Remembering them: People of St George & the First World War

From the LMG collection: First World War memorabilia

Hurstville Museum & Gallery commemorates the ANZAC centenary in 2015 with an exhibition showcasing the First World War experiences of men and women of the St George area and how 

we remember them today.

Personal stories come to life through soldiers' diary and letter extracts, and are also told through photographs and objects. Many of the objects on display are family treasures preciously kept for generations and generously loaned to the Museum & Gallery for this exhibition. 

Also included in the display are First World War related objects from the Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection. Here is a selection:

‘Lest We Forget memorial’ honour rolls 

One highlight from the LMG collection are the pictorial honour rolls portraying over 200 photographs of soldiers who had an association with the Hurstville area. Honour rolls were one of the first memorials erected in the local community to register and honour the volunteers who signed up for military service.

In 1918, an effort was made to obtain a photo of every soldier who enlisted from Hurstville for inclusion in an honour roll. The public was called on for assistance in local newspapers to provide a photo of enlisted family members. The completed photographic honour rolls became known as the ‘Lest We Forget’ memorial and were initially installed in the vestibule of Hurstville Council Chambers in 1921.

 

Hurstville pictorial honour rolls displayed in the exhibition
 'Remembering them: People of St George & the First World War'.
Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection. 

Postcards to the front

The pictured postcards were sent to George Herbert Baker while he was serving at war. The young accountant was mainly stationed in England and Egypt. The postcards are written by his father, David Baker. The Bakers lived on Forest Road, Hurstville. Through these postcards George would receive the latest news from home, as well as news of how friends and relatives at war were doing. The postcard images often depicted scenery of Hurstville and might have brought home a little closer for George. The postcards, among other memorabilia, were donated to the LMG by Barry Roffey in 2014.

 

Selection of postcards sent to George Herbert Baker during the First World War.
Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection.

‘The Peace of 1919’ medalets

To commemorate the end of the First World War, these medals were issued by the Defence Department to every child in Australia aged up to fourteen years, and up to sixteen years if the parents were in the armed forces.

 

Peace of 1919 medalets.
Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection.

A bible’s journey

This pocket bible belonged to Private Henry Mayer of Mortdale, born in England, who enlisted in July 1915. Bibles like this one were presented to New South Wales servicemen by Friends of the New South Wales Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Henry was killed in action on 20 July 1916 in France. Somehow, his pocket bible made it back to relatives in Stockport, England. About 90 years later, the bible was found by a Stockport resident, who sent the bible to Hurstville Museum & Gallery for safe keeping. Following this, some of Henry Mayer’s relatives living in Sydney were traced down. In 2010, Henry’s bible was taken back to his gravesite in France to mark the 94th anniversary of the First World War Battle of Fromelles.

 

Henry Mayer's pocket bible.
Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection. 

Knitting for the soldiers

South Hurstville schoolgirl Jean Emma Gordon is pictured here knitting socks for Australian soldiers in 1916. Australia-wide, local organisations, schools, church groups, knitting circles and individuals got together to knit and sew socks, towels and vests to provide comforts to Australian troops. Warm clothes were especially needed at the Western Front during winter, where temperatures would often drop below zero degrees. 

This photograph is available from our Local Studies Photograph catalogue. 

 

Jean Emma Gordon is knitting socks for Australian soldiers.
Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection. 

Do you want to find out what else is on display?

Come and visit our exhibition Remembering them:People of St George & the First World War

on show until 31 May 2015.

Follow our Commemorating WW1 and Anzac Day Pinterest board.

JOIN US FOR THE OFFICIAL OPENING AT HURSTVILLE MUSEUM & GALLERY

Sunday 15 February 2015, 2.00pm for a 2.30pm start

RSVP by 9 February 2015: http://www.trybooking.com/GQOB

St George Art Awards 2014 winners announced

On Friday 17 October the crowds gathered at the Civic Theatre, Hurstville Entertainment Centre, to congratulate this year’s finalists and to attend the official opening of the St George Art Awards 2014 exhibition. 

Visit the St George Art Awards website to see all winner and highly commended artworks.

Hadieh Afshani was awarded the St George Art Prize 2014 for her stirring oil painting Motion of Light. Hadieh emigrated from Tehran to Australia in 2006 and her most recent works explore the journey of self-discovery experienced by migrants. Motion of Light considers the moment when a space becomes a place of meaning. Hadieh plays with the notion of light in many of her works, and the warm glow emanating from the centre of the image, with the faintest silhouette of a figure, hints at the decision to accept the challenge of transformation in a new, unknown place. 

St George Art Prize 2014 Winner Hadieh Afshani - Motion of Light

There is a fantastic variety of responses to the theme of transformation on display at Hurstville Museum & Gallery and Hurstville Library. Visit us before 14 December 2014 to have a look!

To book for the St George Art Awards public programs go to the LMG What’s On page. 

Selling an American Dream: Australia’s Greek Café

“Every time you drink a Coke, enjoy an ice cream or sweet chocolate treat, go to the cinema, or listen to the latest popular music hit, you can thank Australia’s Greek cafés.”

-Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis

Hurstville Museum & Gallery is hosting a touring exhibition from the “In their own Image: Greek-Australians” National Project, Macquarie University, Sydney.

This photographic exhibition, curated by Effy Alexakis and Leonard Janiszweski, explores an important chapter in the development of Australian culture. Greek cafés were known for their introduction of American sodas, ice-cream sundaes, milkshakes, hamburgers, milk chocolate and hard sugar candies, into communities right across Australia.

Leonard Janiszewski and Effy Alexakis tell us more about the first modern Greek Café in Sydney:

“In 1932, Mick Adams (Joachim Tavlarides), opened Australia’s first modern ‘American-style’ milk bar, the ‘Black and White 4 pence Milk Bar’ in Sydney. The ‘milk bar’ was created by Adams based upon his observations of American drugstore soda bars – he had visited the United States two years earlier. In Australia, the Greek-run oyster saloon and soda bar/sundae ‘parlor’ had placed prime importance on sit-down trade for meals, drinks and desserts. American drugstore soda bars emphasised quick stand-up and bar-stool bar trade (soda drinks, milkshakes and sundaes) over sit-down meal trade. Adams firmly took up the American soda bar catering emphasis and highlighted the milkshake.

Seating capacity in Adams’ premises was restricted to just six small two-seater cubicles along one wall, the main feature being a long hotel-style bar with soda fountain pumps and numerous Hamilton Beach electric milkshake makers (imported from the United States). No cooked meals were offered. On the first day of opening 5,000 customers frequented the milk bar, and as many as 27,000 per week then began to patronise the establishment. Other food caterers were quick to adopt the idea and within five years of the opening of Adams’ original Black and White Milk Bar there were allegedly 4,000 milk bars in Australia; most were Greek-run. Food caterers in Great Britain and New Zealand were also quick to embrace the concept.”

Black and White 4d.Milk Bar exterior, Martin Place, Sydney, NSW, 1934.

Mick Adams is pictured here with children from the Dalwood Health Home.

Photos courtesy L. Keldoulis, from the ‘In Their Own Image: Greek-Australians’ National Project Archives, Macquarie University.

Selling an American Dream: Australia's Greek Café will be on show at Hurstville Museum & Gallery from 2 August – 28 September 2014

Don’t miss the exciting public programs and book in here

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: STORIES FROM 14 MACMAHON STREET

The Museum & Gallery team is very excited to open our newest exhibition,
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: STORIES FROM 14 MACMAHON STREET. 



This exhibition, right from the start, has held a special place in our hearts. It celebrates Hurstville Museum & Gallery’s tenth anniversary at 14 MacMahon Street, where it opened on 7 February 2004 as the St George Regional Museum. It has also given us the opportunity to investigate the history of the house, which has been so interesting and so much fun!

One of our greatest finds was the original architectural plans of the building from 1929, designed by Peddle Thorp & Walker, now known as PTW Architects. These plans (on display in the exhibition) showed us exactly what purposes the rooms had been used for, answering long asked questions of where exactly Dr Crakanthorp’s surgery was, where patients sat while they waited for him, and how parts of the building have (and haven’t!) changed over time.

Image courtesy of Hurstville Library Museum & Gallery

As the exhibition has an oral history component, we got the chance to meet some of the previous tenants of 14 MacMahon Street. The owner’s of MacMahon’s Manor flew from Queensland to talk to us about their memories of running a fine dining and theatre restaurant. When we went for a walk around the building, we discovered that their original labels, showing where they stored candlesticks and napkins could still be seen on what is now our stationary cupboard!

More than anything though, was the overwhelming fondness people express about this building. From Dr Crakanthorp’s family home and doctor’s practice, to the fun times had at the St George Rugby Club; from the good nights at MacMahon’s Manor to the memories of wedding celebrations, and now as a Museum & Gallery for the local community, 14 MacMahon Street has seen it all.

Image courtesy of Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery

An interesting thing we noticed about 14 MacMahon Street while developing this exhibition was that its door has always been open to the community. We are pleased to be able to continue the tradition, and invite you to the special tenth anniversary celebrations and official opening of IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK on 7 February 2013, 6.00pm for 6.30pm.
Please RSVP: (02) 9330 6444 or email museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Did you know that the first room on the right as you enter the building was the Crakanthorp’s lounge room? How about that there was a fantastic bar in the second room or that there used to be a stage in the gallery! Visit Hurstville Museum & Gallery to discover the stories of 14 MacMahon Street.

IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK: STORIES FROM 14 MACMAHON STREET will be on show from 18 January – 11 May 2014 and is proudly sponsored by The Gardens on Forest.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS
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Great Wildlife Photography by Alexander Choi



Orange Palmdart Butterfly, image: Alexander Choi


It’s All Around Us: Australian Wildlife is an exhibition by local photographer Alexander Choi. He presents a selection of breathtaking and inspiring photographs of some of Australia’s beautiful creatures.

Alexander has a great passion for photography and began exploring this medium from the age of 13.
He loves to photograph wildlife, architecture and people.

Hurstville Museum & Gallery  is pleased to be hosting Alexander’s wonderful images.

Dont miss the official opening this Saturday, 1 June 2013, 1.00pm.
Please RSVP  under 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au


Exhibition is on show from 1 – 23 June 2013.

Dragons Lair Gallery, Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville


Free Exhibition Talk by Alexander Choi


Sunday 9 June 2013, 3.00pm – 4.00pm

Alexander Choi will be running a Public Program on
How to take better photographs- getting the most out of your D-SLR.

Please book under 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au



The talk is suitable for experienced amateurs.

Explore more Wildlife Photography by Alexander Choi!

Illuminating stained glass exhbition at Hurstville Museum & Gallery

Seascapes and Landscapes from Greece

 

Aegan Sea Seascape, stained glass composition

Yanos Bouzioukos

Dragon’s Lair Gallery

Hurstville Museum & Gallery

6 April – 28 April 2013

Yanos Bouzioukos was born in Athens in 1951. This exhibition reflects the seascapes and landscapes of his homeland through compositions of stained glass and glass-collage. Yanos has a strong background in working with glass, lecturing on Contemporary Glass Techniques in Wales and also teaching at the University of Sydney in the Glass Department. Today he lives and works in Sydney and hopes to demonstrate through this exhibition the multicultural nature of the community.


Official Opening:

Saturday 6 April 2013, 1.30pm for 2.00pm.

RSVP by Wednesday 3 April 2013.

9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au


Location:
Dragon’s Lair Gallery
Hurstville Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville



Opening hours:
Tuesday – Saturday, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Sunday, 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Other times by appointment.

Revealed! Treasures from the Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery Collections

Discover artefacts, oddities and treasures as
Hurstville Museum & Gallery opened the vaults to reveal items from its historical collections.

The exhibition will be on show from 2 February - 14 April 2013.

The items on display in this exhibition come from a collection which began in the 1970s, when the Hurstville Historical Society started gathering objects relating to the history of the local area.

Official Exhibition Opening

Join us for the official exhibition opening on Friday 15 February 2013, 6.00pm for 6.30pm.

ABC TV Show Collectors presenter and fashion designer Claudia Chan Shaw will present her new book Collectomania.

Free event, bookings: 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Hurstville Museum & Gallery
14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville

Look out for our exciting programs and events about collectors, collecting and collections.

Celebrate Lunar New Year 2013 at Hurstville Museum & Gallery

 

As part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, we will be hosting Lunar New Year: One Celebration, Many Traditions, a colorful exhibition exploring the diversity of Lunar New Year celebrations. The exhibition will run from Saturday 2 February to Sunday 3 March 2013.

Join us for the official exhibition opening on Saturday 9 February 2013, 1.00pm. Listen to guest speaker Dr Thomas Berghuis, Lecturer in Asian Art from the University of Sydney, and enjoy refreshments while exploring the exhibition. This is a free event, bookings on 9330 6444 or via email
Dragons' Lair Gallery, Hurstville Museum & Gallery, 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville

Visit Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery’s What's On page for more information about Lunar New Year public programs and events.

The exhibition is proudly sponsored by Westfield Hurstville.

Forever Dreaming - Works by local Aboriginal Artists

Visit our new exhibition Forever Dreaming at Hurstville Museum & Gallery. On display in our Dragon’s Lair Gallery from 6 September – 23 September are over 35 colourful acrylic paintings. The works were created by local Aboriginal artists who are passionate about their art and their culture. Many of the artists are part of the Gnarra HACC Project. The Gnarra HACC Project is a Home And Community Care service run by Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation.


All welcome to attend the free official exhibition opening on Wednesday 12 September, 1.00pm at Hurstville Museum & Gallery, 14 MacMahon Street.

Don’t miss your chance to see the artworks!
 

Artwork credits Clockwise from bottom left: Tracie McNally, Elizabeth Homer, Kylie Vanzyl, Deanna Schreiber, Cherylene Smith, Sandra Noy. Top right: Annette Webb. Bottom right: Ann-Maree Webb.

Visit our new exciting exhibition Sydney’s Italian Fruit Shops – The Original Green Grocer

Visit our new exciting exhibition Sydney’s Italian Fruit Shops – The Original Green Grocer.

Colourful photographic panels tell the story of Italian migrant families who came to Australia in the early decades of the 20th century and opened small fruit shops. These shops were important places for intercultural exchange and they changed Australian eating habits. At that time some of Sydney’s residents met Italian families for the first time and learned about eggplants, sundried tomatoes and spaghetti. The travelling exhibition was created by Co.As.It., (Italian Association of Assistance) in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Public History (ACPH) at the University of Technology, Sydney. Check out the Online Fruit Shop Register and find your local Italian fruit shop.

Join us for the Official Opening this Friday 17 August , 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start. The event is free and refreshments will be provided. Call 93306444 or email us to reserve your spot.

The exhibition will be on show at Hurstville Museum & Gallery from 11 August – 30 September. Our opening hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, Sunday 2.00pm - 5.00pm. 14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville.

Image: The Firenze family fruit shop in Cronulla NSW 1955. Image courtesy of the Firenze family.

Celebrating 125 years

Saturday 25 February was the official opening of our Hurstville Celebrates:125 years exhibition. Clr Steve McMahon, Mayor of Hurstville City Council gave a fantastic opening speech at it was a fun day for all involved.
To celebrate the official 125th anniversary of the proclamation of the Council, Hurstville City Museum & Gallery will be hosting special activities on Sunday 25 March suited for all ages.
Activities will include rare historical footage, free children's craft activities and highlight tours around our exhibitions. Visitors to the Museum & Gallery are encouraged to donate photographs of the local area to our local studies photograph collection.

Got Rugby League Fever?

If you've got rugby league pumping through your veins then you won't want to miss the next exhibition at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery. League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia is a photographic exhibition developed and presented by the National Museum of Australia. Relive the moments, remember the legends and discover the history of the game through a collection of photograph documenting 100 years of rugby league in Australia.

Also on show will be a display looking at the history of the St George Illawarra Dragons.

Rugby League fans of all creed are invited to attend the exhibition opening on Saturday 29 October at 11:00am at 14 MacMahon St, Hurstville. All welcome, light refreshments provided. Please RSVP by Friday 28 October on 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au. Get into the spirit of the day and wear your team colours!

League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia is on display at Hurstville City Museum & Gallery from 29 October - 18 December 2011