Glen Innes & District Historical Society

30/08/2026

Our Local History – Milner’s Building

* This first appeared in Issue 42 of Glen Innes News

Milner’s Building opposite the Post Office is presently for sale as accountants Roberts and Morrow have relocated further south in Grey Street.

The original owner, licensee of the Royal Hotel, John Milner, also ran a dairy on his property Vesuvius just north of Glen Innes.

The two-storey brick rendered Federation style structure, designed by architect Frederick J Madigan was built by Arthur Butt in 1903 on the site Dennis Hogan’s Commercial Hotel which had been destroyed by fire.

(Now, sadly, Milner’s original ornamental wrought iron upstairs veranda and original facade are long gone.)

Butt was also responsible for the Severn Shire Chambers in Bourke Street, (now School of Arts & Music), private wards at the hospital, Beardy Bridge, and alterations to the Grey street School of Arts (now Community Centre), Post Office and Great Central Hotel.

Milner’s tenants have included such disparate businesses as an Oyster Saloon, bakery, White Rose Café, hairdressers, boot repairer, tailor, even a Music Hall, and accountancy firm, Thomas Davis Kelly and Co.

Lieutenant George Henry Kelly had served in the 2/21 Australian Transport Platoon.

He was born in Parramatta in 1915 &, orphaned at an early age, he & his sister were cared for by the Burnside Homes in Parramatta - described as ‘children’s homes which had been founded in 1911 by philanthropist Sir James Burns. Burnside pioneered cottage care in Australia and was a functioning village.’

George remained there until he finished his education in 1930.
Shortly after being admitted as a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, he enlisted at Paddington and trained at Greta and served from 1940 to1946 in the Middle East and Borneo for 2,173 days.

On his discharge he joined Glen Innes accountant John Windeyer as a partner.
[Correction! John Windeyer was a solicitor, not an accountant]

Still studying he advanced to ‘Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ in 1961.

After many years of extensive and dedicated community involvement George died at the age of 84, in 1999. He was survived by his sister Lois May of Adelaide.

From his obituary in The Glen Innes Examiner 11/11/1999 …‘He was involved in the formation of the Glen Innes Sub Branch of RSL and Glen Innes Legacy. Holding the position of Legacy treasurer for 31 years…’

He was Auditor of the Glen Eden Boys Home, Far West, Caledonians, Golf Club, Red Cross, a valued member of many other organisations including Apex, Lions, Presbyterian Church management committee and Choir…… keen golfer, lawn bowler and fisherman…

29/08/2026

28/08/2026

Historical Society Members.
Our Society's annual illustrated Bulletin, Volume 53, of a massive 103 pages is hot off the press!
Just look at the variety of carefully researched histories to keep you enthralled!
The Bulletin is part of your subscription.
Those who can, please collect from the museum -
Open daily from 10am to 2pm.

14/08/2026

HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR HARD-WORKING EDUCATION TEAM AT THE LAND OF THE BEARDIES HISTORY HOUSE MUSEUM FOR THIS AWARD!

Activities provided by the team led by Cheryl Muldoon support the requirements of the NSW curriculum outcomes through experiences which provide insight and hands-on activities reflecting life in the past.
Students are taken through rotations of activities.

Sitting in original school desks, using slate boards and pen and ink in our small classroom takes them back to educational times before technology.

Playing with old toys enables students to note differences in materials used (wood as opposed to plastic) and the creativeness in making toys from what was available (sheep knuckles).

Moving to the veranda, they can see the development of laundry items from washboards to early washing machines and wringers.

Oohs! and Ahs! as they walk into the old slab cottage, ‘Cherry Tree Hill’ while their eyes adjust to the darkness with only a candle providing light, introduces them to family life in earlier times.

The development of early transport including drays, wagons and sulkies opens their eyes to another aspect of life in earlier times.

Presenters Cheryl Muldoon, Graeme Muldoon, Olga Dawes, Lynn Starkey, Lesley Kempton, Trixie Newberry, Astrid Scheer and Jenny Sloman provide these experiences through their hard work and passion.
Feedback from students and staff indicate their enjoyment of the activities provided . WELL DONE !

06/08/2026

Our Local History- the Fire Brigades
* This article first appeared in Issue 41 of the Glen Innes News.

Fire season has arrived – and we now have the support of well - trained fire brigades with motorised vehicles - not forgetting helicopters and aeroplanes.

But what if we had to wait for the firemen, on foot & pulling the fire engine, to arrive after being alerted to the emergency by the ringing of a bell on top of a tower?

‘Glen Innes - A Century and a Half of Memories’ records…
‘The fire station occupied the site of the Baby Health Centre in King Edward Park [now Arts NorthWest].
When the fire bell rang Edward Tweddell had to rush and get two horses from the Livery Stables in West Avenue and take them to the fire station and hitch up the fire engine.

By this time the firemen had arrived and would scramble to the seats on top of the tank.

Off they set to the fire with the fire bell ringing to alert people.
On arrival at the scene of the fire, they had to find a well or dam or other nearby supply of water and with three men on each side of the vehicle, hand pump the water into the tank on the engine, then onto the fire through a canvas hose 2 ½ inches in diameter with a nozzle reducing the diameter on the end to 1 ¼ inches in diameter to fight the fire ‘…

By 1874 the press had been alerting everyone to the possibility of ‘an utter disaster’ if there was not a fire brigade in the town.
However, when in 1879 there was a move to form a brigade and it was found that a fire engine would cost £150 it was decided that ‘the move was ‘premature’ and nothing was done.

It was not until 1888 that an official brigade was formed with the acquisition of a fire engine costing £250 and equipped with 500 feet of canvas hose.15 men joined up under captain John Sully senior.

Now the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, RFS, primarily protects rural areas and leads bushfire responses using mostly volunteers, while Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) focus on urban firefighting, rescue operations, and hazardous materials including using mainly paid fire fighters.

Many RFS members don’t have to be too old to remember fighting bush fires with leather beaters at the end of broom sticks, wet bags, or tree branches!

Huge appreciation to the fire fighters who are running in… as we are running out.

02/08/2026

NEW EXHIBITION! COTTAGE KITCHEN 1940s/50s
This kitchen is a representation of a typical kitchen in a working man’s house with the homemaker spending a great portion of her time there .
She cooked on the enamel gas stove, washed up in the porcelain sink, dried the dishes on the wooden draining board with a tea-towel and prepared her meals for the family on the wooden table and bench - owned an ice chest, meat grinder, egg beater….

Bring a group of friends to the museum - open 10am to 2pm daily
This exhibition will bring back so many memories – here is picture of just a small corner of the room to whet your appetite.