney’s Urban Fringe

The complexities of addressing Australia's housing challenges, suggests an article from ABC News, on Sydney's urban fringes are not as simple as they might seem. While author Ian Willis explores how the growing population has created demand for housing, the reality often falls short of expectations. Many new residents, he writes, are drawn by promises of suburbia, face disillusionment due to inadequate infrastructure, high density, and unresolved issues like traffic congestion and housing quality. Willis argues that the ongoing crises reflect a disconnect between development aspirations and lived experiences, suggesting the need for improved planning and understanding of community needs.

20th century · Built Heritage · Camden Hospital · Health and Medical History · Health History · Heritage · Historian · History · Local History · Medical history · Place · Place making · Placemaking · Stories · Storytelling · Urban growth · Urban history

Camden’s First Hospital: A Historical Insight

Camden historian Dr. Ian Willis will present a paper on the origins of Camden Cottage Hospital at the 2025 Australian Historical Association Annual Conference. His paper, focusing on the hospital's role in rural health from 1899-1902, highlights community resilience and offers insights into local history and heritage in New South Wales.

Adaptive Re-use · Adaptive Reuse · Built Heritage · Business · Business History · Cafes · Community identity · Cultural Heritage · Economy · Film · Film Making · History of a building · Industrial Heritage · Local History · Macarthur · Macarthur region · Picton · Picton Corbett Hardware · Picton Menangle Street · Picton Retail · Picton The Celebration Society · Place · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Shopping · Storytelling · Streetscapes · Uncategorized · Urban growth · Urban history · Urban Planning

The Celebration Society: Revitalizing Picton’s Retail Scene Through Adaptive Re-use

The Celebration Society opened in 2024 in the former Corbett hardware store, revitalizing Picton's retail scene. Owners Deborah and Michael Quinn, along with business partners, preserved the building’s historic integrity. The venue includes a café and space for events, enhancing community engagement and contributing to the area's renewal.

Architectural History · Architecture · Argyle Street · Attachment to place · Camden · Camden Built Heritage · Camden Council · Camden Country Town Idyll · Camden Story · Community · Community identity · Country town · Country town idyll · Cultural and Heritage Tourism · Cultural Heritage · Heritage · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Place · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Social History · Tourism · Town planning · Urban development · Urban growth · Urban history · Urban Planning · Urbanism · Village

Camden Council vote on listing the Camden Township on the State Heritage Register

On 11 March 2025, Camden Council discussed a motion by Councillor Peter McLean to list Camden Township on the State Heritage Register, citing its significant historical and cultural value. Despite support from the Camden Historical Society and several councillors, the motion was ultimately defeated in a 6-3 vote, with concerns raised about its impact on businesses.

Aesthetics · Architecture · Attachment to place · Australian History · Built heritag · Built Heritage · Camden Built Heritage · Camden Modernism · Camden Story · Community identity · Country town · Cultural Heritage · Domestic Architecture · Elderslie · Heritage · History of a building · History of a house · Hope and loss · House history · Housing · Housing styles · Landscape · Landscape aesthetics · Living History · Lost Camden · Mid-century modernism · Modernism · Narellan · Nostalgia · Place making · Placemaking · Small town · Stories · Storytelling · Uncategorized · Urban development · Urban growth · Urban history · Urban Planning · Urbanism

A Journey Through Camden’s Mid-Century Housing Architecture

Camden's mid-century housing, developed between the 1940s and 1970s, reflects a worldwide modernism movement. Characterized by simple lines and open spaces, these homes arose amid urban growth linked to the new jobs created by the Burragorang coalfields. Unfortunately, many of these historic structures are disappearing, necessitating greater recognition and appreciation of their significance.

19th Century · 20th century · Aesthetics · Art · Artists · Artworks · Attachment to place · Burragorang Valley · Business History · Camden District · Commemoration · Cultural Heritage · Engineering Heritage · Engineering History · Local History · Local Studies · Memorials · Memory · Mining · Mining History · Monuments · Oran Park · Oran Park Raceway · Place making · Placemaking · Public art · Sense of place · Stories · Storytelling · Teamsters · Town planning · Transport · transport history · Uncategorized · Urban development · Urban growth · Urban history · Urban Planning · urban sprawl · Urbanism

Exploring the ‘Infinity Tracks’ Art Installation in Oran Park

The 'Infinity Tracks' art installation in Oran Park honors the region's heavy haulage industry, highlighting the historical impact of the transport industry and Oran Park Town urban development. Commissioned in 2020 by Greenfields Development Co and TRN House, it enhances the forecourt's aesthetic while reflecting the area's economic growth and employment contributions from the haulage sector and urban development.

Aesthetics · Architecture · Attachment to place · Belonging · Built heritag · Camden · Camden Council · Camden Museum · Camden Story · Church History · Colonial Camden · Community identity · Country town · Cowpastures · Cowpastures Gentry · Cultural and Heritage Tourism · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Engineering Heritage · Heritage · History · Landscape · Landscape aesthetics · Living History · Local History · Local newspapers · Memory · Place making · Settler Society · St John's Church Camden · Storytelling · Tourism · Uncategorized · Urban development · Urban history

Cultural and Heritage Tourism in Camden: Unveiling a $6.4 Million Per Year Industry

Cultural and heritage tourism adds $6.4 million a year to the local economy. The Camden Museum and the Alan Baker Art Gallery add over $1.7 million annually.

Alan Baker Art Gallery Camden NSW · Architecture · Artefacts · Attachment to place · Built heritag · Camden Festivals · Camden Heritage Conservation Area · Camden Historical Society · Camden John Street Precinct · Camden Town Centre · Camden Town Farm · Collective Memory · Colonial Camden · Community · Community celebrations · Community identity · Country town · Heritage · Heritage Walking Tours · Historical consciousness · Historical thinking · History Festival · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Macaria · Music · Place making · Placemaking · Sense of place · Stories · Storytelling · Uncategorized · Unlock Camden · Urban history

Explore Unlock Camden 2024: Uncover Camden’s Rich History

Unlock Camden is back in 2024, offering a celebration of the town's history and culture. The event, scheduled for September 28th, will feature a variety of activities, including historical re-enactments, art demonstrations, musical performances, and guided walking tours. The event aims to promote the area's historic locations and heritage.