By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. IN November 1945 questions came up on how the Blue Mountain’s train called “The Fish” came by the name. Jim Hartigan of Penrith who was a relief stationmaster in the Penrith district felt that with the train’s contemporary named “The Chips” […]

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. IN March 1883 an occasion of enjoyment for guests at a picnic given by the employees of the Nepean Times for their employer Alfred Colless to celebrate the first anniversary of the paper. The place selected was the picturesque head of […]

Photo courtesy of Faithfull Family collection  By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. WILLIAM Faithfull was born in Hampshire, England in 1774.  He arrived in NSW on the “Pitt” as a Private in the New South Wales Corps, Captain Joseph Foveaux’s company in February 1792. In 1795 after […]

The 1930’s photo of Mulgoa Creek courtesy of Fairfax archives glass negatives online. IN January 1894 a magisterial enquiry was held at the Penrith Court House by Coroner John King Lethbridge on the body of a man found in Mulgoa Creek. Sergeant Thorndike gave evidence that he went out to the Creek and found on […]

Photo of the 1930’s Penrith Coal Loader courtesy of Australian Railway Historical Society By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. IN the early years of the railway, accidents among their employees were much higher than today. In January 1896 an accident happened to Railway Guard Frederick William Hainsworth. […]

Photo shows 1905 workers at the Railway Goods shed courtesy of Penrith Library By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. IN January 1900 a magisterial enquiry was held at Penrith Court House before Arthur Judges J.P., on the death of William John Vine, an engine driver on the […]

Copy of Self Portrait by John Aston courtesy of the family. By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. THIS school is located on the Great Western Highway at Mt Druitt beginning in 1861 in Simpson Hill Road. In 1864 the school was transferred to another building and in […]

By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. Gallipoli the Landing – By a Man of the Tenth.  “Come on lads, have a good hot supper, there’s business doing.” So spoke No. 10 Platoon Sergeant of the 10th Australian Battalion to his men lying about in all sorts of […]

Photo of Vineyard Cottage 1847 courtesy of Sydney Museum By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. THOMAS was born in Devonport, England in 1781 to parents John & Elizabeth Easterbrook (Doidge). In August 1801 at the age of 20 Thomas married Mary Ann Coombe by banns at Buckland […]

Newspaper photo of Peter from the Melbourne Herald By Lyn Forde – President/Research Officer of St Marys & District Historical Society Inc. IN October 1914, a group of young officers of the newly formed Australian Flying Corps met in Victoria. They decided that an Australian Aero club should be formed to be affiliated with the […]