Activities

2022

For a list of our activities for any year click on the Archive of Events menu item on the left. This also includes records of our activities and events back to 2005.

Please Note: Whilst COVID-19 restrictions are in place many activities are in recess and/or held at a different location or venue. Please check the current Newsletter for details.

Monthly meetings

The Society meets at 10 am on the second Friday of each month at the Front Hall of the Springwood Presbyterian Church, Macquarie Road Springwood, except January. The usual format is a speaker followed by short business meeting. If the speaker has a long distance to travel, the general meeting is held first. Meeting topics and upcoming events are listed on this website and in the newsletter. The majority of the Society's business is conducted by the hard working committee which meets at least bimonthly.

Library activities

BMFHS and Blue Mountains City Council Family History Resources are housed in Springwood Library. Both the Society and Council have bought many new resources to be used in the dedicated area where computers, microfilm and microfiche readers are situated. Society volunteers are available to help researchers from 10am to 1pm every Tuesday & Thursday.

Check with us or the Library noticeboard for variations in late December & January.

Frequently other members are available on the unlisted days.

Researchers will be able to access Society resources only when Society volunteers are on duty. Members may continue to borrow Society magazines to be signed out by the library volunteer on duty. Our resources may NOT be borrowed by non-members. As this is a reference and research centre, all reference and resource materials must remain in the Centre. Only Magazines may be borrowed.

In addition Society volunteers are available in Katoomba Library from 10am - 12pm on the second & 4th Tuesdays of the month. It is essential to book with the Katoomba library staff.

More information is in the section Archive of Events

Materials on open access will, of course, be available during library hours.

Our books, CDs etc are listed on this site under 'Resources', but was reorganised in 2011. The web will not be updated until the reorganisation is complete. See the BMCC Library catalogue for Library family history resources held at Springwood.

Publications

A newsletter is published monthly for members. It is destributed at the monthly meeting, or emailed to members. Copies are placed in each of the BMCC libraries.

"The Explorers' Tree" magazine is published 3 times a year: February, June & October by and for members. It provides a place of publication for member' research. The Explorers' Tree is exchanged with many other societies.

Society Web Site

Our web site, that you are currently reading, is an important activity of the Society and contains lists of members interests, Society Library resources and details of our activities as a Society.

Added quite often are a Photo Gallery of photographs taken by members at outings and activities. Check out the photos taken in Penrith at our July 2009 Excursion to the Museum of Fire, at our August 2009 Excursion to Historic Windsor and in September 2009 to Historic Camden.

Convict Interests The Blue Mountains Family History Society has begun compiling a list of Convict Ancestors, Pioneers and Interests of our Members. Many of our members have quite a few Convict Ancestors whilst others are researching groups of Convicts or particular Convict Ships. This list, along with details of the member involved is available at the Family History Centre in Springwood Library in a loose-leaf folder.

This list is now also available progressively on this website and will be found here. Convict Interests

Society members are involved in many other activities:

Organising and conducting seminars such as the bi-annual one day seminars held in Springwood.
Visits to places of interest, including The Society of Genealogists libraries and Mitchell Library, Maritime Archives. Esbank House Lithgow, NSW Lands Department, National Archives at Chester Hill and Waverley Cemetery
Attending seminars of other societies such as at Kiama & Liverpool etc.
Having a trade table at other gatherings such as the NSW & ACT Family History Conferences and at Tocal, Gosford, Hawkesbury, Maitland etc.

and we hosted the NSW & ACT conference in 2004

Our original BMFHS Logo

found on letterhead and developed c1990. This original logo was re-discovered by the then Society President, Joan Edwards, in September, 2009

SOCIETY ACTIVITIES

SOCIETY INITIATIVES

"Mentoring System"

We have instituted a mentoring system to help members with their research and involving members, who may be able to offer help to others in a field of research of which they have a particular knowledge. A mentoring form to this effect is available at General meetings and for download.

Download the form here, MENTORING SYSTEM FORM", complete the details and hand to a member of the Society Management Committee or leave at the Library with one of the Volunteers.

Suggestion Box

A Suggestion Box is available at General meetings for members' input such as, whether or not social outings should recommence; a proposed social outing; the name of a possible guest speaker and topic; whether you want a guest speaker at our monthly meetings or whether you would like a more hands on approach to family history research and in what way, etc. We would encourage all members to offer suggestions for activities and functions, guest speakers and Society policy.

SOCIETY OUTINGS

We are attempting to reinstate our Society outings after a period of no activity. An outing was planned for late 2016 year but there was very little interest and had to be cancelled. An outing was organised for the following year but once again it was disappointing and there was insufficient interest by members and guests. It is disappointing when time and effort is put into planning and organisation for an outing only to have a poor response.

If there is a venue or activity that you would like to see planned, then please use the Suggestion Box for your request

NORFOLK ISLAND CONVICTS? Don and Carrie with Private Parts

Convicts Don & Carrie & Private Parts

PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES

Jewish Museum at 148 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst The October 2012 outing was to the Jewish Museum at 148 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst on Monday 15 October 2015, with a guided tour starting at 1.00 pm. The cost was $10 and was be payable to Blue Mountains Historical Society (as this was a combined guided tour of both societies). Only two members of the BMFHS attended along with 5 members of the Historical Society. The visit was most worthwhile to see the extent of Jewish influence on the early colony of NSW (there were 16 Jews among those of the First Fleet). As well the extensive displays of the Holocaust that every person should see.

Berrima Historical Museum and Harper's Mansion, Berrima Don booked a guided tour of Berrima Historical Museum and Harper's Mansion, Berrima for Thursday 14 June 2012. Departure from Springwood was at 8.00 am from the northern parking lot at Springwood Railway Station (the 15 minute parking). Cost was $10.00 plus petrol money (probably $10.00 for those not driving). Don says the museum was arranged thematically and has wonderful exhibits relating to the internment of German internees at Berrima.

OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE PARRAMATTA The September 2011 outing to Old Government House, Parramatta was very enjoyable and educational. Some members went to Parramatta Heritage Centre after lunch to view their exhibit or to do research in Local Studies.

STATE PARLIAMENT HOUSE - The August 2011 outing was a visit to Parliament House Macquarie Street Sydney. This is also when Parliament was sitting so as well as an extensive tour by Parliamentary staff and local member, Rosa Sage, visitors were able to sit through Question Time.

POWERHOUSE MUSEUM In July 2011, we had an enjoyable tour of the Powerhouse Museum and a few of our members went on to the book launch of Richard Reid's "Farewell My Children", at the NSW State Records at The Rocks.

The May 2011 outing to Liverpool Genealogy Group was a success. The members who attended were very impressed with the research rooms, the friendly Liverpool members and the networking. It is always good to see the facilities of other societies and to get new ideas. Our members were provided with lunch and a few of our members found new information, researching in the afternoon.

We were invited to Ku-ring-gai Historical and Family History Society research rooms at Gordon and an outing undertaken on 17th November 2010. Many thanks to the members of Kur-ing-gai for their hospitality and use of their wonderful resources.

To view a selection of photographs taken by member Pauline H, see our Lancer Barracks Gallery. plus photographs taken on other excursions.

The excursion for July 2010 was to Susannah Place Museum at 11.00 am on Thursday 29th July 2010. Susannah Place, 5 mins from Circular Quay, provides an insight into the richness of community life in The Rocks in the 19th Century. Some Photographs are available of the excursion as well as photographs of Cockatoo Island also visited on the excursion.

Thanks to Pauline H for these photographic memories.

Site Managed by Ian Kendall

Activities

Activities

Monthly meetings

Library activities

Publications

Society Web Site

Society members are involved in many other activities:

and we hosted the NSW & ACT conference in 2004

Our original BMFHS Logo