Newcastle Family History Society Podcasts

Dr. Pamela Harrison OAM, will take us back to a time when medical innovation was hands-on, resourceful, and sometimes a little peculiar.

Benita Parker from the West Wallsend District Heritage Group tells of the life of Joseph Notley, one of the first settlers "in the shadow of Mount Sugarloaf", who called that rugged landscape home.

Based on historical records, member, Narelle Austen takes us on journey to the unforgiving shores of Newcastle, New South Wales - a penal settlement where survival was a daily battle and artistry was a rare spark in the darkness.

Join Dr Pamela Harrison OAM as she explores the fascinating history of medicine through her personal stories and lived experiences.

Benita Parker from the 'West Wallsend District Heritage Group' traces the early history of European settlement in the West Wallsend District and describes how pioneer families faced the challenges of a harsh and sometimes uncertain environment.

This podcast is an audio extract from the presentation given by Dr Nancy Cushing at the Society’s November 2024 meeting. The complete version can be viewed on our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@newcastlefamilyhistorysoci2923

Jane Ison shares a short biography about her ancestors Elijah Abell and his wife Margaret Brown who both contributed to the civic and social fabric of Wallsend, NSW. Jane also talks about the hidden aspects of lives that can be uncovered by using DNA and how ancestral lines can be confirmed ... or not!

In this the final episode of the series, Jane Ison outlines what is contained in the Royal Commission into Public Charities which commenced in Sydney in May 1873, focusing on Biloela, the girls industrial school on Cockatoo Island.

Mutinous Misses of the ‘Roslin Castle’.

In this episode in the Felonious Females series, Mel Woodford explores the voyage of the Roslin Castle (2), which, carrying 128 women, arrived in Port Jackson on the 29th of June,1830, after a treacherous four-month journey.

If you wander through the streets of Newcastle and indeed further afield to the suburbs and into the Hunter Valley, you will pass by historic and notable buildings – many are the work of Frederick Menkens. Society member Julie Keating takes us on a virtual journey and gives some insights into the man, his life and his creative prowess.