‘History House’ aka Wickham House is the home of the Royal Australian Historical Society (RAHS) and houses its wonderful research resources in its library. The building has recently been refurbished and it is a privilege to be hosted by the RAHS at this venue. Wickham House was designed by George Allen Mansfield and built in … Continue reading "A Guided Visit to History House -133 Macquarie Street Sydney"

Registration for this event has now closed. As an apt sequel to Colin’s talk on the California Bungalow in June, we have been generously given access to view a very original and sympathetically maintained Inter-War Bungalow in Summer Hill. A review by a Heritage Study described it as a “very intact and substantial residence of unusually … Continue reading "Californian Bungalow House Inspection"

Members only This is a Members only function. Members will be notified of the address when they register. Bring something to BBQ and to drink. You might like to bring a salad or sweet/dessert for the group to share. Let us know what you might like to bring by emailing events@ashfieldhistory.org.au so we can co-ordinate … Continue reading "Christmas Party"

The Society’s AGM will be held on 9 February at the Summer Hill Community Centre, 131 Smith Street, Summer Hill.  The 2025 officer bearers and Committee will be elected. To vote or be a member of the committee you must be a 2025 financial member. Guest Speaker: Brian Scales Local History in the Inner West … Continue reading "Annual General Meeting and launch of the Society’s latest Journal: Summer Hill Village"

Meet at 1:45pm. Tour will be led by Vince Crow. St David's Uniting Church is a heritage-listed Uniting church at 51- 53 Dalhousie Street, Haberfield. The property is owned by the Uniting Church in Australia and deserves its listing on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 19 August 2003. Vincent Crow has lived … Continue reading "A Tour of St David’s Church Complex Dobroyd (Now known as Haberfield)"

Geoffrey Barker will reveal some of the gems of the New South Wales State Library's photographic collection. This is a Members only event and numbers are limited. Note: tthe meeting place for the above Visit is in the foyer of Mitchell Library (not the new part) off Shakespeare Place at 10.20 am.

A talk by Wal Walker on his book “The Squatters’ Grab” which traces the failure of various governments and colonial administrators to discharge their obligations to Indigenous Australians; failure that gave rise to the ascendancy of the squatters and dispossession of the Aboriginal people, and attempts to unravel how and why it all went so wrong! Wal Walker is the … Continue reading "The Squatters’ Grab;  tracing the failure of colonial administrators and various governments to discharge their obligations to Indigenous Australians "

The talk will examine the context of the station buildings with the rising influence of women's needs. Stuart Sharp has a life-long interest in railways. He started looking at platform buildings closely from 1982 when he commenced a M. Ec. (Hons) degree at Sydney Uni. He graduated with  a PhD in 1999 from the same … Continue reading "Inviolable but Invisible – Women at Ashfield, Summer Hill and Croydon Stations"

Mark is a direct descendant from Australia’s earliest family of entertainers, the St Leons.In 1991, Mark launched Australia's first national conference of circus people, the Circus Summit.He is the author of Circus: The Australian Story.

 Noting that this year is the 70th anniversary of the beginnings of the State Emergency Service (SES) we will be welcoming a local Commander (retired) to recount some highlights of his career in the Service, which will no doubt reveal some exciting moments. As the catastrophic Maitland floods were a significant factor in creating this … Continue reading "70th anniversary of the beginnings of the State Emergency Service (SES)"