Campbelltown residents are encouraged to celebrate and learn about the city's rich history to mark History Week from 3 – 11 September.
The annual state-wide celebration, hosted by the History Council of New South Wales, highlights the important historical structures, individuals and practices in LGAs across the state.
This year the celebration will focus on the theme "hands-on history", an acknowledgement of those who've approached history directly through their practical fieldwork and research.
"Our unique history has always been a point of pride for Campbelltown. From historic early buildings to urban legends, there's so much to explore right across our city," Mayor George Greiss said.
"We have a rich Aboriginal history, with more than 350 sites, places and relics that have been documented for preservation as well as hundreds of buildings and sites on the local and state heritage lists to protect monuments to some of the early European settlement," Cr Greiss said.
"This week is the perfect time for people to experience these places and learn about places of significance to deepen their connection to the city's past," he said.
Images, stories and videos featuring prominent people and locations from the city's past and the events that shaped modern Campbelltown can be readily accessed via the library's vast local studies section.
Some of the historic sites across Campbelltown include:
- Briar Cottage, Airds(236KB, PDF)
- The Cattle Tanks, Campbelltown(203KB, PDF)
- Denham Court House, Denham Court(372KB, PDF)
- Eschol Park House, Eschol Park(197KB, PDF)
- Glenalvon House, Campbelltown(405KB, PDF)
- Quondong Cottage, Campbelltown(208KB, PDF)
- Hollylea and the former Plough Inn, Leumeah(202KB, PDF)
- Denfield House, St Helens Park(249KB, PDF)
For those looking to get out and about, people can book a guided walk of the Dharawal National Park with local Aboriginal Discovery Rangers through the Campbelltown Visitor Information Centre.
The information centre also offers guided heritage tours throughout the year, featuring early colonial buildings in the Campbelltown CBD that have helped form the city's character over the past 200 years.
As part of the celebration, HJ Daley Library will proudly display the sketches of artist Gifford Henry Eardley, who depicted many of Campbelltown's historic sites and buildings during his many visits to Campbelltown over the years. The body of work now serves as a pictorial representation of some of Campbelltown's most iconic historical locations, including structures that no longer exist.
Australian folklore author and historian, Warren Fahey, will also attend History Week, holding an author talk on Wednesday 7 September, from 11am to 1pm, at HJ Daley Library. Fahey will discuss his new book, Dead & Buried, about three historic cemeteries and their transformation over time.
