Gloucester Railway Refreshment Room
When Gloucester Railway Station opened in February 1913, a refreshment room was sorely needed. North bound travellers had no opportunity to obtain food or drink once the train left Newcastle…
Elizabeth Barnes Merchant: Trip Around the World
Elizabeth Barnes was born in Wiltshire, England. In 1826, aged 20, she travelled to New South Wales with her father William and four brothers, after her mother died young. William had accepted a contract as a shepherd…
The Gloucester Motorcycle Club: 1924–1926
In 1924, four Soars brothers—Albert, George, William and John—joined with brothers Chas, Tom and Ike Ellis and their brother-in-law Les Parish to form the informal Gloucester Motorcycle Club. The young men, all in their late teens and early twenties…
Lola Ralph: The Girl Friend from Australia
Lola Ralph was a gifted pianist and vocalist. Growing up in Taree, she caught the eye of the former Ella Caspers (Mrs Maloney)…
The Railway Man Who Stood For Taree
Tucked away at the end of the Taree Railway Station’s platform is a memorial dedicated to Bernie O’Neill…
Robert Small and the Sudan contingent
In 1851, a Presbyterian Denominational School was operating at Redbank: the schoolmaster was William Small. Robert, one of his sons, was born in 1859…
James Lethbridge Templer (1811-1845)
James was born in Dorset, England in 1811 and entered the East India Company in 1828. A decade later he left the company and sailed to Australia – a country he was destined to never leave…
Shallow Island Baths Taree
The boat ramp near the Manning River Rowing Club leads to the location of Taree’s first public baths formed in 1902. It was called the Shallow Island Baths…
The Elephant House Wingham
In 1906, immigrants Alice and Edward McCreery Shea Hill moved to Wingham where they opened a business next to the Australian Hotel…
Captain William Terry
In September 1837, Captain William Terry of the whaling brig Tigress informed passing ships that he was seriously ill and intended to dock at Carrington, Port Stephens…