Kogarah Historical Society

Kogarah Historical Society Kogarah Historical Society encourages the study of Australian History and promotes awareness of the history of the Kogarah Municipality.

Kogarah Historical Society, now in its 50th year, was founded in 1970 with aims:

• To encourage the study of Australian History and promote awareness of the history of the Kogarah Municipality.

• To seek to influence preservation of places of historical significance.

•To research and publish local history for the interest of our members and the wider community.

• To provide resources for his

torical study and research

•To undertake the collection of books, records, manuscripts and artefacts of historical significance to Kogarah

• To liaise with other societies for an interchange of information

To arrange speakers and displays, to conduct excursions to places of historical interest and to promote other social functions for the benefit of members, their friends and the general community.

The next Monday at the Museum is on Monday 25 May starting at 10 am at Carss Cottage Museum.After morning tea, our speak...
21/05/2026

The next Monday at the Museum is on Monday 25 May starting at 10 am at Carss Cottage Museum.
After morning tea, our speaker will be Jimmy Thomson on The First Anzacs. These were the sappers ( combat engineers) and their contribution was accidentally written out of official records so went unrecorded for 100 years.
Jimmy is keen that you have access to pictures when he speaks and has provided a link from which you can download pictures and follow his talk. The link is https://jimmythomson.com/first-anzacs-gallery/
All welcome $5 entry.

Our next meeting with speaker is at the School of Arts, cnr Bowns Rd/Queens Ave on 14 May 2026 starting at 2pm. We are...
25/04/2026

Our next meeting with speaker is at the School of Arts, cnr Bowns Rd/Queens Ave on 14 May 2026 starting at 2pm. We are welcoming back Author and journalist, Sue Williams who will tell us about the background to her book 'The Governor, his wife and his mistress'! Its a fascinating tale, don't miss it. She will be bringing books for sale too.
Entry is $5 which gets you a splendid afternoon tea as well as the talk. All welcome. No need to book but inquiries can come to Gill at 0439 667 843.
Photo is of Sue Williams.

18/04/2026

Just to remind our readers that tomorrow, 19 April, is Open Day at Carss Cottage Museum, 80 Carwar Avenue. There is parking and the forecast is good, sunny and around 20 degrees. We start at 1pm - there will be music and I believe a number of artists sketching. The Committee have all been busy cooking for the afternoon teas and people have been very generous in donating things for the stall and the raffle prize. Everything on the stall is reasonably priced - wonderful Harslett honey is probably the dearest item for a big jar - $10. Jackie will be there to play games with the children. Our Museum custodian and other volunteers will be in the Museum to show people round.
We take care of the Museum for Council and the Community and as an organisation of volunteers we really appreciate community support. Hope to see you there.

This is our next big event at Carss Cottage Museum and we hope to see lots of people there. Not only is it Heritage mon...
05/04/2026

This is our next big event at Carss Cottage Museum and we hope to see lots of people there. Not only is it Heritage month, we have Mother's Day coming up and of course ANZAC day the following week. There will be sprigs of rosemary for anyone that buys from our stall or buys raffle tickets. Free entry to the Museum and you can check out the current display on Trends in Fashion plus our usual and unusual items such as 119 year old Cocky Bennett. We just hope the weather is kind and then we will all be happy.

05/04/2026

A very Happy Easter to all.
Our volunteers are having a day off so Carss Cottage Museum will not be open today. Please visit next week.

Carss Cottage Museum will be open tomorrow from 1pm to 5pm. Come and visit. Adele and Robert are our volunteers on duty ...
21/03/2026

Carss Cottage Museum will be open tomorrow from 1pm to 5pm. Come and visit. Adele and Robert are our volunteers on duty and will be delighted to show you around and give you the history. Children come in free and can do a quiz and get stickers as prizes and adults are $5.00.
Bring your Iphone and you can access our wonderful new website and check out details of items like the Chinese bottle below.

Monday 23rd March is our first event for the year at Carss Cottage. It is Monday at the Museum and our speaker is Pauli...
21/03/2026

Monday 23rd March is our first event for the year at Carss Cottage. It is Monday at the Museum and our speaker is Pauline Curby, historian and author who is going to tell us about her latest research, now a book, on 'Woolooware, A grand position'. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
Come and join us on Monday, (weather forecast is good) for morning tea in the courtyard starting at 10 am followed by the speaker and of course another chance to look at the latest acquisitions and exhibition in the Museum. Only $5 entry for all that plus a pleasant social morning.
Photo is of Pauline. Hope to see you there.

Congratulations to Leonie Bell and John MacRitchie, the winner and runner up in our 2025 History Awards. Presentations ...
22/02/2026

Congratulations to Leonie Bell and John MacRitchie, the winner and runner up in our 2025 History Awards. Presentations were made on 12 February at the School of Arts. This year our prizes were sponsored by Councillors Kathryn Landsberry and Oliver Dimoski and we most appreciative of their support.
Leonie Bell wrote on "A recipe for matrimonial harmony? - Looking back on gas cookery lessons in St George" and John MacRitchie enlightened us with his essay titled "A Man of No Character: the trials of Myles McRae". The 11 entries were on varied topics and we were particularly pleased to receive entries from three students from St George High School who all submitted good essays. Our judges were Pauline Curby, well known historian and author and Sue Castrique also a historian and author who actually won the prize in our first History Awards in 2018. It was a big task and we are most grateful to them.
All entries will be available through Local Studies at Hurstvillle Library.
Photos of some of our entrants plus runner up John MacRitchie with Councillor Landsberry and winner Leonie Bell with Councillor Nancy Liu (representing Cr Dimoski)

12/01/2026

The Society receives a number of inquiries from the public regarding local history. We can't always help. The following was sent by David Green and if you can assist with any information please contact him direct on [email protected]

As part of the forthcoming Centenary History of St George AFC 1928-2028, we are seeking assistance in locating past profiles on some of our Opening Club Office Bearers profiles 1928 and would value any opportunity to hold conversation within current 'family ' members 'and or to view appropriate documents including photos, resume's or any information that would help supplement the little that we have of our original1928'29 Office Bearers

Currently working on
Founding Officials
P Copewell Foundation President 1929
Little known about him
obviously a respected Community organiser within the St George District
Rate books Kogarah and Rockdale 1920's
A commonality of such times shows he and others may have also occupied Committee positions the St George Rugby League club
The only photo to date: 1929 Club President:

Patrick Michael McGirr 25 12 1874 - 30 04 1957 MLC 30 -8 '1921- 22 04 '1934
Parkes Community Cemetery'
Brother of James McGirr and J.j.Gregory McGirr
Club Vice President
Rate Books Kogarah Hurstville Rockdale
Member of the NSW Legislative Council and part of a prominent public family in the states political history
His Appointment as Vice president of the St George AFC 1928 does indicate both his personal support for the district and the club's early ambition to establish itself with strong institutional backing. His association /involvement assisted the club in gaining recognition , securing facilities and establishing itself within the broader sporting landscape of the St George Area

James T Tully 1877-1962 MP for Barton 11 1928-1931
Also served as a vice President of the St George Rugby League Club
Indications more Hurstville area than any other
One of the Districts most Prominent public figures and a natural choice as patron of the St George AFC
Also served as Vice President of the St George Rugby League Club
His service reflects the longstanding tradition of local politicians supporting grassroots sport

Contact [email protected] with any information.

(Contact details published with the permission of David Green)

With apologies for a long gap in 'posts'. Yes Kogarah Historical Society is alive and well. We enjoyed a lovely Christ...
20/12/2025

With apologies for a long gap in 'posts'. Yes Kogarah Historical Society is alive and well. We enjoyed a lovely Christmas lunch together recently and our next newsletter will feature photos from the occasion.

The entries for the 2025 History Awards have closed. We received 11 entries and the winners will be announced at our first meeting on Thursday 12 February in the School of Arts.

Carss Cottage Museum is still opening on Sunday afternoons from 1pm - 5pm. We have a wonderful new exhibition on Trends in Fashion through the ages. If you ever wondered what women wore under their voluminous garments in the early days, here is your chance - we have a wall full of bloomers! Come and check us out. Children come in free, adults $5 each.

Address

Carss Cottage, 80 Carwar Avenue , Carss Park
Carlton, NSW
2221

Opening Hours

1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+61 2 9546 7314

Website

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