Local Histories
Most of these books do not contain an index. I will do look ups provided they are reasonable. There is no charge for this service but donations would be appreciated. However it is up to you.
Easterman, S. History of Bendemeer. 1832 – 1985.
Nestled on the banks of the Macdonald River, in the heart of New England, New South Wales, lies the small village of Bendemeer. Long before European settlers arrived, this land was home to the Kamilaroi people, whose connection to the river and surrounding hills stretched back countless generations. Their knowledge of the land, the seasons, and the river’s moods formed a rich tapestry of life that endured for thousands of years.
European settlers first ventured into the area in 1834, drawn by the promise of fertile grazing land. A sheep station was established near a key river crossing, and by 1851, a small village had sprung up around it. Originally called McDonald River, the village would soon take on a more poetic name. In 1854, inspired by a line in Thomas Moore’s 1817 poem Lalla-Rookh—“There’s a bower of roses by Bendemeer’s stream”—the settlement became Bendemeer. The name, evoking distant lands and a sense of romance, seemed to suit the tranquil beauty of the river and surrounding countryside.
Life in Bendemeer was not without its dramas. In 1864, the infamous bushranger Captain Thunderbolt made one of his first armed robberies along the northern mail route, leaving an indelible mark on the local memory. Yet, the village endured, slowly growing as bridges were built across the Macdonald River. The first bridge appeared in 1874, replaced by a steel and timber truss bridge in 1905, and finally a modern concrete bridge in 1985, which rerouted traffic away from the heart of the village.
The village also bore witness to the impact of global events. After the First World War, the Bendemeer Memorial Gates were erected, with wrought-iron arches and marble honour rolls commemorating the men and women of the district who served. Over time, additional plaques were added, reminding each generation of the sacrifices of those who had gone before.
Today, Bendemeer remains a quiet, picturesque village, home to fewer than 500 people. Its historic hotel, general store, and small tourist park welcome visitors who pause to enjoy the river’s gentle flow, the rolling hills, and the echo of centuries of human stories. From the Kamilaroi people to pioneering settlers and beyond, Bendemeer holds a layered history, where every tree-lined street and sunlit river bend whispers of the lives that shaped it.
Moore, D., A History of the timber industry of the Central Coast of NSW. JRAHS V 74, Part 1, June 1988
Parkes, W. S. Historical Tours in Greater Cessnock.
Cessnock, nestled in the heart of the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, is a town shaped by both its ancient past and industrious present. Long before European settlement, the Wonnarua people called this land home. Their deep connection to the land is remembered today in local place names such as Congewai, Kurri Kurri, Laguna, Nulkaba, and Wollombi. The arrival of European settlers in the 1820s, however, brought profound change. In 1826, Scottish settler John Campbell received a land grant he named the Cessnock Estate, after his grandfather’s Cessnock Castle in Scotland. Around this estate, a small township began to emerge, strategically positioned at the junction of the Great North Road linking Sydney with the Hunter Valley.
The discovery of coal in the Greta seam in 1888 transformed Cessnock from a quiet rural service town into the center of industrial ambition. Over the next two decades, the South Maitland coalfields expanded, drawing workers and their families, and shaping the character of the community. Railways followed, with the South Maitland Railway reaching Cessnock in 1904. For decades, the railway carried both coal and passengers, connecting Cessnock to the wider world, until passenger services ceased in 1975.
World War II left its mark on the town when Cessnock Airport was constructed as a RAAF base. After the war, it became a civilian airport, symbolizing the town’s resilience and adaptability. But it was the fertile land surrounding Cessnock that would define its peacetime legacy. Over the mid-20th century, vineyards began to flourish in Pokolbin, Lovedale, Mount View, and Rothbury, turning the region into one of Australia’s most celebrated wine districts. Today, Cessnock stands as both a gateway to these vineyards and a community proud of its industrial roots.
Education and culture have always been at the heart of Cessnock. Cessnock High School, established in 1921, grew with the town, and during World War II, even the schoolyard became part of the nation’s war effort, with students helping to dig slip trenches. The Cessnock City Library’s Local Studies Collection preserves the memories of generations, chronicling lives shaped by coal, vineyards, and the enduring spirit of the Hunter Valley.
Cessnock’s story is one of change and continuity, of people forging lives from the land, adapting to industry, and celebrating culture. From Wonnarua beginnings to a modern gateway for wine and tourism, the town carries its history in every street, vineyard, and community hall.
Bloomfield, William A. G. Cessnock. 1826 – 1954. A History of the Cessnock District with a special supplement on the Catholic Parish of Cessnock.
The Catholic faith has long been a cornerstone of the Cessnock community. Its presence in the region stretches back to the late 19th century, when the Sisters of St Joseph arrived and began educating local children. In 1887, they established the first Catholic school in the area, using the modest St Patrick’s Church at Nulkaba as a classroom. By 1893, the growing community had built a new church, and the original structure became a dedicated school. These early efforts marked the beginning of Catholic education and spiritual life in Cessnock.
As the town expanded, so too did its churches. The foundation stone for the present St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cessnock was laid on May 11, 1952, by Bishop Edmund Gleeson, and the church officially opened in October 1954. Designed in a Romanesque style, St Joseph’s soon became a landmark of faith, featuring a prominent bell tower and a memorial foyer dedicated to those who had served in the World Wars and those who had lost their lives in the local coal mines. Within the foyer, golden figures of a soldier and a coal miner stand as enduring symbols of sacrifice and toil, connecting the parish to the wider history of the region.
Catholic education continued to flourish alongside spiritual life. St Patrick’s Primary School, initially part of Nulkaba, moved to Wollombi Road in 1937 and eventually grew into a modern brick complex by the 1970s. Further expansions in the 1990s and 2000s ensured that generations of children could receive an education grounded in faith and community values.
Today, the Catholic Parish of Cessnock stretches across the region, encompassing St Joseph’s in Cessnock, St Michael the Archangel in Wollombi, St Francis Xavier in Abermain, and the Church of the Holy Spirit in Kurri Kurri. The parish is a living community, offering Masses, prayer groups, choirs, and social activities. Clergy and parishioners alike continue to uphold the traditions established over a century ago, ensuring that faith, remembrance, and community remain at the heart of Cessnock life. Even the columbarium walls at St Joseph’s serve as a place of reflection and memory, linking the present with generations past.
Through growth, change, and dedication, the Catholic Parish of Cessnock has become more than a collection of churches—it is a testament to enduring faith, education, and community in the Hunter Valley.
Shire of Dungog. Historical Booklet No 1. Dungog Town and District. Some Historical Highlights. 1975.
Lobsey, I. The Creek. A History of Emmaville and District. 1872 – 1972.
Maxwell. E. Written in Gold. The Story of Gulgong. 1975 5ed.
Neil, Marie H., Valley of the Macleay. The History of Kempsey and the Macleay River District. 1972.
Hubbuck, G. R. Lambton 1862 – 1872. nd.
A Narrative History of Lambton, New South Wales
Lambton, now a quiet suburb of Newcastle, began its life as a bustling mining settlement in the mid-19th century. Its story is bound up with coal, industry, and community spirit—threads that wove together to form the character of the town.
The land on which Lambton stands was originally the home of the Awabakal people, whose deep connection to country was disrupted when European settlers pushed into the district in the early 1800s. By the 1850s, the Hunter Valley was becoming the heart of New South Wales’ coal industry, and it was only a matter of time before Lambton was drawn into this world of black rock and hard labour.
In 1863 the Scottish Australian Mining Company opened the Lambton Colliery, and almost overnight, a village began to take shape. Rows of modest miners’ cottages sprang up, shops opened to supply the necessities of life, and hotels catered to thirsty workers at day’s end. The mine attracted men from across the colony and beyond—Irish, Scots, Welsh, and English immigrants who brought with them not only their labour but also their traditions, songs, and sense of solidarity.
The name Lambton honoured John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham, a British statesman, though to the miners themselves it became simply “home.” Life revolved around the rhythms of the pit. Work was dangerous and exhausting, with accidents and strikes punctuating the town’s history. Yet from hardship came resilience. The miners of Lambton were among those who shaped the early union movement in New South Wales, standing together to demand fair wages and safer conditions.
As the settlement grew, the people built institutions that gave the community depth and dignity. The Mechanics’ Institute, founded in 1867, became a place of learning and debate. Lambton Park, laid out soon after, was the town’s green heart, and in 1883 the striking rotunda was erected there—a symbol of civic pride that remains to this day. Churches rose to meet the spiritual needs of the miners and their families, while schools taught the next generation.
By the turn of the 20th century, Lambton was no longer just a colliery village but a thriving township. Its football teams, brass bands, and public gatherings reflected a strong community spirit. Yet the coal industry, the town’s lifeblood, was also its destiny. As mines closed and industry shifted, Lambton gradually lost its identity as a mining town. It merged into the growing city of Newcastle, its pits silenced but its heritage preserved in streetscapes, stories, and memories.
Today, Lambton is a leafy residential suburb. Cafés and shops line Elder Street, children play in the park, and the old rotunda still hosts music on warm summer evenings. Though the coal dust has long settled, the town’s character—shaped by the grit, labour, and fellowship of its mining past—remains at the heart of Lambton’s story.
Council of the City of Maitland. A History of Maitland. 1983
Bettington, H. M. , The Lure of the Land. Historic Merriwa. 1974.
Newcastle & Hunter District Historical Society. Minmi. The Place of the Giant Lily. A Social History of a Mining Town. 1990.
Bartlett, M. A. The Port Stephens Story. nd.
Daley, L. Men and a River. Richmond River District 1828 – 1895. Melbourne University Press. 1986. (indexed)
McKenzie, K. A. A History of the Presbyterian Church in Scone. 1976.
Stroud Shire Council, Stroud and the A.A. Company . 1970
Ramsland, John et al. Taree as a pioneering township 1830 to 1913. JRAHS. Vol. 75, Part 4. March 1990.
Barker, Theo. The Government Run. A History of Warialda. 1827 – 1930. Warialda Historical Society. 1987.
Swancott, Charles. Wiseman’s Ferry. 1965
Sampson A., Smith M. The Tales They Tell. A Folk History of the Upper Manning. Cooplacuripa – Tiri – Tigrah. 1987.
Clark, A. Cambewarra …A. History. nd.