Welcome to Ku-ring-gai Historical Society
Welcome to
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society
Ku-ring-gai – home to the Darramuragal or Darug people for thousands of years – takes in around 85 km², stretching from Boundary Street, Roseville in the south, to Bobbin Head in the north; and from St Ives Showground in the east, to the Lane Cove River in the west.
Eleven weeks after the First Fleet arrived, Governor Phillip set off to find water sources and farming land. On 16th April 1788 the expedition camped at Middle Harbour creek – becoming the first Europeans to set foot in what is now Ku-ring-gai.
Ku-ring-gai Historical Society was established in 1963, and has produced award-winning Publications on the area’s local history, pioneer family histories and its built heritage.
Rooms Closed Tuesday 5th November
Kindly note that our Research Room will be closed on Tuesday 5th November. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Non-members are always most welcome to attend!
On Saturday 23 November it’s time to Jingle & Mingle! Join us at our informal end-of-year get-together where members have an opportunity to chat over a festive afternoon tea and celebrate the end of the year.
See our Events page for more details on upcoming events.
Kindly note that our Research Room is now closed, and will be re-opening at 10 am on Tuesday 16 January 2024. We wish all our members a peaceful, healthy and relaxing holiday season!
Please see our Events page for details about our upcoming events in 2024
Our October/November Newsletter is out now – download it here
- Position Vacant: Tour Organisers needed!
- High Density Housing: Then and Now
- The Metamorphosis of a Prominent Gordon Corner Site
- Just who was Ruby Booth?
- And more great photos from our valued KHSnappers!
All this and more in our October/November Newsletter
It’s now almost 20 years since we undertook the last round of Oral History interviews – so it’s time to do it again! We are interested in talking to people who have lived in Ku-ring-gai for some time, and to those who are new to the area. We also need volunteers to carry out the interviews. There’s more information here. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get talking!
Sweeping NSW Government planning changes mean that many of Ku-ring-gai’s heritage buildings and houses could be demolished! We need YOU to help us to compile a photo record of Ku-ring-gai as it is today in 2024.
Officially launched at our Diamond Jubilee Dinner in November 2023, attendees were thrilled to receive a complimentary copy of our latest publication, a historical compilation of glossy images, Ku-ring-gai: a Peep at Our Past. We are pleased to announce that this wonderful book is now available for purchase – a fabulous gift idea for anyone with a connection to Ku-ring-gai. Click here for more details and to purchase online.
The latest volume of The Historian, our Society’s research journal, is all about Roseville and its development, including significant houses and buildings, founding forefathers, land grants, schools, churches, hospitals and much more, all with accompanying photos.
Copies may be purchased here – where you can also find out how you can become involved in the preparation of our next volume, which will focus on St Ives.
Join us today and you’ll enjoy…
- Monthly meetings with interesting guest speakers
- Our informative and entertaining Newsletter
- Access to our large collection of books, photographs and research resources
- A copy of our research publication The Historian
- Free access to Ancestry and Family Search websites
- And much more!
We have a range of superb publications, including Women of Ku-ring-gai and Almost Like Home: Living in Bradfield Park.
Back issues are available of our esteemed research journal, The Historian.
And Rallying The Troops is a tour de force, commemorating those associated with Ku-ring-gai who served in World War I.
Rallying The Troops: a World War I Commemoration is our award-winning four-volume series, commemorating the almost 1800 men and women associated with Ku-ring-gai who served in the Great War – an extraordinary chronicle of the heroism of Australians in the forefront of defending our nation!
As reviewed by Russell Linwood ASM, Secretary Military History Society of Australia: “The labour of love by those who have painstakingly compiled these data is compellingly obvious, and the result is a record of a community’s contribution to war that is probably second to none, especially on this scale and at this level of detail.”
All four volumes are available to purchase online – a wonderful addition to any history buff’s book case!
Research
Our large collection of material related to Ku-ring-gai’s built heritage, local history and pioneers is a valuable resource for those researching their connections with the area – whether their ancestors, or the history of particular sites or dwellings.
Our experienced volunteers are available to assist in exploring our collections and interpreting materials. You can access our Research Services via our Built Heritage Research, Local History Research and Family History Research pages.
