By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. THE first inhabitants were the Dharug aboriginal people. Fourteen tribes or “mobs” made up this language group and the people who inhabited both sides of South Creek were known as the Gomerrigal-Tongarra clan and they called the Penrith area “Mooroo Murak”. […]

100 years ago in December 1924, children of the Infants’ Department of Penrith’s District School had a very enjoyable time at the Nepean Picture Theatre when the annual Christmas Tree was held. A large number of children under the care of Miss Smith the mistress of the department had assembled at the theatre at 2pm […]

The photo of the grave shows the monument has been broken from the pedestal and sits on the ground of the grave. IT would be perfectly safe to say that there was practically no one who has resided in Penrith at any time during the past 25 years or more who was not personally acquainted […]

Photo courtesy of Penrith City Library. By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. FINE tributes were paid to the service of Mr E W Orth organist over many years and Sunday School Superintendent Mr C H Fulton at a social function held in Penrith’s St Stephen’s the Martyr […]

Unknown Australian Soldiers in WW1 courtesy of Australian War Memorial. By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. WAR Celebrations. The usually quiet tone of Mulgoa was enlivened by the enthusiasm displayed by its residents, joined by the Wallacia contingent upon the receipt of the inspiring news that “The […]

Add from the Nepean Times Newspaper. By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. IN August 1916 a fire resulted in the complete destruction of premises occupied by Mr E Summons in the middle of High Street in Penrith who had a boot and shoe retailer and repair establishment. […]

Photo of grave courtesy of Find a Grave Website.  By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. IN 1882 Alfred Colless’s “Nepean Times” newspaper originally had eight pages that later increased to ten selling at 3d (pence) a copy.  Early in the 1890’s he bought out the “Penrith Argus” […]

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. Phillip was a naval officer, hydrographer and company manager born in December 1791 at Norfolk Island. The son of Philip Gidley and Anna Josepha King (née Coombe). Phillip sailed for England in the “Britannia” with his parents in October 1796. When […]

 Group of migrants on MV Toscana at Trieste, 1954 courtesy of the Australian National Maritime Museum. By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. After World War Two, many Europeans chose to migrate to more appealing, safe and accessible locations and one location was Australia. Migrants fleeing from persecution […]

Photo of William’s grave courtesy of Find a Grave website. By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. William Minchin was born in Tipperary Ireland in 1774.  He was the son of George Minchin. He was commissioned an Ensign and Adjutant of the NSW Corps in March 1797.  He […]