National Trust Heritage Festival 2015

The National Trust Heritage Festival started in NSW in 1980 to nurture & promote heritage related events in NSW. From the 11 April – 26 May 2015 join the National Trust in celebrating Australia’s cultural heritage, through talks, tours, exhibitions and events across NSW, the National Trust invites people to explore our heritage and find out what has shaped Australia.1 

To celebrate the theme of this year’s National Trust Heritage Festival Conflict and Compassion Hurstville City Library, Museum & Gallery will be hosting the following events:

We will start our program of events on Wednesday 22 April 2015 with a beautiful and informative tour of Oatley Park. You will be guided on a journey through the natural beauty of Oatley Park with Oatley Flora & Fauna Conservation Society Inc. This walking tour will explore the abundance of flora and fauna and significant sites relating to the heritage of the area. Yummy refreshments will be provided! 

More information.

Hurstville War Memorial c.1930

 Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection

Join us on Wednesday 6 May 2015 for a bus tour where we will visit some of the war memorials and places of commemoration throughout the Hurstville and surrounding suburbs. There will be time to view the Remembering them: People of St George and the First World War exhibition is included. Scrumptious refreshments will be provided. 

More information.

 
Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection

On Monday 11 May 2015 join Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery staff as they present the talk 'Mateship and Mercy' which highlights the compassion and camaraderie of the people of the Hurstville district during the First World War. Extensive research has been undertaken, finding a selection of published letters, diary extracts and correspondence, reflecting the experiences of both local service people and their loved ones during the conflict. 

More information.

Our final program for the National Trust Heritage Festival will be a film screening of 'Revealing Gallipoli' on Tuesday 26 May 2015. Revealing Gallipoli tells the story of the nine-month battle, which ended with the evacuation of all its troops in December 1915. The film was produced in 2005 and has been provided by the Commonwealth Department of Vetrans' Affairs. After the screening, talk some time to view the exhibition 'Remebering Them: People of St George and the First World War'.

More information.

Bookings are essential for all programs.

Remembering Them - People Of St George And The First World War exhibition runs from the 15 February to the 31 May 2015 at Hurstville Museum & Gallery.This exhibition commemorates the ANZAC centenary in 2015 showcasing the experiences of men and women of the St George area during WW1. Personal stories will come to life through soldiers‚“ diary and letter extracts. A highlight on display from the Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection will be the pictorial honour rolls portraying over two hundred photographs of soldiers.

Hurstville Museum & Gallery 

14 MacMahon Street Hurstville 2220

Phone: (02) 9330 6444 or museumgallery@hurstville.nsw.gov.au

Visit our Website for more information.

  1. Australian Council of National Trusts http://www.nationaltrust.org.au/nsw/Heritage-Festival

Remembering Them: People of St George & The First World War

Sailors' and Soldiers' Memorial

The Hurstville Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Memorial Monument, was unveiled in May 1922 to honour local people who died as a result of their involvement in the First World War. The monumnet was created through the industry and generosity of the Hurstville community. 

Unveiling of the Hurstville War Memorial in May 1922.
Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection. 

The memorial was initially proposed to be a Memorial School of Arts building in MacMahon Street which would honour those killed in the conflict whilst also providing social and educational facilities for returned veterans. Ultimately however, the community decided to construct both a monument and a Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, the latter being officially opened in June 1929 and later becoming the Hurstville RSL Club. 

Hurstville Memorial Hall, 1930s.
Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection.

The monument survived a proposal for its relocation in 1926 after which its surrounds were improved with the addition of turf, gardens, pathways and a flagpole. Fittingly, the names of local people killed in subsequent wars have been added to the monument. The memorial has witnessed the ebb and flow of passion for the commemoration of conflict, its very surrounds have undergone change, but its essential core, afforded it by the sacrifice of those it honours and the foresight and spirit of the community which insisted on its creation has been undiminished by time, adding to its reverence and empowering its manifold significance as local landmark, civic facility and, most poignantly, monument of tribute.

Hurstville Railway Square, c. 1926.
Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection. 

Sailors' and Soldiers' Memorial, mid 1930s.
 Image: Hurstville City Library Museum & Gallery collection.

Hurstville Memorial surrounds, c. 1952.
Image: Hurstville city Library Museum & Gallery collection.

Do you want to find out more about other places of commemoration in the Hurstville area?
Join our bus tour:

Places of Commemoration Bus Tour - National Trust Heritage Festival

Wednesday 6 May 2015, 10am - 12.30pm

Ages: All welcome

Cost: $10.00

Book here: LMG What's On

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Have a look at other memorials in the Hurstville area: Register of War Memorials NSW