Contact

Email address: adhs@optusnet.com.au
Postal address: PO Box 20, Ashfield, NSW, Australia  1800
The Society’s Rooms are located in Thirning Villa, Pratten Park, Arthur Street, Ashfield

Aims

The Ashfield & District Historical Society, Inc. was founded in 1973.  Its principal aims are:

• to promote an interest in the history of Ashfield Municipality by providing regular activities such as walks, talks and inspections relating to Ashfield

• to publish a book or journal each year providing articles and information on Ashfield’s history for the information and education of members and the community

• to collect and conserve photographs, documents and information relative to the history of Ashfield Municipality for the benefit of members and the community

• to undertake action relating to the promotion of the history and heritage of Ashfield

Activities

The Society organises a program lectures, visits, and other activities.  Members are kept informed through a regular newsletter.  The Society also publishes a journal, Ashfield History, as well as occasional books.

Membership

Membership covers a calendar year.  The membership subscription for 2009 is $30 (full) and $25 (concession).  This includes a free copy of the book or journal produced by the Society during the year.

To join, print out the attached subscription form and mail it with your payment to the postal address above.

Publications

Ashfield & District Historical Society has a number of publications for sale including copies of its books and journals from previous years.

Research Resources

The Society’s rooms are situated in Thirning Villa, Pratten Park, Arthur Street, Ashfield (enter from western door).  We are open on the Last Saturday of each month between 11am and 4pm.  Weekday visits can be arranged by appointment only.

If you have ever wondered about the history of your home or the lives of your ancestors who may have lived in our municipality, you would enjoy the opportunity to use the Society’s resources to find out more.  The Wednesday and Saturday open days at the rooms attract a wide range of researchers including home-owners, university students, professional consultants, conservationists and those interested in their family trees.  Often on these days, an eclectic mix of stimulating personalities with a variety of interest topics provides great conversation and a wonderful opportunity to learn about the local history of Ashfield.

At the Society’s rooms we have many resources that may assist you in your research.  These include:

A library, containing various published material, including most available books and reports on sites of local interest
A collection of over 800 local subdivision plans, all those held by Mitchell Library (microfiche)
Water Board plans of the municipality as it was in 1890 (microfiche)
Water Board plans, 1920s – 30s (hard copies)
Many loose plans from various sources
Ashfield Council Rate Books, 1872-1890 (microfiche)
Ashfield Council Minutes 1872-1920 (microfilm)
Ashfield Council Valuation Books, 1908-10, 1920, 1922-26 (microfiche)
Ashfield Council Building Applications 1909-1980 (microfiche)
Sands’ Sydney Directories (microfiche)
Wise’s Post Office Directory of Ashfield 1936 (hard copy)
Wise’s 1904 Sydney & Country NSW Post Office Directory (CD Rom)
The Advertiser, 1888-1909, Ashfield newspaper (microfilm)
Ashfield Argus, 1924-1960 (incomplete, microfilm)
NSW Government Gazette, 1872-1970
NSW Register of Births, Deaths & Marriages (CD Rom)
Soc. of Australian Genealogists Rookwood, Macquarie Park, Waverley & South Head Cemetery Transcriptions (CD Roms)
ADHS Photographic Collection

We welcome all those who have an interest in our local history and heritage.

Links

Ashfield Municipal Council

The Haberfield Association

ADHS is affiliated to the Royal Australian Historical Society

There are several historical societies in the municipalities surrounding Ashfield:

Burwood & District Historical Society

Canterbury & District Historical Society

Concord Heritage Society

Leichhardt Local History Group

Marrickville Heritage Society

Strathfield District Historical Society

Visit the Ashfield Historical Society in Ashfield, Massachusetts, USA

Or, if you are looking for Ashfield in England, try
<www.genealogy-links.co.uk/html/ash.links.html>