Local shearing sheds are again echoing to the scuttling sound of hooves on boards, whirr of the electric gear and clank of presses – a far cry from the days of the sheds echoing to the click of the blades (hand shears) as the shearer took the full length of the blade for the cut and the ‘knockers’ met. The record for a day’s blade shearing is 321 merinos in seven hours 40 minutes by Jackie Howe at ‘Alice Downs’, Blackall in Queensland in 1892. However, in 1907 Deepwater local gun shearer John Edward Dean shore 274 sheep in a…
A new exhibition at the Land of the Beardies History House Museum is inviting the community to take a trip down memory lane with “Grey Street CBD c.1860s – 2000s”. The display charts the evolution of businesses and buildings along Grey Street over more than a century, offering a nostalgic look at the changing face of Glen Innes. The exhibition explores both sides of Grey Street—from the corner of Ferguson Street (home to the former Royal Hotel, now Pathfinders) through to Lang Street on the east side, and from Hollie Homes (once Whyte’s Boot Factory site) through to the Club…
Early mail deliveries to Glen Innes were spasmodic. James Martin was appointed first Postmaster in 1854. At the time roads were primitive and delivery of mail depended on the vagaries of the weather. When the mail did get to Glen Innes and was sorted Martin blew a bugle to let people know to collect their letters. Prior to this a post office had been established at Wellingrove in 1849 - mail was delivered by a man riding and leading a packhorse. As tracks became better coaches commenced services and by 1873 Cobb and Co ran three coaches a week. In…
Eating damper slathered with butter and dripping deliciously with golden syrup, (known as Cocky’s Joy) as part of the education programme led by Cheryl Muldoon is a treat enjoyed by some of the school groups visiting the Land of the Beardies Museum. Damper was a staple of early settlers’ diet - however it was nowhere near as edible as today – fresh butter being a rarity and certainly not made with today’s refined white flour! Early supplies of the basic rations - flour, salt, sugar & tea were reliant on slow bullock wagons & it took months to replenish stocks…
Driving up Williams Street from Church Street (the New England Highway) you will notice at the top, as you turn right at the corner that there is a sign ‘Bewley Lane’. It is just a very short lane. Does anyone know why that name has been so honoured? Most of the names of our streets, avenues, lanes etc can be traced to prominent people and almost every thoroughfare, no matter how short, has now been given a name, mainly to assist Emergency Services etc. Early on it was politicians, and other such notables, then mayors etc, who were so honoured…
On Saturday 16 November, guests sipping wine and nibbling canapes gathered round the garden courtyard at the museum to be delighted by the fashion parade, curated by Astrid Scheer, of elegant frocks of the1950s and 1960s from the Margaret McIntosh Collection. It was an example of the Museum’s important function of collecting, preserving and disseminating the history of the town and district. Margaret nee Coventry had married Colin McIntosh in 1951, and they lived at Clarevaulx. The McIntosh family generously donated a collection of frocks, ball gowns, hats, handbags and shoes. Some of the frocks had been made by Miss…
The New England Heritage Traction Club supports the preservation, restoration and enjoyment of heritage machinery, including tractors, trucks, motorcycles and the like. It holds monthly meetings at the meeting room of the Land of the Beardies Museum and also organises regular outings of interest for members. On Sunday, on one such outing, the group visited what could only be called a “tractor museum” out on the Inverell Road. It was an amazing experience. Chris and Betty Walker and Jamie Wiggins are all enthusiasts and hold a large collection of vintage tractors on their property. There must be close to fifty…
