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The new publication is a 108 page history of the Bridge View Inn that includes chapters about: The book is well illustrated with photographs and plans. The book price is $25.00.  It is available from Rylstone and District Historical Society Cottage Museum (open Sundays from 10 to 3 pm), from the Rylstone Newsagency, or from … Continue reading »

Saturday, 4th June 2022

RYLSTONE & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A TRASH & TREASURE FAIR ON SATURDAY, 7TH MAY 2022 NEW DATE WILL ADVISED ASAP COMMENCING AT 9:00AM TO BE HELD IN THE GROUNDS OF THE COTTAGE MUSEUM & BRIDGE VIEW INN. COME AND GRAB A TREASURE AND ENJOY MORNING TEA OR A SAUSAGE SIZZLE … Continue reading »

A Regimental history of the 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles in the Boer War (1899-1902) The five squadrons that constituted the 1st Regiment of the New South Wales Mounted Rifles which joined the British campaign in South Africa in 1900 were initially a mix of trained militiamen, supplemented two months later by volunteers who were … Continue reading »

Richard Curran has explored the connections that Richard Fitzgerald, of Dabee near Rylstone, had with Bathurst and its early convict history. For further information on his research, visit his work at the following locations: Richard Fitzgerald’s Bathurst Convict Establishment in 1828 (Part 1) Richard Fitzgerald’s Bathurst Convict Establishment in 1828 (Part 2)

INVITATION TO COMMEMORATIVE DINNER ON 23rd APRIL 2022 You are invited to attend a dinner to commemorate 200 years since Colonial Settlement began in the area of the former Rylstone Shire. Not only will that important ‘milestone’ be commemorated but key events that have helped shape the Rylstone District as we know it today will … Continue reading »

includes an exhibition by “Mountains & Metal” of contemporary jewellery and silverware – in the Convict Barracks Date: weekend of 6-7 April 2019 Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm daily Location: 3397 O’Connell Road, O’Connell (near Bathurst) Phone: Bonny 0405 442 025 or Paul 0405 442 026 Email: bonnyhen@bigpond.net.au Evidence supports the assertion ‘Macquarie’, containing the original … Continue reading »

Be part of the 1853 Turon Rebellion re-enactment and tremble through a weekend complete with cannons, floggings, shootings and duels, market stalls, exhibitions and more. At any time bushrangers may stick you up for your gold (coin). For those interested in Bathurst’s gold history and that of the Turon River and Sofala then make sure … Continue reading »

Some good news on the heritage front! Mid Western Regional Council has received significant funding for a major project titled “Snapshot of our Heritage”. Peter Monaghan and Virginia Hollister are both volunteer members on Council’s Heritage Committee and this is news just to hand. The grant will provide funding to: (1) photographically document all 400+ … Continue reading »

Craig Harris, author of Blue Water Warriors, has just completed an historical memoir that mentions Robert Fitzgerald “Fitz” EVANS, who was at one time the owner of Dabee, near Rylstone NSW. During the late 1940s, Fitz’s famous yacht, Mistral II, participated in many Sydney to Hobart races. The book, Blue Water Warriors, tells the story of … Continue reading »

Sometimes an object strays into our hands and jolts us back to the past. ‘Here. You should look after this now,’ my older sister said, a few years ago, and held out a book. I almost snatched it from her because I knew my hands were the right hands… This article by Colleen O’SULLIVAN appeared … Continue reading »

Local Kandos historian, Colleen O’Sullivan, has announced the launch of a new website to promote the town of Kandos and provide a forum for its history. The website, Kandos History, can be found at kandoshistory.com.

The Keech family from the Rylstone property “Drayton” are celebrating 150 years of continuous family ownership. Situated in the locality of Camboon, around 10 kms north-west of town, fourth generation owner Greg Keech lives on the property with his mother Nita who is 95 years old and who, with her late husband Frank Keech, were … Continue reading »

Originally by Heather Radi This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, (MUP), 1986 George Roy William McDONALD (1883-1951), politician and businessman, was born on 29 January 1883 in Sydney, son of George McDONALD, Canadian-born contractor, and his wife Margaret Amy, née McNAMARA, from Brisbane. Known as Roy, he entered the public … Continue reading »

INLAND Australia’s oldest two-storey convict barracks could tumble to the ground within two years unless the money is found to restore them. The dilapidated two-storey barracks stand beside an 1820s homestead on historic Macquarie, between Bathurst and O’Connell. The home and barracks were built by convict labour on 1000 acres of land granted by Governor Lachlan … Continue reading »

Rylstone District Historical Society’s Cottage Museum has available copies of a book written by a former Rylstone resident Jack Turner and his daughter Jacqui Halpin. The book, called ‘A Long Way From Misery’ was inspired by Jack’s father’s stories which always began with “Down on Misery…” Misery was the farm his father grew up on. … Continue reading »

The popular Hill End Open Day enables visitors to access a number of unique gold rush buildings not normally open to the public. The combination of buildings available to view give a fascinating glimpse into the past life of a bustling, frenzied mining town. In the boom year of 1872, Hill End claimed the second … Continue reading »

PILZ Wallace Keith AO, OBE 15.09.2016Much loved husband of Patricia (dec), father of Richard, Helen, Chris, Katharine, Elizabeth and their families. Cherished grandfather and great grandfather. Aged 89 years Family and friends are invited to attend Wallace’s Funeral Service to be held in the Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium, cnr of Plassey and Delhi Rds, … Continue reading »

The first men to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were sent not to Europe, as they had expected, but to Egypt for further training and to protect British interests in the Middle East and the Suez Canal.  Australian soldiers wrote long letters home describing their adventures.  Sapper Ernest Charles Tubbenhauer, a printer who had … Continue reading »