The Camden Motorcycle Club, founded in 1919 and led by Dr. Francis W. West, played a pivotal role in local motorcycle culture in early 20th-century Australia. Members,. like Laurie Kelloway, engaged in adventurous overlanding, promoting camaraderie and the excitement of the open road. The club also provided community support, such as raising funds for disabled veterans like Private Cecil Wheeler.
Tag: transport history
2025 Camden Show: A Photographic Journey
The photographic essay captures the vibrant atmosphere of the 2025 Camden Show, showcasing various activities, displays, and exhibitions. Highlights include the Woolworths produce pavilion, enthusiastic attendance from parents at performances, and contributions from local services like the Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire Brigade, and police, enriching the community experience.
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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.
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Camden Cottage Hospital, from accidents to amputations and early patient experiences
The Camden Cottage Hospital, opened in April 1899, initially struggled with low patient admissions due to community reluctance. Early cases included accidents and serious conditions, leading to treatments and surgeries like amputations. By early 1900, there was increasing community trust and the permanent facility opened in May 1902.
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Exploring Camden’s Railway Heritage: Pansy and Its Timeless Stories
The Camden branch line, with its famous locomotive Pansy, holds a special place in the memories of locals and visitors. Operating from 1882 to 1963, it served as a lifeline for the community, transporting goods, passengers, and even wartime heroes. Despite its eventual closure, remnants of the line can still be seen today.
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A Camden connection to the first railway line in New South Wales
26 September 1855 A forgotten anniversary of Sydney’s Central Railway Station On 26 September 1855, the first train left the Sydney terminus, a ‘tin shed’, with great pomp and ceremony and thus began the great railways of New South Wales. The ‘tin shed’ was replaced by two further buildings, one opened in 1874, and the current grand Victorian edifice of brick and sandstone in 1906.
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Mileposts captured the distance of the past
The white concrete mileposts in Camden, remnants of the Hume Highway, mark distances to destinations like Sydney and Mittagong. Originating from Roman times, these posts were part of a 1934 initiative to standardize road markers in NSW, aiding both travelers and road maintenance. They reflect Camden's cultural and engineering heritage.
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The Cowpastures bridge at the Nepean River crossing
Access across the Nepean River has been an issue since European settlement. The problem was solved by building a bridge with the first in 1826, the next in 1860 followed by 1900 and 1976.
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Sunday sport banned in Camden
Camden has a fine tradition of sport and sporting events back into the 19th century. But one day in 1925 Camden’s civic leaders banned Sunday sport at Onslow Park.
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Pansy the Camden locomotive
The Camden train affectionately called Pansy is a distant memory that rekindles many memories and a nostalgia for the past.
