The Camden district, 1840-1973, a field of dreams

April 20, 2023November 22, 2024 camdenhistorynotes3 Comments

The Camden district was historically significant, serving as a social and economic center for over a century. It integrated farming, mining, and community life, shaped by Aboriginal heritage and European settlement. However, modern developments and infrastructural changes led to its decline, transitioning to a regional identity tied to Macarthur area governance and branding.

Bathtub effect · Cultural Heritage · Floods · Grief · Hawkesbury-Nepean river · Landscape · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Macarthur · Memory · Nepean River · Place making · Trauma

Flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River Valley

July 2, 2022May 15, 2024 camdenhistorynotes

The latest heavy rain in the area has sparked concerns about potential flooding, bringing back memories of past events. The Hawkesbury-Nepean River valley's unique landform features contribute to fast-rising and dangerous floods. This situation has led to considerable anxiety and trauma, prompting the need for emotional and trauma support in the affected communities.

Aesthetics · Art · Artists · Artworks · Attachment to place · Belonging · Camden Art Group · Camden Public School · Camden Realism · Camden Story · Campbelltown · Campbelltown Art Centre · Community identity · Cultural Heritage · GLAM Sector · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical thinking · Landscape · Landscape aesthetics · Living History · Local History · Macarthur region · Memory · Place making · Public art · Realism · Sense of place · Stories · Storytelling · Tourism

Exploring Camden Realism: Art as storytelling

July 1, 2021October 19, 2024 camdenhistorynotes1 Comment

Camden Realism is an art style emerging in the Macarthur region, characterized by storytelling through representational artworks. Artists like Nola Tegel and Patricia Johnston, influenced by Alan Baker, capture local history and change. Exhibitions at Campbelltown Arts Centre showcase their work, reflecting the evolving landscape and community identity.

Aesthetics · Argyle Street · Attachment to place · Belonging · Camden · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Festivals · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical thinking · History · Jacaranda · Living History · Local History · Local newspapers · Local Studies · Macarthur · Macarthur Park · Sense of place · Streetscapes · Trees · Urbanism

Experience Camden’s Vivid Jacaranda Blooms

November 18, 2020October 27, 2024 camdenhistorynotes1 Comment

Jacaranda trees in bloom create anticipation and excitement in November each year in Camden. The purple haze is an indication that summer and Christmas are not far away. The colours attract locals and visitors to the town centre particularly after a November shower.

1920s · Aesthetics · Agricultural heritage · Agriculture · Architecture · Attachment to place · Australia · Belonging · Burragorang Valley · Colonial frontier · Colonialism · Community identity · Cowpastures · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · Edwardian · Ghosts · Gothic · Governor Macquarie · Guesthouse · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical Research · Historical thinking · Hotels · Interwar · Landscape · Landscape aesthetics · Legends · Leisure · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Macarthur · Memory · Mysteries · Myths · Place making · Ruralism · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · Storytelling · Tourism · Travel

The Burragorang Valley, a lost Gothic fantasy

August 29, 2019April 29, 2023 camdenhistorynotes

The Burragorang Valley is a lost Gothic fantasy where many people were attracted to the grandeur and beauty of the valley's landscape. Much of the valley's mystery has been lost under Lake Burragorang.

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Movie making Camden style

June 19, 2019June 4, 2024 camdenhistorynotes1 Comment

Filmmakers have long been drawn to Camden's English countryside setting for movie backdrops. The area has hosted various films, including silent movie Silks and Saddles (1921), wartime drama The Rats of Tobruk (1944), series like A Place to Call Home (2012), and modern productions like Peter Rabbit (2018, 2020). It continues to attract filmmakers seeking a classic English aesthetic for their productions.

Aesthetics · Architecture · Art · Attachment to place · Belonging · British colonialism · Built heritag · Camden · Camden Park House and Garden · Camden Story · Camden Town Centre · Church History · Churches · Collective Memory · Colonial Camden · Colonialism · Community identity · Cowpastures · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · England · Farming · Gothic · Heritage · Historical consciousness · Historical Research · History · Landscape aesthetics · Legends · Living History · Local History · Local Studies · Macarthur · Memorialisation · Memorials · Memory · Monuments · Myths · Place making · Ruralism · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · Settler Society · Social History · St John's Church Camden · Symbolism · Tourism · Victorian · Women's history

St John’s Church, a contested sacred site in the historic landscape of the Cowpastures

January 31, 2019September 16, 2023 camdenhistorynotes4 Comments

A contested sacred site in the historic landscape of the Cowpastures. St John's Church wants to sell a former horse paddock to fund a new worship centre against community opposition.

Aesthetics · Art · Attachment to place · British colonialism · Camden · Camden Community Garden · Camden Park House and Garden · Camden Produce Market · Camden Town Farm · Campbelltown Art Centre · Colonial Camden · Colonialism · Community Health · Community identity · Cultural Heritage · Cultural icon · England · Entertainment · Fashion · Festivals · Heritage · Historical consciousness · History · Landscape aesthetics · Leisure · Living History · Local History · Macarthur · Memorials · Memory · Monuments · Moveable Heritage · Parks · Picton · Place making · Public art · Sense of place · Settler colonialism · War

Gardens: a special place

October 31, 2018January 15, 2019 camdenhistorynotes

The gardens of the Macarthur region are a special place for wellness and wellbeing. The provide a quiet and contemplative landscape for relaxation and thought.