Unlocking the past 2020

Kurri Mandolin Orchestra

The Kurri Kurri Mandolin Orchestra first came to public notice in May 1924 when it won first prize in the Mandolin Quartette section of the Kurri Kurri Eisteddfod.

Minister's visit to Cessnock High School gets snakey

That was certainly the case in February 1937 when the crowded conditions at Cessnock High School were so bad that Cessnock Council stepped in.

One of the most noticeable parts of that heritage is the extraordinary Abermain Eisteddfod, one of the longest running in NSW. One hundred years ago the Cessnock Local Government Area had multiple eisteddfods, including at Cessnock, Kurri Kurri and Weston.

St Mark's Church, Laguna

Travelling south from Wollombi down the Great North Road is a particularly pretty stretch of road. A lovely building along this thoroughfare was one of our oldest churches, the pretty St. Mark’s Church of England at Laguna.

The mighty Empire Theatre, Cessnock

The Hunter Valley was once home to many cinemas and at 26 Vincent sat one of the largest, the mighty New Empire Cinema Theatre.

Dreamy Brides of the 1920s

There’s a historical precedent for brides planning a wedding after a pandemic and that was exactly 100 years ago.

The golden age of Neath soccer

Soccer historians believe that junior soccer in Neath was first played in 1910. The town had many outstanding teams, so much so there was always a demand for a Neath senior team, so that that these talented juniors could continue to play.

Walk on the wild side: Paxton Theatre

In 1927 Paxton got its first theatre, which opened in March that year. The building had a brick front and side walls made of stud and weatherboard. It boasted dressing rooms, a gallery area and a seating capacity of 1,000, extraordinarily large for the size of Paxton’s population.

Unlocking the past 2020

Kurri Mandolin Orchestra

Minister's visit to Cessnock High School gets snakey

The Weston Wonders

St Mark's Church, Laguna

The mighty Empire Theatre, Cessnock

Dreamy Brides of the 1920s

The golden age of Neath soccer

Walk on the wild side: Paxton Theatre

Harry Lauder comes to Kurri Kurri

Loxford Air Crash WW2

Tough times and kind acts