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Laila Ellmoos is a historian with the City of Sydney's History Program. She is the author of three books including Our Island Home: a history of Peat Island. Laila was the President of the Professional Historians Association of NSW from 2010-2013. She has also worked…

Short 1.9km branch line between Loftus railway station and the Royal National Park railway station that opened in 1886 to provide access to a military training camp in the park at Audley. The line closed in 1991 but was reopened in 1992 as part of the Sydney Tramway Museum's…

Two storey stucco gentleman's residence, built in brick on stone foundations. Of colonial Georgian style, its design is attributed to Francis Greenway. It was later used as a school, laundry, boarding house and government offices, and as a convent and hospital. It…

Baptist church, which was a centre of Baptist evangelism until it closed in 1996. It was here that Arthur Stace was inspired to start writing 'Eternity' on Sydney streets in the 1930s. The building has was restored and repurposed as the Eternity Playhouse, home of the…

Outpatient unit of the NSW Department of Health's South Eastern Sydney Local Health District providing support for people with drug and alcohol problems. The Centre was formerly known as the Langton Clinic and is on the site of the NSW Community Hospital on the corner of…

Statutory body established by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1967, with responsibility for national parks, state parks and historic sites in New South Wales, including a number in Sydney. In 2003 the Service became part of the Department of Sustainable Natural Resources…

Robert Rice Howard was the official executioner or hangman in New South Wales for nearly 30 years. Initially a successful cab driver in mid-nineteenth century Sydney, he took on the role of 'finisher of the law' after losing his nose in an accident with a horse and losing…

George Cookney came to Sydney in 1823 with good connections and prospects, but his career ended in disgrace and transportation to Tasmania, where he redeemed himself somewhat.

As the primary hub for child welfare in Sydney, Bidura is a place shared by members of the Stolen Generations and Forgotten Australians and is remembered by them with little fondness.

Australia's first 'model suburb', from 1901 Haberfield was to help define how Australians sought to house themselves. It is now also a hub of Sydney's Italian community.

Eugenia Falleni was born in Italy in 1875, the eldest daughter of 22 children. By the time he reached Sydney in 1898, he was known as Harry Crawford. Accused of murder, his identity outed, he was a public figure shrouded in mystery. Historic Houses Trust curator Nerida…

Convict sentenced to seven years transportation for theft of a bushel of wheat. On the journey she partnered with Richard Alley and had a daughter with him once she reached Sydney, but the child died a few days later. Ann formed a relationship with John Irving, whose land in…

Residential centre or holiday camp established by the Workers' Educational Association Sydney branch at Newport on Sydney's northern beaches in 1924 for summer schools. The site was described in 1924 as 'the crest of a gentle slope overlooking Newport beach and within five…

Sail and tentmaker who expanded the family business and prospered by making tents for the army during World War I, before a career in politics. He served in State Parliament for a decade and was Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1932. He served in numerous philanthropic, political and…

Group of Indigenous clans from the Sydney basin that were united be common language and strong ties of kinship. As coastal dwellers they were skilled at navigation and fishing and had strong spiritual ties to the land, which were broken with the arrival of Europeans. The name…

Settler and miller who came to Sydney with his parents and brothers after his father was transported in 1791. He built water mills to grind wheat for the government stores and helped open up the Hunter Valley for farming. The town of Singleton in the Hunter is on part of his…

Officer of marines, landowner and author renowned for his cruelty to convicts. Eventually, disgusted with colonial affairs he returned to England and published The Felonry of New South Wales, an attack on all whom he fancied had opposed him in the colony. The subsequent duel…

Passenger who died in the wreck of the Edward Lombe in Sydney Harbour in 1834. He had joined the ship in Hobart. He and Captain Stroyan and two of the crew were trying to cut away the launch to attempt a rescue of all hands when they were washed away by the high seas…

Architect who, in partnership with Major Alfred Spain, formed the architectural firm in 1904 of Spain & Cosh, and was responsible for designing many Sydney landmark buildings, including Culwulla Chambers, the New Zealand Insurance Building, the Marcus Clark building at…

School teacher and music director for the Presbyterian Church, Peter McCormick is little known in Sydney, although every Sydneysider knows his work. His song, 'Advance Australia Fair', was sung by a choir of 10,000 at the celebration of the inauguration of the…