by Alexander Belford Christison, M. B. E. In the year 1898, Mr. J. C. Walker of Rockdale, who had been a conductor of military and public bands in Sydney and suburbs for some years, decided to form a brass band in Rockdale. He had a few instrumentalists who were willing to join, but not sufficient …
Calling All Cars
In 1894 the residents of Rockdale and district were entirely devoid of police protection at certain times. During big festivities in Sydney the few district police were withdrawn to reinforce the metropolitan squad. Rockdale Council was so concerned by this danger that it raised the matter with the Minister for Justice. On Boxing Day 1894 …
Kevin Little, third-generation stained glass artist and restorer (1930 – 2022)
Stained glass artist and restorer Kevin John Little was born in Sydney in 1930. Both his father, William Little, and grandfather, David McColl Little, worked in stained glass. David McColl Little established D.M. Little & Co. in Barden Street, Arncliffe in 1905, advertising as leadlight workers and glass merchants. Kevin Little designed, produced, and restored …
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Book Review: Sydney by Delia Falconer, UNSW Press 2010 (293 pages)
Reviewed by Laurice Bondfield Strictly speaking this is not a history book. It is more a meditation on what makes Sydney unique; one of a series in which “leading Australian authors write about their hometowns”. Nevertheless for history buffs there are many delights to be found in its pages. Chapters titled “Ghosting”, “Dreaming”, “Living” and …
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Early Jewish Pioneers in the St George Area
by H.L. Kahana My topic concerns the early Jewish settlement in this area, the era of the Illawarra Jewish Association of the 1930s and the establishment of the Illawarra Hebrew Congregation in April, 1943. In the 1930s, the Great Depression raged. King George V and Queen Mary were succeeded on the throne by Edward VII, …
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