Paterson Historical Society Inc.
Paterson Court House Museum
Located in the former Court House (c1860s) in the village of Paterson. The building ceased to operate as a court house in 1967 and the museum opened in 1974. It is operated by the Paterson Historical Society and holds extensive collections including special displays on Dorothy MacKellar, Rev Rupp (orchids) and the Tocal murder of 1874.
There is a comprehensive range of publications for sale on the history of the Paterson valley including transcriptions of headstones for burials in St Paul’s Anglican Church.
Open from 1.00pm Sundays.
Meetings 7.30pm first Thursday of each month except January.
Contact: The Secretary, Paterson Historical Society, Paterson P.O. NSW 2421.
Paterson Historic Walk
Publications
| AUD$ | |
| John Powell - Orange Grove - The First Paterson Land Grant - March 1821 by Kay Ingle. | 24.00 |
| Soldier/Farmer/Historian - an album of tributes to Henry Francis Boyle, OAM 1919-2005. | 15.00 |
| Patch and Glennie of Orindinna, Gresford. Series 1 of Wine Growing in the Paterson Valley by Jack Sullivan. | 45.00 |
| Aborigines in the Paterson Gresford Districts: Effects of Settlement by Boris Sokoloff. A well documented observation of Indigenous contact with European Settlement from 1801. Includes index and bibliography, 102 pages. | 26.00 |
| A History of St Ann's Presbyterian Church Paterson by Cameron Archer and Jack Sullivan. Over 100 pages, includes index and bibliography | 15.00 |
| Vacy... One Hundred & Eighty Years of History by Pauline Clements. 168 pages, many photos and illustrations, includes index | 25.50 |
| A Fortunate Liaison - Dr Adoniah Vallack and Jacky Jacky by Jack Sullivan. Over 300 pages, includes index | 40.00 |
| The Settlement of the Paterson District by Cameron Archer. Outlines the early days of European settlement of the immediate Paterson area to 1840. (45 pp). | 8.00 |
| William Munnings Arnold
by Harry F. Boyle The excellent research involved in this 1993 Heritage address has resulted in a revealing portrait of a man whose first experiences of Australia included drought, bankruptcy and the hold-up of his wife by an intruder. Both his private and public life are covered, together with details of his property, Stradbroke. Sources include church records, newspaper items and illustrations, shipping records and personal correspondence. (29 pp.) |
8.00 |
| Lieutenant Commander Frederick Bedwell R.N. 1796 - 1853 by H.F. Boyle. A simple headstone in St. Paul’s Churchyard, Paterson is the only memorial to a most remarkable and adventurous sailor who participated in the Peninsular War, the American War of 1812 and was a member of the guard which took Napoleon to banishment on St. Helena. Harry Boyle has carried out extensive research to present a picture of Frederick Bedwell’s personal and professional life. (12 pp.) | 4.00 |
| George Boyle White 1802-1876
by Harry F. Boyle This publication of the 1995 Heritage Address given by Harry Boyle provides an insight into the life and work of one of the colony’s earliest surveyors. Includes coverage of his many arduous journeys as well as extracts from official correspondence and personal diary entries. (13 pp.) |
4.00 |
| A Synopsis of the History of the Paterson River Valley by Harry F. Boyle & Val Anderson. A short trip along the Paterson River (first called the New River) beginning with information on Lt. Col. William Paterson. Then follows brief coverage of several early tragedies, together with details of land grants and settlers pre1830 and properties listed in the 1859 Electoral roll. Also includes delightful illustrations of early properties by Val Anderson. (3 pp.) | 2.50 |
| The Dorothea Mackellar—My Country—Paterson
Valley Connection by Val Anderson This delightful book was produced in conjunction with the opening of the permanent Mackellar exhibition at Paterson Court House Museum. Information is included on the history of Torryburn, the property where a breaking drought inspired Dorothea to pen her immortal lines, together with a brief account of Dorothea’s life. (24 pp.) |
7.00 |
| History of St. Paul’s Church Paterson
N.S.W. by Pauline M. Clements.An informative history of one of the oldest churches in Australia. Covering the place of the Church in the early days of the colony, the struggles to establish a place of worship in the village in a time of great depression, the dedication of the ministers and parishioners in their efforts to preserve the fabric of the building, the book conveys the importance of St. Paul’s to the people of Paterson. (20 pp.) |
4.00 |
| St Paul's Cemetery Listing Pt1 by Pauline Clements | 33.00 |
| St Paul's Cemetery Listing Pt2 | 30.00 |
| The Clements - Paterson Connection by Pauline M. Clements. An interesting and informative account of a family with ties to the Paterson district from the 1830s to the present day. The research steps taken to discover the family’s history could serve as a guide for others seeking information on their ancestors. The many family photos add much to the worth of this book. (23 pp.) | 8.00 |
| The Paterson Lodge Banner - Its Origins and History by Pauline M. Clements. What do you do when a very fragile piece of memorabilia is presented to your historical society? This book gives a background to the Manchester Unity Order of Oddfellows, in particular the Paterson Union Lodge, and the project undertaken by Paterson Historical Society to conserve the Lodge banner after the lodge closed its doors in the 1970s. (12 pp.) | 5.00 |
| George Townshend 1798-1872 and Trevallyn, Paterson River by Jack Sullivan. A well-researched and excellently presented account of the life of one of the most influential but hitherto mysterious pioneers of the Paterson and Allyn Rivers. The book provides details of his personal and professional life, both before his arrival in Australia in 1826 and during the almost 50 years of his association with Trevallyn, together with a history of the post Townshend Trevallyn to the present day. The book is liberally illustrated with maps, newspaper items and photos. (108 pp.) | 17.00 |
| Charles Boydell 1808 - 1869
and Camyr Allyn, Allyn River, Gresford
by Jack Sullivan Clever use is made of original manuscripts, diaries, early sketches and photographs, as well as newspaper items in this impressive work. Many of the pioneer families of the district are shown against a backdrop of the social, political and economic history of the Upper Paterson Valley. “...A landmark book on the history of the Paterson and Hunter Valleys..” A.C. Archer. (273 pp.) |
33.00 |
| The Settlers of Paterson’s Plains
by Cynthia Hunter. The 1995 Heritage address by Cynthia hunter, revised and expanded for publication. Areas covered include the several different groups of settlers with biographical details on many of these people, the establishment of law, the role of religion, education and, of course, the agricultural development of the area. (64 pp.) |
12.50 |
| The Keppie Family in Australia 1890s - 1980s by Edwin L. Coyle. A brief account of one of the families who have played such an important role in the history and development of Paterson. The story traces the family from the arrival of James Keppie in the 1830s to the later arrival of other members of his family and the spread of the family throughout Australia. (12 pp.) | 3.00 |
| Pte Arthur Ernest Keppie - His Diary, Letters
and Postcards 1914-1915 by Edwin L. Coyle.
Like many thousands of country lads, Arthur “Podge” Keppie answered the call to defend Empire and Country. Through his letters and diary we experience his enlistment, training, voyage to Egypt and further training. The story then concludes with the exchange of letters between the defence authorities and family members; we experience the family’s frustration and then agony in August 1916, as they finally receive the news of his death, which had taken place on the evening after that day we still remember each year, April 25, 1915. (29 pp.) |
7.00 |
| The Australian Women’s Land Army 1942-1945:
The Experiences of Mabs Keppie, of Paterson
by Shirley Threlfo. On being asked by an officer of the Land Army whether they could milk a cow, Mabs Ransley and her two sisters unhesitatingly answered “yes”. They were thereupon sent to a sheep station halfway between Deniliquin and Hay. Their experiences, together with details of the general organisation of the A.W.L.A, are presented in this engaging account of an aspect of life in wartime Australia which is often neglected. (20 pp.) |
7.00 |
| James Phillips and Bona Vista, Paterson River
by Shirley Threlfo. The story of the Bona Vista estate and the two families, Phillips and Smith, who owned and operated the property for more than 150 years. This very readable book has been well-researched and contains details of military life at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, information on many of the early properties and families of early Paterson, together with family documents and photos. (34 pp.) |
8.00 |
| Where, oh where, is Wooger Vitnell? by Barbara Brown. A search through various records for an elusive ancestor. Includes some family information, details of military service with Wellington in the Peninsular War, service as a constable at Merton and Paterson and trials in which he was either witness or accused. (17 pp.) | 7.00 |
| Sacred Heart Church and Cemetery Summer Hill, Paterson Valley by Kay Ingle. Includes history of the church, the area and its early settlers, list of burials, photographs and transcriptions of gravestones, notes on some of those buried, index and bibliography. (76pp.) | 10.00 |
| John Herring Boughton of Tillimby, Paterson by Dulcie Hartley. A detailed account of this early settler. Includes photographs, maps, index, bibliography. (44 pp.) | 8.00 |
| St Columba's Catholic Church, Paterson by Audrey Bruno. | 4.00 |
| Historic Paterson
by A.C. Archer et al. An informative thumb-nail sketch of the development of Paterson, its growth as a river port and a centre for the surrounding primary industries. The information is linked to the many historic buildings (most of which are still standing) and the early settlers who opened up and developed the area. (8pp.) |
1.00 |
| Paterson Historic Walk An excellent guide for the visitor to Paterson and those with an interest in the area. The map is easy to read and lists 42 historic buildings and sites. Illustrations by Val Anderson complete the guide. (4 page leaflet) |
0.30 |
| The Parks of Paterson by Pauline Clements | 12.00 |
| The First Fatal Election, Paterson 1843 by Barbara Brown and Shirley Threlfo | 7.00 |
| Cards | 0.55 |
| Tea Towels | 7.70 |
| Other Publications Available | |
| Dungog School of Arts | 11.00 |
| Dungog General Cemetery | 13.20 |
| History of Raymond Terrace | 27.50 |
| Earthquakes/Hunter Valley | 20.35 |
| Wades Cornflour | 16.50 |
| Iona Public School | 10.00 |
| Maitland in the Media | 20.00 |
| Valley Echoes | 17.60 |
| Martins Creek School | 12.00 |
| Maitland on the Hunter | 29.95 |
| Tocal's First European Settler - James Webber | 16.00 |
Postage and handling charge: add $5.00 per order - multiple items postage may attract additional charge - excepting Charles Boydell and St Paul's Cemetery listings part 1 and 2, add $6.00 each. Overseas postage will be charged at cost.
