Bessie Taylor of Kitty Kitty
Mabel and Harold Carter owned a dairy farm at Kitty Kitty, Cundle Flat. Mabel’s half-sister, 18 year old Elizabeth “Bessie” Taylor, lived with them as a dairymaid. She was engaged to a labourer called Francis Dennes…
The Tragedy of Margaret Gill Croker
Margaret Dunn was married to Alfred Croker for just one year when tragedy occurred in 1932. On the evening of Friday 7 May, Clarence Bonney was riding his Norton motorcycle to a dance at Failford Hall…
The Dunn Family from ‘Dunnville’, Failford
In 1902 Thomas, Eliza and their children moved into a mill workers’ cottage at Failford before acquiring a property on the bank of the Wallamba River opposite the mill which became popularly known as ‘Dunns of Dunnville’…
Miss Vera Abbott’s Cricket Team
In 1933, Miss Vera Abbott was Wingham’s candidate for the Upper Manning Agricultural and Horticultural Association’s Popular Girl Competition…
Alexander Croll
Alexander Croll learned the trade of shipwright. During his apprenticeship he shared quarters with another youth named John Wright, the pair ultimately shared life and business together…
Matthew Hopwood – Convict and Sydney Duck
One of the convicts assigned to the Port Stephens estate of the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo) was Matthew Hopwood. Matthew, a 21 year old, illiterate…
Temple Chambers – 138 Victoria Street, Taree
Manning born David Cowan had established a legal practice in Taree in 1899. In 1921 a fire threatened his offices which were then located in the Belmore Hall, a timber building in Pulteney Street, Taree…
Pipers Bay, Forster
William Brisbane Piper born in 1844 at Brisbane Waters trained as a shipwright with his father. The last ship constructed by William’s father called ‘Jonathan’…
Harry Combo: The Valley’s Greatest Showman
At the age of 42, buck-jumping champion Harry Combo from Dingo Creek, was considered the “old man” as he took centre stage at the 1920 Wingham Show. With the grandstand full to overflowing…
George Garlick Godwin
George Garlick Godwin was born around 1803 in Wiltshire, England. He was given a life sentence for pig stealing and transported to Australia on the convict ship ‘Burrell’ in 1830…