Friends of Hurstville Library Museum & Gallery

18/06/2026

Have you heard about the four heroes of Australia’s deadliest flood?

On 24 June 1852, the Murrumbidgee River surged through Gundagai.

The raging torrent swept away buildings and up to 100 residents perished.

Many more lives would have been lost if not for four brave Wiradjuri men. They spent three days rescuing survivors in a bark canoe and rowboat.

Only two of the men are known by name – Yarri and Jackey.

Today, a statue commemorates them on the main street of Gundagai.

The Murrumbidgee River flats have been a Wiradjuri meeting place for 50,000 years. They had warned settlers about establishing a township there.

14/06/2026

14/06/2026

03/06/2026

If you think online dating is a hard gig, try finding a significant other in 1865.
Somehow, someway, this ‘wife wanted’ ad, found in a newspaper from the 19th century, was passed down until a photocopy made its way onto the world wide web.
In many ways, the 1800’s were a simpler time – and a hardworking man with a ‘good set of teeth’ was a man most women would swoon for.

photos in cmt ⬇️

03/06/2026

Cornelius Diment (1862-1950) was born in Cossington, Somerset England. In 1907, in partnership with Mr Walter Settle, he acquired a grocery business from Mr Fred Taylor on Forest Road near Carrington Avenue, which became known as Settle and Diment. When Settle retired, Diment continued working and purchased the produce business of Mr Sam McFarlane, located opposite Hurstville railway station on Forest Road. This site was later demolished and a new building, designed by Hurstville architect Charles H Halstead, was erected in its place. The produce and hardware store opened in March 1918 and was highly successful. It closed in 1961 to make way for a Coles store.

The Propeller newspaper described the opening of the store and its exterior in an article dated 15 March 1918:
“Externally the buildings are treated in an up-to-date manner. The cement, cornices, mouldings are relieved with blue brick piers, and special attention has been bestowed on advertising by means of cement lettering on the front."

✨See this photograph and more at our current Snapshot Gallery exhibition 'Sign of the Times', which explores the changing face of St George through the signage and advertisements found on billboards, shopfronts, streets and anywhere in between. On until 9 August 2026!

📷Diment's Store and Hurstville War Memorial, Forest Road, Hurstville NSW, ca 1949. Research and Community History collection, LMG13-580.

02/06/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DHM6vRFtZU

Dame Vera Lynn - We’ll Meet Again. A BBC tribute made in 2017 to celebrate her 100th birthday.

30/05/2026

Our 2026 wall calendar AND desk calendar are now 75% OFF (only $5.50 each) and every calendar also includes TWO FREE bookmarks.
———————
Bobance [BOB-ens]
(n.)
- Pride, boasting, presumption.

Middle English from Old French

Used in a sentence:
“Despite possessing all the depth and charisma of a damp crouton, he nevertheless carried himself with a nauseating degree of bobance.”

30/05/2026

📚⚽🦘 Today’s the day!

National Simultaneous Storytime 2026 is finally here.

At 12:00pm AEST, millions of children, families, schools, libraries and early learning communities across Australia will come together to share this year’s story, Luna Roo: The Kangaroo Baller by Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd and illustrated by Jake Minton.

Thank you to everyone taking part in this incredible shared reading moment. Whether you’re joining from a classroom, library, lounge room or community space — we can’t wait to celebrate with you.

Don’t forget: the official NSS recording link, PDF and resources have been sent to all registered participants. Please check your inbox (and junk folder just in case!) before the event begins.

30/05/2026

Sh*tepoke [SHYTE-pohk]
(n.)
- The small green heron or night heron of North America.
- A contemptible, obnoxious, or feeble person.

From “sh*te” (f***s) + “poke” (bag) with reference to the birds' habit of defecating when disturbed.

Used in a sentence:
“The sh*tepoke perched upon the half-submerged stump, hunched and contemplative, like a Victorian undertaker awaiting clients from the pond.”
——————————————————————
Our 2026 wall calendar AND desk calendar are currently 75% OFF (only $5.50 each) and every calendar also includes TWO FREE bookmarks.