The Story of James Cook’s voyage 250 Years Ago – Part Three: Sailing up the South Coast
The night of Friday 20 April was spent off Gabo Island, and the following day Saturday 21 April at 5 or 6 Leagues from shore (27.5 to 30 Kms) in cloudy unsettled weather, the men were called on deck. Joseph Banks’ journal tells us, “We witnessed three water spouts, which at the same time made […]
The Story of James Cook’s voyage 250 Years Ago – Part Two: The Voyage to New Holland
The purpose of the epic three-year voyage was to observe the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun. These observations were expected to help calculate the size of the solar system, the distance of the Sun and improve maritime navigation. The expedition left Plymouth in Devon, passing Rame Head on 26 August 1868. […]
The Story of James Cook’s voyage 250 Years Ago – Part One: The Man & The Ship
James Cook (1728–1779) was born at Merton, Yorkshire, England and grew up on a farm at Ayton. In 1747 he moved to Whitby and joined the merchant navy, working on colliers and other ships in the coastal trade and later the Baltic Sea. In 1755 he joined the Royal Navy and two years later qualified […]
The Bermagui Mystery Remains
Amateur sleuths were again out in force last Sunday on the trail of the crime that has intrigued people of the Far South Coast for almost 140 years – the ‘Bermagui Mystery’. More than 40 people joined members of Narooma and Bermagui Historical Societies and the Montreal Goldfield Management Committee to retrace this mystery from […]
Retrace the “Bermagui Mystery”
When: Sunday 15 September 2019 Meet: 10am Bermagui Headland (overlooking Bermagui Harbour entrance) (Weather dependent) Narooma and Bermagui Historical Societies and the Montreal Goldfield Management Committee will again revisit the greatest unsolved mystery of the south coast to belatedly celebrate History Week. Every time we do, we turn up something extra. Everyone is welcome. Five […]
Lady Jane on the Move
Lady Jane on the Move From Bermagui Industrial Estate to Centre Stage on Dickinson Oval Opening night of the Four Winds 2019 Easter Festival A free Community Concert held on Good Friday, 19th April Taking its inspiration from Lady Jane – a disused Bermagui Fishing Boat – this especially commissioned performance on Dickinson Oval celebrated […]
Lady Jane – The Story Continues
As a result of numerous phone calls and help from various community members we have discovered the following history of this mysterious wooden boat. Indications show the Lady Jane was built around the 1950’s-1960’s for use as a fishing vessel. The style of the boat and materials used in her construction were common in this […]
Not Everyone Returned Home Immediately after the End of WWI
The war was over but it was quite a long time before all surviving servicemen were returned home. A reminder is shown here as the note was written by Tilba Tilba resident Norman Corkhill on the back of the picture records, “Return in 1920”. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays in Bermagui Community […]
Museum Mayhem
On Saturday 17 February 2018 a small group of dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly for hours packing, carrying and moving the contents of the Museum into its new home within the Community Centre. We are now faced with the daunting task of how to best display the collection.
Montreal Goldfields History
Searching for gold During the gold rush era, prospectors were always looking for new sources of gold. Gold had been discovered at Kiandra, Nerrigundah, Araluen, and Mt Dromedary. Reef gold was found on the mountain in 1877 and prospectors were soon looking for signs of alluvial gold down the slopes. In 1880 a Canadian, Henry […]