Riverstone Historical Society & Museum

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Riverstone Historical Society & Museum

This page focuses on the history of Riverstone and the surrounding area. Managed by Riverstone & District Historical Society & Museum.

14/06/2026

MONDAY MEMORIES
Over 60 years ago, in June 1964, the Hawkesbury River rose almost 15m causing local waterways such as Eastern Creek to flood, resulting in widespread destruction in low-level areas of Riverstone. This image shows Garfield Road near the Hotel just over the railway line. The Windsor & Richmond Gazette newspaper reported that Riverstone was hard hit. At the peak of the flood, water entered about 100 homes, with the worst affected on the south side of the railway. Evacuees were sheltered at the Primary School then later at the High School. About 80 train passengers were stranded at Riverstone station when trains were cancelled and had to be looked after. One of the rescue boats near Grange Ave was caught in a tremendous current and was swept away before being wrangled to safety See http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article266715949

Is anyone old enough to remember the 1964 flood?

Photo: Riverstone & District Historical Society

12/06/2026

GROWING UP IN RIVERSTONE:
Eric Brooke with wife Faye established their first shop shop in Riverstone in the mid 1950s. In 1965 they purchased a shop from Jack Arnold in Garfield Road and opened a shoe store and shoe repair business. An assortment of shoes, sandals and boots, plus accessories, as well as bags, belts and leather goods were sold. Eric repaired shoes and boots and Faye was an expert at sales and a whizz at colouring shoes.

The store was renovated and extended several times over the years with an upstairs flat then a self-contained flat. The shoe store finally closed their doors in 1999, an end of an era.

Who remembers purchasing school shoes or other footwear from the Brooke's store, in the day?

Photo: R. Phillis 1996

07/06/2026

MONDAY MEMORIES:
If you were born before 1986, you probably have fond memories of cracker night?

Several weeks before cracker night, preparations were made throughout Riverstone and district. Bonfires were constructed and in some areas there was fierce rivalry in who constructed the biggest. It wasn’t only tree branches - old furniture, offcuts and other materials were kept to burn on the bonfire. Money was saved and then the exciting day of purchasing the fireworks arrived. Off to the local shops and newsagents and decide what to buy. Roman candles, Tom Thumbs, big bungers, skyrockets, Catherine wheels, throwdowns or sparklers. The night of the bonfire everyone rugged up with layers of clothes and coats as it was always chilly. The air of expectancy was great for both adults and children alike. The bonfire was lit by the ‘responsible’ adults and then it was a free for all. Parents seemed to forget about the caution and kids were let loose with bags of crackers, matches in front of huge raging bonfires. The fathers and uncles running around with big handfuls of bungers reliving their own childhoods. Sometimes the aunties and grandmothers screeched pretending to be frightened and the babies cried from the bangs, and dogs hid, but mostly it was the thrill of lighting each cracker and being mesmerized by the aftermath. Eventually it was time to go home. If you got up early and got back to the bonfire site, you could scrabble around in the remains and find those sneaky ones that got dropped or fizzled out. The bonfire still had some coals and away you went.

The smell of the crackling fire and the bang and the hiss of the fireworks will stay with those of us who experienced it, forever. Eventually regulations were introduced which limited sales of fireworks until forty years ago, on 7 June 1986, the State Government banned cracker night in NSW.

Do you have any memories to share about your cracker nights in Riverstone in days gone by?

06/06/2026

RIVERSTONE MUSEUM OPEN THIS SUNDAY
7 June 11am - 2pm.

The Museum will be holding its monthly open day this Sunday. Take a look at the displays, meet up with old Riverstone friends and peruse school photos and information folder.

The Museum is located at 81 Garfield Road East, Riverstone, next to the swimming pool.

We look forward to seeing you there.

04/06/2026

GROWING UP IN RIVERSTONE: Who doesn't remember the Tuck Shop next to the Riverstone Infants School in Garfield Road? Originally established by Les & Ruth Mulford in 1939, it was then run by several others until Les and Ruth returned by the early 1960s. Assisted by their daughter, Betty Coleman, husband Vic and family, it became a thriving business. Les sold the shop to Betty and Vic, following Ruth's death in 1971. Over the years the shop was extended to the side to include a BBQ chicken area and gift shop, while their front living room was turned into a Pinball and games room. The Coleman's had a casual staff consisting of Joyce Erskine, Margaret Mills, Joan Freeman, Nancy Mulford (wife of Les jnr), Maureen McGaughey and Gladys Coleman (Vic’s mother). Coleman's operated the store until 1982, it was sold in 1984. The shop was demolished in 1985 for Carlo's.

One of the iconic stores in Riverstone, the memory of the Tuck Shop lives on in many of our memories. Please share your thoughts....

Photo: Vic in the Tuck Shop early 1970s, courtesy of the Coleman family. If you want to read more about the family business check out the article from our website https://shorturl.at/rfZNN

01/06/2026

MONDAY MEMORIES:
Indicator or destination boards were installed on most railway stations by the 1930s and let passengers know the times of the next trains and which platforms the train would arrive and depart. These boards are from Riverstone Railway Station and are on display in the Riverstone Museum courtesy of the Office of Rail Heritage. They were located outside the office. Do you remember the boards?

If you want to visit the rail display or any of the other interesting items at the Riverstone Museum, the next Open Day will be on Sunday 7 June 11am - 3pm. Gold Coin Donation. We are located at 81 Garfield Road East and look forward to catching up with our Riverstone friends in person.

29/05/2026

GROWING UP IN RIVERSTONE
Dr. John Knox Wilkie (1929–2025) was a popular family doctor in Riverstone in the 1960s and 1970s. He operated out of the surgery in Garfield Road and in the early days lived in the residence at the rear. In later years he lived with his family on Garfield Road, where he had stables and a trotting track. He was an interesting character and highly respected. In the mid-1970s he moved to Bondi Junction and the surgery was taken over by Dr Penhall and Dr Dixon. Dr Wilkie passed away at the age of 95 in March 2025.

Do you remember Dr Wilkie, do you have any have memories you would like to share?

Photo: https://www.mytributes.com.au

25/05/2026

MONDAY MEMORIES:
Birdeye view of Riverstone's commercial area. The photograph was taken in about 1967 from the tree in the grounds of the Uniting Church, possibly while installing Christmas decorations. It was formerly the Presbyterian Church, on the corner of Garfield Road and Oxford Street. Is this how you remember Riverstone?

Photo: James Ferguson

21/05/2026

GROWING UP IN RIVERSTONE
You may have heard, growing up, that Jack Mundey, well-known icon and activist had connections to Riverstone? He was the Builders' Labourers Federation leader and member of Australian Communist Party member. Although most people know him for his work on the green bans in Woolloomooloo and The Rocks in the 1970s, saving much of the historic landscape from developers, he also had a connection to Riverstone.

Born in Queensland he moved to Sydney when he was 19. He played rugby league for Parramatta in 1950. Jack was involved with the Riverstone Rugby League Club in the 1950s and in 1955 accepted the position as Captain/Coach of the Riverstone ‘A’ grade team. They won the grand final 19-14 against Richmond, after coming back from half time 11-0, produced an impressive finish scoring 5 tries and 2 goals to win. Jack is pictured below, centre middle row. It is 6 years ago this month, that Jack passed away, aged 90. Have you heard any stories about Jack growing up?

Read more about the history of football here https://shorturl.at/tB1rQ

17/05/2026

MONDAY MEMORIES
Riverstone High School in the 1970s, with students gathered to watch a high jump event. The photograph was taken from the football oval, looking across the basketball courts toward the Industrial Arts and Canteen building. Might be a PE class, training or maybe an athletics carnival.

What memories of sport and athletics at does this scene bring back for you?

Note: The building was demolished to make way for a new building as part of the High School renovations. Photo: Riverstone High School collection.

Address

81 Garfield Road East
Riverstone, NSW
2765

Website

http://riverstonehistoricalsociety.org.au/

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