Blacktown and the surrounding countryside have a long history centred
around the people who lived in this varied landscape. From Aboriginal sites to
modern development, the Library can provide you with a wide range of sources.
Local Studies
The Local Studies and Family History service
is responsible for two main collection areas within the Library service: Family
History and Local History Collections. Small collections of books of
local interest are held by our branch libraries, but the main holdings are at
the Central Library (Max Webber Branch) at Blacktown. There is also a Genealogy
collection of books and magazines at Max Webber Library, which are not for
loan, but many of these are available in the loan collections of the library.
Books
Blacktown City Council Libraries have
approximately 2,000 books in the Local History collection. These cover all
subjects of local interest, such as theatre, medicine, mining and geology,
biography and architecture. The collection can be searched through the online
catalogue.
Pamphlets
The Library holds a significant
collection of pamphlet material. These cover a wide variety of subjects, and
include journal offprints and reprints, property sales brochures, programmes
and advertising material. This material is held in filing cabinets
located in the Local History section, Max Webber Library. A list of subject
headings used is available.
Newspapers
Blacktown’s first newspaper started in
1944 but unfortunately copies cannot be located prior to May 1949. The years up
until 1956 are incomplete. Microform copies are held of the major local papers.
Directories
Blacktown Library holds a collection of
street directories covering the Sydney metropolitan area from the mid 1950s
onwards. Sands Sydney and NSW Country directories are also held in microform
for the period 1858 – 1933. These are also available via the online database
Ancestry Library edition.
Maps
The library holds a collection of maps
and plans. This collection is currently being catalogued to enable public
access.
Journals and magazines
The Local Studies section has a
collection of journals and other serial publications from various societies and
other organizations. These include
- Friends
of St Bartholomew’s (newsletter)
- Mount
Druitt and District Historical Society journal
- Mount
Druitt Moments (newsletter)
- Prospect:
Journal of the Prospect Heritage Trust Inc
- Riverstone
and District Historical Society Journal
- Toongabbie
Times (newsletter)
- The
Turret : journal of the Blacktown & District Historical Society
- Turret
Talk: newsletter of Blacktown & District Historical Society
Images
Blacktown City Libraries is fortunate
in that we have a varied collection of images relating to Blacktown and its environs.
Photographs: There are approximately 10,000 photographs in
the collection from the 20th century to the present day. Most of them are from
the second half of the 20th century, with the majority dating from the 1970s.
These can provide a vital visual record of the area as it was – the houses, the
shops and the people.
The Library service has undertaken to digitally copy all our images.
This will preserve them from damage through use and across time, making them
available for all to search and view in a way not possible previously.
There is also an ongoing project to provide access to images through the
library catalogue. New donations of images are always welcome, and
Local Studies staff regularly photograph areas of change in the LGA.
Further information regarding the collection can be found on the
library's website:
The Local Studies and Family History Service is open to the public
during the normal opening hours. Some services may be restricted during
reduced staffing periods outside Monday-Friday 9.30 am – 4.30 pm.
Location:
Max Webber Library
cnr Flushcombe Road and Alpha Street
Blacktown
Hours:
M-F: 9:30 am - 7:45 pm
Sat: 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Sun: 12 noon - 4:00 pm
Contact Local Studies:
Phone 9839-6622, or email jan.herivel@blacktown.nsw.gov.au
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