MAY 2023

Saturday 13th May at 2:00pm

ERNEST SHACKLETON AND THE SEVENTH CONTINENT

Speaker - Kevin Fitzpatrick

Venue: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics of Arts, 280 Pitt Street
Admission: Members $5 Visitors $10
No bookings required

Frank Hurley photo-Royal Geographic Society

Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922), renowned Anglo Irish Antarctic Explorer never achieved his life goal to reach the South Pole. In 1915 his Imperial Antarctic Expedition foundered when his ship The Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea. His leadership skills enabled him to escape the ice against all odds with all 28 crew saved. Shackleton's legacy was preserved photographically through Sydney-born Frank Hurley.

Kevin Fitzpatrick, with a background in leadership training and development and a love of history was captivated by Shackleton's achievement. In 2015 the centenary year of Shackleton's escape from the ice he travelled to Antarctica and followed part of Shackletofn's escape journey.

JUNE 2023

Saturday 17th June at 2:00pm

DEATH BY DEMOLITION

Speaker - Helen Carter

Venue: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics of Arts, 280 Pitt Street
Admission: Members $5 Visitors $10
No bookings required

Nutshell Cottage, East Balmain

Balmain archivist Helen Carter traces the history of demolished houses in the Balmain area (Balmain, Birchgrove, and Rozelle) from its earliest house (built c 1815) to an inter-war bungalow recently demolished in November 2021. There are many examples, with a small history of who lived in these houses until their demise, varying from a marine villa to the humble iron house. It starts with the idea that the demolition of the houses was a crime although it soon becomes clear that there were various reasons for their destruction. This interesting talk includes photographs, advertisements and plans that give us evidence of what types of structures existed, their internal details and their owners or occupants were.

A snapshot of life in a unique and early Sydney suburb in the 19th and 20th century.

 

 

JULY 2023

Saturday 8th July at 2:00pm

LEFT WINGERS AND BOHEMIANS OF 20th CENTURY SYDNEY

Speaker - Wayne Johnson

Venue: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics of Arts, 280 Pitt Street
Admission: Members $5 Visitors $10
No bookings required

Newcastle Hotel, Butlin Collection ANU

Archaeologist Wayne Johnson will be focusing on the 20th century, with mentions of the art-cinema in the 1930s, touching on the Communists and ASIO but with an emphasis on the 1950s-1970s left wing push and the likes of Robert Hughes, Germaine Greer, Margaret Fulton etc.

A lot of this centres on the Newcastle Hotel, one of Sydney’s best-known bohemian hotels, the haunt of artists, actors, entertainers and journalists.on the corner of George Street and Sussex Street.