In the backyard of an historic cottage at 80 John Street there is a funny little dunny that dates from the 1890s. In 2011 it created a great deal of fuss when there was a proposal for a two-storey commercial development at the rear of the cottage site and the demolition of the dunny for parking.
Tag: History
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.
Take a stroll through the past
The past is all around us and has created the present. The present would not exist without the past. We need to understand the past to understand the present.
Camden Rotary Pioneer Mural: public art, a mural, a memorial wall and a wishing well
The Camden Pioneer Mural, located near Camden Hospital, serves as a significant piece of public art reflecting the community's history and identity. Conceived by the Camden Rotary Club, it honors local pioneers and agricultural heritage through ceramic tiles. The mural has become a local tourist attraction, symbolizing community pride and cultural narrative.
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.
Campbelltown City Council office extension 1982 – an example of mid-century modernism
In 1982 Campbelltown City Council had the official opening for the brutalist administration building. Combined with the adjacent 1964 modernist office building they are an outstanding example of mid-century modernism in the Macarthur region
Exploring Campbelltown’s Mid-Century Modern Administration Building
The Campbelltown Council office building, completed in 1964, serves as an unrecognized icon of mid-century modernism, symbolizing the town's optimistic vision as a satellite city. Despite its structural significance and initial hopes for community development, later planning challenges undermined this vision, leaving the building's legacy complex and often overlooked.
Camden Heritage Conservation Area – an English-style village in the Cowpastures
The Macarthur private village of Camden was located in the English style countryside of the Cowpastures countryside with its gentry estates and villages. Founded in 1840 it was all part the British imperial imperative and the settler colonial project that came with it.
Understanding the Anzac Myth: Truths and Contradictions
The Anzac story is vital to Australian identity, yet its meaning remains contested. Historian Dr. Jen Roberts argues that the narrative, while centered on duty and sacrifice, encompasses contradictions surrounding nationalism, trauma, and the realities of war. Anzac's evolution reflects cultural transformations, highlighting diverse interpretations and ongoing relevance in society.
The Llewella Davies Memorial Walkway, a walk in the meadows of the past
The Camden Town Farm Miss Llewella Davies Pioneers Walkway opened in 2020 in the former colonial landscape of the Cowpastures. The area was part of the original grants that made up the Macarthur family's Camden Park Estate and in pre-European times the country of the Dharawal people.
