Many towns in the region took their names from Scottish figures, literature and places. Ivanhoe is believed to be named after Sir Walter Scott's novel, chosen by storekeeper George Brown Williamson. Booligal's name comes from an Aboriginal word, possibly meaning windy place. Hillston was renamed after publican William Ward Hill, who died in 1867. Maude's naming remains unresolved, with officials rejecting an earlier proposed name without recorded reasons.
Bacchus Marsh residents will revisit life in the 1950s at a free history talk at the Lerderderg Library on Saturday 31 October, as part of the Seniors Festival. Local Rotarian Alan Morton came up with the idea after receiving a collection of 1950s agricultural journals. Eight to 10 speakers will each talk for about 15 minutes, followed by questions. Morton will cover early local dairy farming, while Alf Hawken will speak about RP Sewell, a local engineering firm that made parts for Massey Fergusson tractors. The session runs from 10am to 12.30pm and includes morning tea.
A local historical association is campaigning to have Mt David, a peak near Canungra, officially gazetted. The peak is named after David Lahey, a founding figure whose family built the region's first major sawmill. Despite the name's long local use, it has never received an official title and does not appear on maps. A request to the Queensland Place Names Board is under way, though the board is busy with many developments. A public submission process is expected, and organisers hope locals will show their support.
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A new six-episode documentary podcast about Port Kembla, NSW's third largest port, is being launched at The Servo on Sunday, November 1. Radio journalist Jennifer Macey created the series as part of her PhD geography research at the University of Wollongong. Episodes cover water, coal, steel, grain and cars, moving from Indigenous Dreaming stories to the present day. Macey recorded on location, including interviews with migrants and workers. The podcast will be free to listen to on Spotify and other platforms.
Arthur and Alison Chapman, who left Forster-Tuncurry more than three years ago, say they have fallen in love with Cabonne and plan to stay a while longer. The couple travel slowly, spending time researching local history and heritage, including the Fairbridge Children's Memorial and the villages of Cargo and Cudal. They share their discoveries through Facebook posts and YouTube videos, which often prompt viewers to share their own family connections to the towns. Mr Chapman praised the quiet country towns and said most of their stays are free camping.
The Eastern Goldfields Historical Society is asking the public to help identify people in a set of old school photos. The society received the collection from the former Eastern Goldfields Senior High School and wants names for the students in each picture. The image shown is of Year 8 Navy students from 1977. Anyone who can help is asked to email [email protected] or call 9093 3360.
Pioneering families on the Tomaree Peninsula were mostly seafarers or fishers, and boats were central to everyday life. The Lambourne family included fishers and light keepers at Fingal Island. In 1905, Henry Eccleston Lambourne Jnr, aged 21, drowned in Providence Bay on Broughton Island while trying to save his mate, Archie Marshall. Their bodies were never found. His brother Jack worked a boat called the Simplex, and George skippered two ferries owned by Alf Korsmann of Tea Gardens.
Junee's rodeo returns this Saturday, the first held in the town since the turn of the century. It will be part of the 136th Junee Show at the Junee Showgrounds, with almost $7,000 in prize money on offer. Rodeo action starts at 3pm, with competition running until 8pm. The event was once a major local fixture, drawing large crowds until rising insurance and operational costs ended it. Its last run was in 1999, and organisers hope the revival will introduce the tradition to a new generation.
This week's local quiz tests readers on ten questions about the Shoalhaven, with the chance to compare results with others. Participants are asked to test their knowledge of the region and of colonial explorers, then open the Take the Quiz button to begin. Readers are invited to post their scores in the comments section. The page also promotes an email subscription for local news. It closes with an acknowledgement of the Traditional Owners of the land and waters where the publisher works and reports, paying respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and emerging.
Residents of Beenleigh can learn about the town's sporting past at a free lunchtime talk on Thursday 29 October. Historian Hilda Maclean will present the session, called Lunch and Learn, at The Line & Rail Artspace on York Street. The talk runs from noon to 1pm and begins at 12.15pm. Participants may bring their own lunch, and tea and coffee will be provided. Bookings are required and can be made through Logan Arts.
Redland City Council has approved the demolition of two heritage-listed buildings at 1 and 3 Shore Street East in Cleveland. The decision followed a public council debate on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. Council officers recommended approval after independent assessments found the buildings could not reasonably be repaired or retained. Councillors voted eight to two in favour. The approval requires detailed historical documentation, including photographs and building plans, to be submitted within three months and kept in the council's local history collection.
At its recent meeting, the Glenorie Probus Club heard about the work of a major national science facility, which produces a large share of Australia's radioactive isotopes for diagnosing and treating illnesses such as cancer. The facility also runs the OPAL multi-purpose research reactor and offers particle accelerators and neutron beams for research in health, materials, forensics and the environment. Members found the talk informative. The guest speaker, Jenny Bradley, then reviewed the history of Hayes Park in Galston, which in the 1890s hosted the Galston and District Flower and Agricultural Show.
A community bank has given $5,000 to volunteers at Fagan Park to buy and install showcases for the historical artefacts held in the homestead room. The showcases will protect fragile objects while letting visitors see them clearly. Bank staff say they back local projects that protect the area's history and improve shared spaces. The branch said it is proud to work with The Friends of Fagan Park. It added that it can reinvest profits in the town because customers keep banking with it.
A local historical society is working to trace the history of small bush schools in the old Beaudesert Shire. The Jimboomba Timber Reserve Provisional School opened in 1899 near Gittens Road in what is now Riverbend. It was later named Martindale, then moved across the Logan River in 1922 and reopened as Cedar Grove State School before closing in 1965. The Lily Vale Provisional School, in the area now known as Cedar Vale, is considered a likely match for the Scrub Creek school.
A new book by the Helensburgh Historical Society explores the wild history of the 2508 district from 1884 to 1954. The book, titled Murders and Misadventures of the 2508 District, combines cemetery records and newspaper articles to capture the era when coal was discovered and the railway was built. The district attracted a diverse mix of people, including miners, shopkeepers, and immigrants, and became known as a 'wild west town'. The book is available for purchase online or at the Helensburgh Lions Club Country Fair on October 24.
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Debra Rule is well known in Fremantle for her work in establishing and running the Fremantle Community Bank. She arrived in the city from Tasmania at age five, attended local primary and high schools, and later returned to South Fremantle Senior High School as a teacher librarian. She then built a career in strategic information and change management. Before that, she held a range of jobs in old Fremantle and was a member of the South Freo Bulldogs Cheer Squad.
