What's on NSW & ACT AFHS
Events in 2025 and beyond
Parramatta Female Factory Friends Inc
Wednesday, 10 September 2025 11:00am to 12:00noon
Venue: Hambledon Cottage
"Up and Down the Parramatta River" Talk by Cheryl Bates:
This absorbing presentation follows a travelogue article written in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1871 describing people and places along the river and shows demolished items and those still in existence 150 years later.
Cheryl has sourced rarely seen information , including sketches & photographs to show sites from the 1870s and today.
Cost: $6.00
NSWACTAFHS
Friday, 12 September 2025 to Sunday 14 September 2025
Venue: The Fraternity Club and live streamed
Association Annual Conference
Parramatta Female Factory Friends Inc
Wednesday, 17 September 2025 11:00am to 12:00noon
Venue: Hambledon Cottage
"Parramatta: Australia's 2nd Settlement" Talk by Ken Smith
After the failure of the crops being grown at Sydney Cove by our First Fleeters, a second settlement was established up the Parramatta River. Hear about how this new settlement grew to become the large and vibrant city of Parramatta.
Cost: $6.00
Parramatta Female Factory Friends Inc
Sunday, 21 September 2025 11:00am to 04:00pm
Venue: Old Government House, Parramatta Park
Regency Day Out – Talks, Picnic and Vintage Markets
all free
Parramatta Female Factory Friends Inc
Wednesday, 24 September 2025 10:00am to 12:00noon
Venue: Hambledon Cottage
"Parramatta River Heritage Walk" walk with Jeff Allen
In this lengthy walk on both sides of the saltwater part of the river, discover the old port & industrial area, sites of some of the grand homes & estates that once overlooked the river, 1839 Boundary Marker and Female Orphan School. See also interesting features such as the Baludarri Wetland Reserve and Dixon Park lookout.
Cost: $9.00
Coffs Harbour District Family History Society Inc
Saturday, 25 October 2025 9:30am to 3:30pm
Venue: Cavanbah Centre, 191 Harbour Drive Coffs Harbour
Andrew Redfern will lead a seminar of how AI can assist with family history research
Events in the last six months
Botany Bay Family History Society Inc past event
Saturday, 01 March 2025, 1:30pm to 3:00pm
Venue: Botany Bay FHS Research Centre, 184 Gannons Road Caringbah South NSW 2229
Monthly Meeting Speaker: Jeff Madsen - Historical Land Development in the Shire Jeff Madsen has had a long career in Information Technology using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to prepare maps for Government, private enterprise and family researchers. He was involved in a family company which provided software, consulting and training services in Geographic Information Systems. He has used the Historical Land Records Viewer (HLRV) since 1999 to access digitised Parish Maps and, more recently, to research NSW Historical Land Records for property owned by ancestors. It became evident that this Spatial knowledge could be used in genealogical research. He is a member of Botany Bay Family History Society, Newcastle Family History Society and a Fellow of the Society of Australian Genealogists. Jeff's presentation will look at the resources available to undertake a search for the initial development of the land where you live in the Shire. We look at the land originally granted to Thomas HOLT and the developers who were subdividing it during the early parts of the 20th century. Using examples, we examine the websites that can provide us with this insight. Real Estate sales posters and aerial photography will be used to allow us to understand historical development in your local area. It combines local history with practical research techniques. Note: Following on from this presentation, on Tuesday 18th March there will be a workshop to assist those seeking to follow through from this presentation searching for information about their own property.
Click here for more information
Botany Bay Family History Society Inc past event
Wednesday, 02 April 2025, 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Venue: Zoom
MICHELLE SCOTT TUCKER - Elizabeth Macarthur In her first book, Elizabeth Macarthur: A Life at the Edge of the World, author Michelle Scott Tucker reveals the fascinating story of a remarkable woman as Elizabeth emerges from the shadow of her famous husband, John, as a capable business woman and is finally given her due as an Australian farming entrepreneur and a critical player in the development of our wool industry. A question session will follow. Be ready! Michelle works as a senior management consultant and lives on a small farm in regional Victoria with her family. Non-members welcome on payment of $10 A question session will follow. Be ready!
Parramatta Female Factory Friends Inc past event
Saturday, 10 May 2025, 10:00am to 1:00pm
Venue: Parramatta Female Factory Friends Room, 5 Fleet Street, North Parramatta
A COLONIAL CRAFT WORKSHOP 2 - STRAW PLAITING & BRAIDING
In this workshop participants will be completing a replica of a sun bonnet similar to a hat made and worn by Female Convicts. The workshop is being led by the talented Lyn Watkins, crafter and descendant of factory women