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THE MILLSTONE IS WRITEN AND EDITED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHTO
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KURRAJONG - COMLEROY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 1NC POSTALADDRESS: PO BOX 174 KURMOND, 2757
2004: Volume Three, Issue One: January-February. Official newsletter of the Kurrajong-Comleroy Historieal Society. Logo and masthead refer to millstones on display at Memorial Park, Kurrajong. Originally located on Wheeney Creek, the millstones are the oldest items of European Settlement in "the Kurrajong". Logo designed for the Society by artist, Tony Dixon.
New meeting dates for 2004: Six meetings: Fourth Monday of the month: January 26 ... March 22 ... May 24 ... July 26 ... September 27 ... November 22.
Annual general meeting, August 23
i Special Christmas meeting a t MacKenzie
Thank, Vera and Gerry Bentvelzen!
THE MILLSTONE 15 WRITEN AND EDITED BY K C H S SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT@
Our Christmas 2003 meeting will be remembered for the very special treat offered by members Vera and Gerry Bentvelzen, who allowed us a peak inside their magnificently restored and decorated home. Special guest was Faulkner MacKenzie whose father, soldier settler, Forbes Burnside MacKenzie was the first owner of the home. Faulkner gave an interesting talk about his recollections of growing up in the Kurmond home and of his family. Faulkner, a foundation member of the Society and one our oldest members was pleased to make the acquaintance of Eleanor Taylor, daughter of president, Jennifer Stackhouse.
Another restored barn houses a fully restored horse-drawn cart. Seeing the cart prompted Bruce Johnston, Phil Shepherd and Beth Johnston to recall many memories of times and events relating to members of the MacKenzie family. Roger Mackenzie lived in the Kurmond home all his life and was a local "authority" on matters of history, rainfall and other matters. Roger's fruit packing shed is now the Rocking Horse Stud toyshop directly opposite.
Ian O'Toole chat with Irene Dowse. The Christmas party meeting were held in the barn restored by specialist heritage builder Denis Mahboub. Vera's Christmas lights and decorations added to the festive occasion.
THE MIWQNB KMRRMQNGCQMLERQ b i r n ~ ~ 1 . e ~ ~ SQo,e;lW NW5LmEFP
PAGE 2 8 P 8
The concluding part two of Phil Peck's speech, delivered at the KCHS "Back to the Kurrajong" evening at Valley View cafe on Friday, October 17, ahead of a two-day "Hidden Treasures of Kurrajong" photographic display at the CWA hall, during the 2003 Kurrajong Scarecrow Festival. All material in The Millstone is copyright and Phil's work should not be reproduced without permission.
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THE- MILLSTTONE % KYRPN.ON~-COML$RQY HISTORICAL SQ~:lWf N E W S L ~ E R PAGE 3 QF &,
THE MILLSTONE IS W R T l E N AND EDITED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON. ALL MATERIAL C O P Y R l G H m
i>ne to ill hcalLli tlte hotel \?!:is tlis~ot:ztl ol ' ly the Pecks III Llie I')-JO's. 11 pii>~cd ilxtui~gil hL$:c12! I ~ A I I ~ S w~11 OV., I W I I I X I ~ I I ~ WFIOUS ~ I I L W ~ ~ ~ O I I S [O ihc L>uiltlir~g prirlcipally 1nCzrnillly in all el'corl lo atti-nsi customers. !-lorve7,:er niitlr improved ro:ltls and lhsler vcl~iclcs the clay tripper ol'llie I9SO's:iiO's could - qo I ~ I ~ I C I I i l~r l l~er nit11 ~s1;ntt.r cusc.
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e?:l>loration. 011 the \vestern side 01' 13~irr2111~~ l < ~ i : ~ ( l a l:t:r\, I:~rgc :lrc:t I i I' colic.relt- =::is lait1 slid i t i January 1955 ti11 i r i l drill it^? ri: \vas w.;szi~~l~lcci '~.'.'h~~:~l ~ : O l l l l l l c ~ l ~ : ~ ~ ~ ~ dri~~ill$ dc!:[l ill[<> 1 1 1 ~ l i ~ ~ L i ~ l ~ ~ ! ~ ~ l it
THE MILLSTONE IS WRITTEN AND EDITED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT^
Faulconer's Father, Forbes Burnside MacKenzie as a WWi soldier in Egypt.
Faulconer's Father, Forbes, Burnside McKenzie, Wife Isabella and younger children, Warwick and Barbara (now Ferguson) . Taking the sulky from Kunnond into 'Town" (Richmond)
Below: Kurrajong Heights Hotel, 1928
The opening of the rail line to Kurrajong in 1927, followed in 1928 with the opening of the "grand" Kurrajong Heights Hotel can be seen as a "golden era" for the district. The opening of hotel in a location with such' panoramic view also coincided with the beginings of the great motoring age and those with vehicles embraced the idea of a day-trip to Kurrajong with passionate enthusiasm. Such was the strength and popularity of "the Kurrajong" as a tourist destination the Blue Mountains Council decided in 1926127 to spend 3000 pounds (an astonishing amount of money even by today's standards) promoting their attractions (according to Windsor and Richmond Gazette). Hearing this Colo Shire Council decided it did not need to spend any money promoting tourism as people "were well acquainted with all the magnificent attractions of the Kurrajong".
THE MILLSTONE IS WRITTEN AND EDITED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT0
Christmas at MacKenzie Farm
Roger Holliday and Frank Holland
Valerie Holland, Bryan and Marguerite Wyborn
Above: Artist Tony Dixon said one of the first items that he noticed about Kurrajong when he started visiting some years back were Roger MacKenzie's dilapidated wooden slab sheds. Tony has drawn the sheds many times over the years and completed a set of sketches for the Society to present to Vera and Gerry Bentvelzen as a special gift in appreciation of the Society's visit at Christmas, 2003. At the request of secretary, Louise McMahon, Tony provided KCHS with the sketch of the millstones for use as our logo.
Vera and Gerry point out where Roger MacKenzie caked his name in the cow
Elaine Neil, Michele Harris, daughter of Val Birch. bales back in 1926.
THE MILLSTONE IS WRITTEN AND EDITED BY KCHS SECRETARY LOUISE MCMAHON. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHTO I
See you at Australia Day 2004,
nge in tl .. .
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The chai ne meeting schedule for 2004 means our 1 first meeting is also our first event for 2004 - celebrating Australia Day, January 26, which is also the weekend of the Society's third birthday.
Given the extreme heat and thick, choking bushfire smoke at the barbecue lunch at Comleroy hall last year, we will hold a breakfast event to beat the heat at Heavenly Bell Caf6, at Bellbird Hill.
This is the former family home of vice-president, Kathie McMahon and sister, Susan McMahon. The premises were once the guest house, "Bellbird Echo" run by her grandmother, and the site of her father, Kevin McMahon's, famous fruit shop. Caf6 owner, Fiona Werle has promised a hearty Aussie-flavoured breakfast of bacon, eggs, croissants, orange juice and tea or coffee. During the morning Kathie will give a talk on the changes at Bellbird Hill over the decades. Time: 9am to ilam Place: Heavenly Bell Caf6, Bells Line of Road, Bellbird Hill. Cost: $15. Cheques to Kurrajong-Comleroy Historical Society, PO Box 174 Kurmond, 2757. Book: For catering purposes, please book with Kathie on 4567-105.
More Australia Day fun: The Hawkesbury Historical Society will be holding its annual Australia Day dinner at Trentino's on George, Fitzgerald Street, Windsor on Monday, January 26. Guest speaker will be Steven Pringle, MP, who will speak on "Australia's Colonial Navies" Time: Tpm for 7.3opm Cost: $28 per person. Bookings absolutely essential by January 15 with secretary Judy Newland, 4572-3007.
Mareh 22 meeting: Will be held at the Comleroy Community School of Arts hall at 7.3opm. Guest speaker will be Ron Rozzoli who will talk on the many links between Kurrajong and the Richmond School of Arts.
The Work for the Dole digital photographic project continues in 2004. Joy Shepherd will continue to lead the project to source and scan photos of Kurrajong across the decades. This photo, "the watermelon eaters" from the collection of our June, 2003 guest speaker, Dennis Simmons. If you know of photos we should have, contact Joy on 4571 1524.
THE- MILWQRIE ; K.URRMQNG-CQMLERQY MI~K?RICAL E ~ Q C I ~ N E ~ S A ~ ~ R PAGE & BP &.
