The history of telling the story of a small community has been interpreted in different ways at different times in the past by different historians. This area of study is called the historiography. I have recently published an article on the historiography of the small country town of Camden, NSW.
Tag: Local History
St Mark’s Church Elderslie, the little church on the hill
St Mark's Church Elderslie tells the story of a small farming community that has disappeared through the mists of time. The history of St Mark’s church is the history of Elderslie, and the church was a special place of community celebrations and commemorations along with family celebrations, traditions, and events. The church has been a gathering place, a sacred site.
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Camden, a Macarthur family venture
The establishment of Camden, New South Wales, the town in 1840, was a private venture of James and William Macarthur, sons of colonial patriarch John Macarthur, at the Nepean River crossing on the northern edge of the family’s pastoral property of Camden Park. The town’s site was enclosed on three sides by a sweeping bend in the Nepean River and has regularly flooded the surrounding farmland and lower parts of the town.
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We need new ways to tell stories of the past
We need new ways to tell local stories in the face of fake news, the search for 'the truth' and a host of conspiracy theories. Stories about our past need to based on evidence from a range of credible sources. There is a need to be a historical detective.
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Making Camden History
Making Camden History tells the story of how the history of the Camden District has been written from the 19th century. It is the history of the history of the local area.
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Macarthur regional newspaper history
The story of hard-bitten local newspaper identities and their publications has been told in a recent article published in British academic journal Media History. Local author and historian Ian Willis details the travails of local reporters, printers, owners, and others who made the news across the region for over 140 years.
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‘Face to Face’, a new exhibition at Alan Baker Art Gallery
A new art exhibition has opened recently at the Alan Baker Art Gallery in Macaria, John Street, Camden. The exhibition FACE to FACE Live Sittings 1936 -1972 runs from April to September 2021. Entry is free.
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Local Newspapers and a Regional Setting in New South Wales
UOW historian Dr Ian Willis has recently published an article in Media History (UK) about the role of local newspapers in the creation of Macarthur regional identity and the mythology surrounding New South Wales colonial identity John Macarthur.
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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.
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The hidden dangers of Camden’s bathtub effect
The Nepean River's 'bathtub effect' refers to the unique flooding impact created by the river's landform. The Hawkesbury-Nepean River's four gorges result in localized floodplains, causing a 'bathtub effect' during periods of high rainfall. These characteristics make the area susceptible to significant flood risk, impacting local communities.
