<I>Murrurundi Historical Society Inc.</I>

Created by DiDa - http://www.faico.net/dida/

Museum

Our museum, the Literary Institute building at 127 Mayne Street opposite the Bowling Club, was opened in the early 1980s and has been operating every weekend since then. Entry is free or donation and is open most weekends from 10:00 to 12:00 or by appointment ringing Jenny on 0418 647 176.

Church hall

Alongside the museum is the old Presbyterian church hall (colloquially named God's Waiting Room) which the museum uses as an exhibition centre. This building is typical of the wooden church buildings in the late 1800s with its picturesque setting and sloping floor.

Pioneers

Our Pioneer Cottage was bought in from a farm near Crawney Pass and re-erected alongside the Take-a-Break cafe in late 1999. the real thing, all the objects used by the pioneer family are enclosed with the cottage itself Murrurundi's biggest tourist attraction.

Shopping 100 years ago

Just 100 years ago there was a magazine that sold 83,979 copies in amongst a population of six million — it was the Australian Home Journal and aimed at women and country patrons.

It boasted Laurel kerosene stoves from the Vacuum Oil Company Pty Ltd and Swan fountainpens along with Wrigleys PK chewing gum which was advertised as a tooth cleaner as well as a sweetener. Every footballer and their coach, still chews (with mouth open - would have gotten a smack from my mum).

It was a craft and sewing magazine designed to give the home sewer ideas and patterns for dresses and clothing along with face creams and other beauty products.

Wades Corn Flower and Holbrook's jelly crystals. Also advertised was Jackett's Red Seal self-raising flour which offered coupons for prizes including a 4-day motor trip from Sydney to Jenolan Caves for 2 persons or a high-grade cricket set or high-grade tennis racquet.

Fore those not close to a hairdresser you could use KoKo — a lovely dressing for the hair preparation.

The Canadia Pacific Railway was offering a cruise to London - it only took five weeks.

Cornwell's pure malt vinegar was advertised along with Dr Paul Bouchaud's flesh reducing soap which absorbs all excess fat from hips, ankles, busts, double chin, arms, legs thick neck and waistline.

Lux (for everything you wash yourself) and Bonox was around then along with Symington's coffee essence.

The government Savings Bank of NSW was there to take your saving and blotting paper was used to soak up those kitchen spills.

You used Kolynos dental cream to clean your teeth and if you needed some could obtain teeth by post by taking self-taken impressions. The upper or lower "Holdfast" suction set cost £2½, the equivalent to $247.14 today.

You will be pleased to know Johnson's Baby Powder was available along with Bushells tea leaves (no teabags).

The two stores that advertised were Anthony Horden & Sons and Grace Bros of Sydney.

See also our Facebook page MGM Murrurundi gallery museum

The day steam hit the buffers

From 1872 through to 1960, Murrurundi was the centre of railway attention … and then things moved on … read our six chapter book including the Murulla Rail disaster by clicking the above headline

Crossing Barrier exhibition

People using art to help with mental health issues -. On show in God's Waiting Room alongside the Museum in Mayne Street

Untitled - Haydin Lane.

Untitled - Becky Turner.

Untitled - Rosemary Dugan.

Untitled - Becky Turner.

Untitled - Rosemary Dugan.

Untitled - Eloise Kaney.

Light Hearted shapes - Rosemary Dugan.

Untitled - Rosemary Dugan.

Untitled - Rosemary Dugan.

Untitled - Rosemary Dugan.

Untitled - Becky_Turner.

Untitled - Eloise_Kaney.

Untitled - Eloise_Kaney.

Phyllida - Pearl_Moon.

Avylie - Sarah_P.

Tusk Less - R_Voss.

Unknown - Daniel S.

Lovely Legs - Ashley_Milne.

Unknown - Murrurundi Secret Rocks club.

USB BOOKS and MOVIES
Ben Hall and Family This well-researched tome was written after careful study by a solicitor into the life of the Ben Hall family, its growth and old Ben's early life including young Ben before and after the two Bens left Murrurundi to rob the bushlands of the nearbyes. It is not so much a tome of the bushrangers as a history of the family giving a detailed account of life in the early days in the Upper Hunter. Cost $20 + post	Memories This is a joint book by three families members living in the Upper Page and Isis River districts: (Betty Haydon, Reg White and Mick Greer). Early settler in the Pages River district was W. H. Warland in 1826. A year later a way was found over the LIverppool Range and the rich Liverppol plains began to be used. The authors were not historians just every day farmers working in remote places. It is a book of patience and companionship found in the bush and seldom in today's cities. In these days family and friends came first. Cost $20 + post	Pioneer Cottage stalwarts Murrurundi' Pioneer Cottage is truly an original 1880 cottage erected in Murrundi as a timeless capsule of life on a property in the late 1800 and early 1900s. The twins, Carmel and Gwen, lived through the times in such a cottage and reinterate how it was and what it was like mixing their tales in with rancour and humour. It is a faultless movie timepiece. Movie $35 + post	Jottings of Murrurundi This book is about the founding of Murrurundi and its growth. Being at the top-most point of the Hunter Valley the small township played a vital part not only in the growth of the railway (it reached Murrurundi before the bridge was completed over the Hawkesbury River) but also the growth of the Liverpool Plains. From the early doctors to the churches and schools, the book clips the edges of history and gives a glimpse of what was here. Cost $20 + post

For information email secretary.mdhi@gmail.com or ring 0418 647 176

The above society is both a museum and historical society and subscribes to the International Council of Museums dictum. A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. It operates and communicates ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing. This website is sponsored by the Murrurundi Pioneer Cottage and compiled by Des Dugan, © Email address © Phone: Jenny on 0418 647 176 or: Des on 0418 211 404.